Relocating - North Carolina, Eastern Shore of MD, Tidewater VA?

[SCF01]

We're looking at possible retirement property. Well, he gets to retire, I'll still be working, somewhere.....

He wants to be near the water/ocean. I'll need to have a few acres for horses. I'd still like to do some showing, maybe eventing too.

Personally, I don't want to move, but I'm sort of stuck. I agreed to this a long time ago. :( So, currently we're looking at the areas of Northern NC, Eastern Shore of MD or Tidewater VA.

I don't know too much about the areas. Knowing that I want to keep horses and will need to find a job as well, what can you guys recommend? How's the horse scene?

Thanks!

[GollyGee]

Depending on what discipline you ride, the Eastern shore of MD (I lived upper)
is close enough for you to find shows or events while retaining the close to ocean/river feel. Plus w/ the realestate market in the crapper you should make out just fine:D

The closer you get to the ocean the flatter and sandier the soil and mosquetos!!!!Also big nasty black flies seasonally:mad:

[Equinoxfox]

If you decided to go to the Tidewater area. Stay AWAY from Pungo. it is over saturated with farms traffic , and just getting very conjested. Why not consider moving out into the country a bit. that is unless you must be near the water . Just remember it is going to be a commute to any horse- related activity. Oh and what discipline do you ride?;)

[SCF01]

I think the husband wants to be within a half hour drive from the ocean.

I do hunters and some eventing for fun.

We'd prefer a more rural area. I don't mind being 30 minutes from a walmart ;)

[TheOrangeOne]

I wouldn't call pungo overcrowded. Some development, yes, but not difficult to get around or find farmland. I'd say it is worth a look. Might not be rural enough for you, or you might enjoy some of the conveniences the development brings (namely a target) and just stay outside of that area.

[suniday]

If you want to do rated hunters on a regular basis, then don't come to the Eastern Shore of MD.

Ocean City, MD is about 3 hours from the USEF shows. There is a local horse show association that has some MHSA rated shows (C rated). It is competitive.

For eventing you will also travel about 3 hours to even do unrated events.

We have really good foxhunting here. Also, some good areas to trail ride.

Edited to add: If your husband is set on being near the Ocean the above applies. If he would be content to be near the Chesapeake Bay, then you place yourself in a much better area for shipping to horse shows/events. You would cut your travel time by almost 1 1/2 hours.

[SCF01]

Anyone live in NC? I know nothing about the state.

[Everythingbutwings]

NC is going to be less expensive and a lot more comfortable come winter time. Delaware has some nice beaches you can ride on. Tidewater VA is pretty built up but the eastern shore of VA is much more rural.

[RNB]

Gotta agree with TheOrangeOne. I've lived in this area for 50+ years, have boarded horses in Pungo and driven the roads for the last 15. It has some wonderful qualities. If you do not know "Pungo" is usually a reference to the southern rural section of Virginia Beach. The further west you go (meaning away from the water) the cost of land usually will be lower. However, VA does have an abundance of water accessability....but if you're looking to be ON/near the ocean Va. Beach and the eastern shore are the only areas that fall into that category. Most of the rest touch the Chesapeake Bay.

[Everythingbutwings]

Keep in mind access to the Eastern Shore of MD & VA means the Bay Bridge Tunnel (Hampton Roads/Norfolk area), then the next northerly crossing is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge all the way up by Annapolis. Farther north, you can get over by land.

There's no crossing the Chesapeake in between. :(

[Lives2Jump]

I live in NC, just north of Charlotte. There are some good "A" shows and Raleigh. My barn tends to frequent Aiken SC a lot. We also love Pinehurst.

[theoldgreymare]

As Suniday mentioned, you have to travel to any USEF rated shows from the ESMD. The http://ceshs.org is the ESMD circuit which has MHSA B and C rated shows (not USEF rated). It is a nice, well managed circuit.

If you want rural but within a half hour of the ocean then you would probably do well to look east of Salisbury or in the Salisbury area. The ocean beaches are not far but there is still plenty of farmland in the area. There are many trainers in that area as well as the Wiccomico Hunt. It is also very close to US13 which is filled with any type of middle income shopping you could want. Maybe someone from the ES of MD can fill you in better on the area.

We are on the ESVA but not in an area you mentioned being interested in (Eastern Shore).

[SCF01]

Anyone familiar with Eastern NC?

[shawneeAcres]

I am in eastern NC near Wilson, which is about 2 1/2 hours from Morehaed City and about the same to Wilmington. There is a lot of horse stuff/shows going on in NC, good clinics, trainers etc. But towards the coast there are fewer places and nearly all of the good shows are further inland. If you don't mind a few hours drive you can do a lot in NC. A nice barn within about 1 hour of the coast that comes to mind is Rollover Downs with Beth Anna Perry. She is in New Bern NC. There are other places 1 - 2 hours from coast as well. the further north on the coast in NC you go, the less you will find in terms of facilities, trainers and shows.

[Limerick]

Wilmingon NC is very nice and on the ocean. It is where Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill were/are filmed. Carlos Aramburo is there and I think he's a terrific rider/trainer.


http://aramburoequestrian.com/html/id1.html

Good luck choosing your new place to live!

[53]

I'm on the coast in NC. You're going to be limited out there for barns. Good footing and good trainers are hard to find, but not impossible. The best facilities I've seen are private barns. Be very careful with water tables and sand v. clay footing. There are some very nice parcels of land, but some that are inches above the water table. My dressage trainer comes and clinics in town once a month, I drive 3 hours to my eventing trainer.