New Brunswick, NJ

[pattnic]

So the BF has officially be accepted to Albert Einstein in the Bronx. I intend to move "with" him, and New Brunswick is looking like it may be a good area for me to settle (interested in grad school for myself @ Rutgers). Looking at employment, it seems that salary-wise, I would be no worse off than I am in Atlanta. So, tell me about New Brunswick (and the surrounding area - in fact, mostly the surrounding area)!

Are there any online resources for find horse board or horse properties for rent? Something like this: www.stablemates.com would be a nice start. Or if anyone has suggestions for boarding, that's cool, too. I would prefer pasture board.

TIA!

[marta]

then new brunswick is not a bad place for a horsey person to live. you're about 25 minutes away from some great horse country with lots of barns and trainers to choose from. you can go north west towards hunterdon county or south towards monmouth county and find many barns of all types with great trainers, some located on trail systems and other relatively near great state parks where you can ride your horse. plenty of great tack shops in the area, too.

new brunswick has some nice new rentals but is also surrounded by the usual nj 'townships' if living in town isn't right for you. by train from new brunswick you can be in nyc in well under an hour.

what grad school are you considering? i went to rutgers college in new brunswick for my undergrad degree and then to rutgers school of law in newark for my j.d.

some of the barns list on njhorse.com, also the amwell valley trail association's newsletter has some local barn classifieds. can't think of any other publications that have a lot of barn listings but there are a few of us COTHers from this general area that can provide you with a long list of barns if you tell us what price range and what type of amenities you're looking for.

feel free to contact me if you require any information or want a "tour" of the local horsey areas.

[pattnic]

Thanks, marta. Question: Is there any reason I should *not* want to live in New Jersey?

[marta]

well lets see, we're one of the most densely populated states, traffic is horrendous, properties are expensive, property taxes are outrageous, our government is broke and corrupt, we have ticks that carry lyme disease, and we also have very strict gun laws.

on the other hand we do have some beautiful parks which include mountains, beaches and everything in between, cheap gas (well cheaper than in other states), and the horse is our state animal:)

[Penthilisea]

New Brunswick and Rutgers in patricular is a cool place to be, the feeling of a big city while within driving distance to rural areas. Plus cook college has an equestrian team and student run mounted police program. Dr. Ralston posts here occasionally.
You will need a reliable car, and plan to spend time in it. Period. Other then that, I 'm sure you will LOVE new jersey. We have Bevals, we have the USET, we have Anne Kursinski and Hunterdon and more! And the $700 pony lives here too!

[City Ponies]

well lets see, we're one of the most densely populated states, traffic is horrendous, properties are expensive, property taxes are outrageous, our government is broke and corrupt, we have ticks that carry lyme disease, and we also have very strict gun laws.

on the other hand we do have some beautiful parks which include mountains, beaches and everything in between, cheap gas (well cheaper than in other states), and the horse is our state animal:)

Last I checked a lot of areas have ticks that have lymes disease, and strict guns laws aren't a bad thing!! I'm born/raised NJ, the only reason I say to people I won't move back is because of the cost of living. It is outrageous, traffic to me is worse down south (well not traffic just drivers) and the governement and laws down here are so backward it makes no sense to me. I mean who heard of such a thing as no beer past midnight on Sat?

As far as NB, I used to live in down town New Brunswick, my advice is to look toward Edison, nicer area with cheaper rent and less commuters. You can actually take a train from Edison to NB if you decide to go to school there, so you won't have to worry about driving much.

[marta]

you obviously moved out long time ago if you think Edison is a nice area with less commuters. i work in Edison and my mom lives here. trust me. commuters galore and most of them are fresh immigrants whose driving skills need some serious improvement...

as far as the strict gun laws - i guess our opinion differs on the subject. not sure where pattnic stands on the subject but to many people their right to own guns is an important one so i thought it should be mentioned.

[vacation1]

Is there any reason I should *not* want to live in New Jersey?

To some extent, NJ offers many of the benefits of urban life - diversity, lots of things to do, lots of organizations and activities, strong community services - with many of the benefits of suburban/rural life - larger living spaces, more open land, less congestion, etc. Of course, NJ is crowded compared to rural Mississippi (for example) and dull compared to Manhattan. But it's an unusual state - although it has no major city of its own, it's a transportation hub convenient to the whole coast, a center of immigration, and a huge population that maintains dual citizenship; NJ and either north to New York or south to Philadelphia. New Brunswick goes north, just barely.

Some negatives:
- It's just incredibly expensive, between property values and taxes. I love NJ but I have to wonder if I'll ever be able to afford real estate here.
- I suppose all states have corruption issues, but NJ has so much money and so many remnants of old-school Democratic machines floating around that it seems like the sleaze in local politics is never-ending. The worst cases tend to center around the state's poor cities, so I don't doubt New Brunswick gets its share.
- The identity issue; most people get some of their identity from where they live. They take pride in being in being an authentic southerner, a laid-back Californian, a savvy New Yorker, etc. This takes more work in New Jersey. I've seen too many unhappy people with geographical inferiority complexes in this state - they're the ones who introduce themselves by saying "We're just here for a couple years and then we're moving to ____."
- If you ever vote for anyone who isn't a Democrat, you might find the one-party system a little aggravating.
- The people tend to be a bit abrupt, East Coast style. That can disconcert people from more friendly areas of the country.

Positive:
- Never have to pump your own gas. Seriously, I love this.
- New York at your doorstep
- Easy access to most of the other East Coast cities - Philly, DC, Boston
- Easy access to the cheapest flights if you travel
- Lots of variety in all things - people, food, landscapes, etc.

[xabbracadabra]

Be careful in some areas of New Brunswick. I've spent my fair share of time there and it can get pretty bad in some sections. As far as barns go there is a lot to choose from in that area. You can go in pretty much every direction and find something depending on how far you want to drive.

[caradino]

- The identity issue; most people get some of their identity from where they live. They take pride in being in being an authentic southerner, a laid-back Californian, a savvy New Yorker, etc. This takes more work in New Jersey. I've seen too many unhappy people with geographical inferiority complexes in this state - they're the ones who introduce themselves by saying "We're just here for a couple years and then we're moving to ____."



i can't say i've ever noticed this issue! i'm a born-and-raised jersey girl and couldn't be happier about it! in fact, i notice that there's a strong vein of "Jersey Pride" that runs through residents of the state that just isn't found in people from, oh, say, PA or DE. no one gets excited about being from Delaware, but insult a Jersey guy's home state and you're IN FOR IT! :winkgrin:

all fun aside, jersey is a great state because we have a little bit of everything. cities, countryside, suburbs, the shore, tons of TOP class horses and trainers, easy access to all cultural centers of the east coast... i'm so spoiled living here, i think it would be hard to move somewhere else!

[Instant Karma]

NJ is very cool, I lived there the first 24 years of my life.

Big con- expensive. Property taxes are high, property is still expensive, car insurance is insane. Also, the traffic to get anywhere in the Edison area is ridiculous. To whomever said there aren't a lot of commuters... girl, you need to tell me what part of Edison you have been to, because even the quaint little town of Metuchen (the donut hole of Edison), is a commuter's paradise.

I am proud to have been raised there, because I think people from NJ tend to be more aggressive, honest, and forthcoming than a lot of the areas I have been to and now live. People from NJ tend to pull no punches, and say what they think.

There are some extremely beautiful areas, like Marta said, all over the state and there is a large horse population. Tons of great barns, trainers and tack shops... just be prepared to spend the Benjamins.

Being near the Jersey shore is pretty cool, and the diversity is something I miss out here. Great Indian food within a 15 minutes drive, and just about every other kind of food as well. If you want to go to the beach, it's about 45 minutes away. NYC is just a short train ride or car ride away.

I can't think of anything else. I wouldn't want to live IN New Brunswick because I wouldn't want to live in any city, but 10-15 minutes outside of there are some beautiful areas.

Good luck!

[SUECLOUDY]

Lived and grew up in Edison NJ for 30 years. Moved to PA 22 years ago. Edison was great to grow up in, however, I would not go back there due to what everyone else has said, high taxes, high insurance everything is more expensive.
What I did love about Edison was that you were within 45 minutes from NYC, 45 minutes from the shore, and 45 minutes from the mountains, so that part was extremely convenient.
I also graduated from Rutgers University.
Your best bet would be to either go down toward Monmouth County or up toward Hunterdon County. Hunterdon County is expensive, as my niece's children do ride up there, but there are a lot of nice places and a little more countrified. Gladstone is in Hunterdon area and they use to have the Olympic Trials there many years ago.
Good Luck on whereever you decide.

[lolalola]

Lot of horse stuff going on in NJ - three racetracks, Horse Park of NJ, several foxhunts - if it's horsey, it's here. I've lived most of my life in Monmouth County, and it's really been developed, although there are strong horse communities in the western part of the county. One plus about the state is that because it is so densely populated, there are a lot of parks and preserved farmland. There has been planning, to some extent, to keep the Garden in Garden State. It hasn't been completely successful - the past 25 years have turned very rural areas into the suburbs - but a lot of the same thing is happening in the south with the influx of baby boomer retirees and they aren't prepared for it with land use planning.

[mkevent]

I agree with Instant Karma. I'm from South Jersey (about 30 min outside Phila) and have lived here all my life. To further complicate issues, there is a difference between North and South Jersey-in fact, quite a few years ago there was a move for South Jersey to cede from North Jersey-luckily it failed. North Jersey has a stronger NYC influence while South Jersey is more like Phila or Delaware. Despite the traffic, population, etc. I really like living in NJ-it has a lot to offer!! If you're used to a more laid back lifestyle but need a commute to NYC/Rutgers, I would suggest perhaps meeting with some COTHers in that area and getting a feel for different locations-driving around and trying to envision if you would feel comfortable there. And don't be put off by the abruptness of New Jerseyans- there are a lot of cool people here-we just tend to take longer to warm up to strangers-inherent cynicism, I guess! Feel free to PM me if you like-I live a little too far for an easy commute to NYC, but I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can. Good luck!

[Reynard Ridge]

- Never have to pump your own gas. Seriously, I love this.

My favorite bit of the state. :lol:

- It's just incredibly expensive, between property values and taxes. I love NJ but I have to wonder if I'll ever be able to afford real estate here. We left NJ forever for this reason (plus all of the political corruption issues). In fact, my husband moved his entire company out of state. PA made him a much, much better offer. :no:

However, if you are planning to be a student here, that stuff is less relevant. I'd not recommend that people move to NJ as a permanent move, but for a few years to get a degree and then move on, you should be fine.

(And wave hi to my Pony to me, when you get there! :lol:)

[Lauren!]

some local links you might like...

horsenews-online.com

esdcta.org



NJ has pro's and con's (I was born and raised here, and don't plan on leaving soon as my family is here. Otherwise I'd hapily be living in VA, the Carolinas, TX, or IN!!). But, since it sounds like you're NJbound, you may as well make the best of it :lol: New Brunswick has some sketchy areas, not as bad as Newark or Camden, but not the nicest either. Most of NORTH Brunswick (next town over) is decent. Parts of Franklin Township are good, as is nearly all of Franklin Park and Somerset. All are close to New Brunswick, the college, and public transporation. (PT me if you want).

[Pat]

Well, I'm more a Union & Hunterdon County kind of girl. So I have to ask in earnest if NB is really commutable to the Bronx. Seriously. Seems far to me.

I firmly subscribe to the idea that if you don't like it here, you *do* know where the border is, right?? Go to Pennsy and report back to me on how utterly fabulous it is. Great, you like it there?? Then you are happy and don't worry about it. Got news, there are bad places to live EVERY where, CRIME, every where, and assorted OTHER BAD THINGS, every where.

I'm pretty happy with our dreadful, tight gun laws, thanks.

Sigh.

OP, you can email me if you'd like. Are you needing to move a horse as well?? I've got plenty of leads for you for board, in a few price ranges. Do expect to pay an average of $600 for stall board, depending on the amenities, locale, and the amount of "hand holding" you are accustomed to. Pasture board will run you $250 and up, also depending on the additional amenities and locale. There's a place near me that does pasture board for $400ish, but there's a nice indoor and a heated washstall, so you do get what you pay for. There is also a H/J trainer that freelances from there that I can hook you up with too.

[marta]

took him about 1 hour each way via train and subway. it's totally doable and by the ny metro area standards, 1 hour commute one way is not that bad. keep in mind that just because you move further north doesn't mean that his commute will be shorter since not every train line runs trains w/ the same frequency. i think northeast corrider (on which new brunswick sits) runs them most frequently and doesn't require you to change trains in newark in order to get into nyc.

[marta]

I'm pretty happy with our dreadful, tight gun laws, thanks.


so what exactly makes you so happy about the dreadful, tight gun laws? just curious if you can verbalize for me how they've made your life better, safer? or is it just that you believe the main stream propaganda out there that tells the public how having strict gun laws makes them safer from the criminals? (because we all know that the criminals obey the laws when they want to get themselves a gun...:confused:)

[JanWeber]

Marta, how does your stance on gun control relate to where the OP chooses to live and ride in NJ?

[Abbeyroad1791]

so what exactly makes you so happy about the dreadful, tight gun laws? just curious if you can verbalize for me how they've made your life better, safer? or is it just that you believe the main stream propaganda out there that tells the public how having strict gun laws makes them safer from the criminals? (because we all know that the criminals obey the laws when they want to get themselves a gun...:confused:)

No..but it certainly makes it more difficult to get a gun. And it also prevents accidents from happening with kids who may get into their parents' guns. I would have issues letting my kids go to anyone's house where there are guns, locked up or not.

And to keep it horse related....
There are a ton of really great barns in the New Brunswick area, in addition to a pretty great NJ show circuit too. Good luck on the move, and PM me if you'd like any information on barns!

[Pat]

so what exactly makes you so happy about the dreadful, tight gun laws? just curious if you can verbalize for me how they've made your life better, safer? or is it just that you believe the main stream propaganda out there that tells the public how having strict gun laws makes them safer from the criminals? (because we all know that the criminals obey the laws when they want to get themselves a gun...:confused:)

You do realize that makes you sound like a paranoid gun nut, right?

So, making it easier to get a gun would be a good thing how?? If you can't wait a bit to acquire the thing then you don't need the thing. Urgency to me seems to elude to a paranoid need or a illicit need. Niether makes me feel all that safe.

You think you need a gun to be safe? Fine, I think you are wrong and a fool, but if you don't have a criminal record, buy a gun. You need a gun to go shoot Bambi? Fine, buy that gun, and if you are polite, respect the 'safe area' around the livestock/house, and generally don't seem like a looney, you can hunt on my property. Got plenty of extra Bambi's here. But if you are SO desparate that you gottagetitnow and the 'durn rules' won't let ya, well, maybe you seem like a looney to me. Patience is a virtue.

For the record, yeah, hunting is allowed on my property. With express permission from the property owners, and I'm down with that. My personal preference is bow hunters, tho. Then I don't have to hear them disturbing *my* happy weekend peace. My grandfather was quite the marksman, and made his own bullets! Guns don't bother me that much. I don't see the need to own one, and I can't see how having one in my house 'for protection' is all that advisable. People who winge and whine over background checks and needing to wait, blah, blah, that does bother me. Sounds just as much like "propoganda" to me.

[Pat]

I mean who heard of such a thing as no beer past midnight on Sat?



Well, at least you can buy the beer before midnight! I was visiting some college freinds who have settled in KY, about 45 mins due south of Lexington. The hubby's (ex-pat Brits) parents were also visiting from California. We sit down in a cute lil' resturant for dinner, and hubby turns to his Dad to say "don't bother ordering a beer, Dad, it's a dry county." Dad is stunned. I simply said "Welcome the Bible Belt."

There are too many horse-y reasons to come to NJ to list. It is a horse dense, multi-discpline state. You can't throw a rock without hitting a horse of *some* sort and there are both rated and unrated horse shows EVERY weekend, across the state. With the glaring exception of one or two horse shows, they are all held at top rate facilities. Despite the belief of out-of-staters that this is one big mall-slash-highway, there is still plenty of open space to ride on in NJ. I could go on, but I really need to wash my hair and carry on with the business of packing...

[loni1949]

I am another former NJ resident (Monmouth County but spent most weekends visitig family in North Jersey-Edison, Union, Springfield, West Orange). Also, may be moving back to the area for graduate school in the fall.

As for commuting to the Bronx I have a freind that did it from Highland Park for A.E. as well-it took her over two hours some days. She now lives in Riverdale, NY.

Also- I commuted from Monmouth County to NY for 2 years and I would never do it again. It's roughly the same distance that your talking about from North Jersey to the Bronx.

I do have a few friends who commute from NY to NJ- and find it to be a pretty easy commute - since it's a reverse commutte.

If you are set on the area- Jersey city has a bit of a rough reputation but is very up and coming and may be a good choice for you. It's becoming a young hip place as more and more are priced out of Hobbkoken NJ (a popular area of NJ- close to NY).

you can also PM me if you need any more info. or need additional info though I am admittedly biased towards the barns in Monmouth County.

___
this message was typed from my mobile device- so please ignore any spelling errors.

[marta]

re-read the thread, perhaps then you'll understand how the topic arose.

Marta, how does your stance on gun control relate to where the OP chooses to live and ride in NJ?

[City Ponies]

you obviously moved out long time ago if you think Edison is a nice area with less commuters. i work in Edison and my mom lives here. trust me. commuters galore and most of them are fresh immigrants whose driving skills need some serious improvement...

as far as the strict gun laws - i guess our opinion differs on the subject. not sure where pattnic stands on the subject but to many people their right to own guns is an important one so i thought it should be mentioned.

No, actually moved outta NJ in 2006. I meant driving commuters. If you drive from Edison to NB its a pain, but if you just drive to the train station and take NJ Transit into NB it's not to bad.

Yes, I feel I have a right to own a gun sure. BUT never felt the NEED to own one in NJ. I felt MUCH safer up there then I do here. Everyone owns a gun around here and no one has been taught to use them properly and is very trigger happy. Can you imagine if NJ had the laws that VA does? Everyone would be shooting everyone just b/c they could. It's so densely populated the consequences are much higher. IMO.

[marta]

i'm going to be brief since i mentioned the gun laws in context of reasons why you don't want to live in nj in response to OP's question and i'm sure the mods will quickly nip this discussion in the butt if it goes any further.
so as far as safety of children resulting from the strict gun laws - among children, the figures for causes of death are as follows: motor vehicles (42.4%), suffocation (18.7%), drowning (15.5%), fires (8.8%), bicycles and tricycles (2.3%), poisoning (1.8%), environmental factors (1.7%), falls (1.6%), firearms (1.4%), and medical mistakes (0.9%). making it even harder for me to get a gun in nj will not keep my child safe if once i get the gun i throw it on the coffee table and leave it loaded.

pat, it's not about all about waiting periods. in nj every time you want to buy a handgun you have to submit an application to your local police department. once approved that permit is only valid for 90 days. it is not a one time deal. we jump through hoops to be able to own guns and buy guns. seems that every month the legislature comes up with a new law making ownership and/or purchase of guns more difficult for law abiding citizens. the politicians and special interest groups who draft these laws do not even begin to understand the wide sweeping effects their laws have on gun collectors and gun enthusiasts. but it is a bandwagon that is easy to sell to the public, hence garners easy votes and makes you look good come election time. and it's so much easier to make the gun ownership laws more stringent and point to that as an accomplishment rather than to actually do something about street crime.

and as i'm sure you're aware, guns are not just used for 'protection.' there are many other uses for a gun, which range from hunting through sports such as sporting clays. it's a family activity, no different from horseback riding or bowling.

finally, if i do sound like a "paranoid gun nut" it's because the rights of gun owners in the state of new jersey are being targeted on daily basis.

[marta]

and then good luck finding a parking spot...


No, actually moved outta NJ in 2006. I meant driving commuters. If you drive from Edison to NB its a pain, but if you just drive to the train station and take NJ Transit into NB it's not to bad.

[pattnic]

Thanks for the replies.

Nothing is set in stone yet, as the BF still has at least two more interviews at other grad schools (and hooefully a third); this school just happens to be one of his top two choices. (He is, however, interviewing at the other schools with an open mind - he's good about that sort of thing).

The commute to the Bronx is not a key factor, really, as we will not be living together. It's not so important that it be do-able on a daily basis, just that it's do-able (without breeding resentment because of the super-long drive) several times a month (about every weekend, probably).

Because I am not planning on this being a permanent move and plan on only rent, I'm really not all that concerned with gun control laws, high property taxes, expensive homes, or corrupt government.

Is it even feasible to think that I could find a not-huge horse property (4-10 acres) to rent somewhere within commuting distance to Rutgers? What should I expect to pay for such a thing? And how much are rents in general (1 or 2 BR)?

I will admit, $250 - $400 a month for pasture board is more than I was expecting. Out of sheer principal, I have always refused to pay more to keep my horses in a location than I paid to keep me in a location; looks like I may have to amend that.

[City Ponies]

Pattnic - PM I can reccommend some places that I'm sure you will find within your budget and some that are "affordable" but to stay FAR away from. I was only at 2 barns in my 15 years of horse ownership there, but took lessons/visited/had friends/competed against/showed at etc.. almost every barn within 45 mins of Rutgers.

You will never find a farmette that is affordable and driveable in NJ. Does not exist. However, you may find farms willing to work off board, it does happen, and I did it for a while. Rent in general is $600-$800 for a one bedroom. You can find cheaper but be willing to drive and/or live in a crowded community. Again just PM me, I can tell you some more suburban areas that are only a 20-25 min drive once you learn the backroads, and rent will be closer to the 400-500 range. OOOHH.. I actually know of a 3 bd house for rent, cheap, reasonable commuting distance and close to all transit lines. No land, but in horsey community!!

[marta]

i would argue you'd be hard pressed to even find pasture board for $250-400 which you seem to balk at. but anyway, if your theory is that you refuse to pay more for board then for rent, then board in $1000 price range should fit into that;)
seriously, a 'farmette' you described would run you about $4000 per month if not more, depending on whether it has a barn and/or ring on premises. when we mentioned high property costs, we really meant HIGH.
sounds like you'd be better off into finding a room mate to share housing expenses with. sometimes folks also look to rent a barn apartment. check out craigslist listings.

[City Ponies]

OK, Marta, I don't mean to sound arguementitive, but for some reasons your numbers are beyond outrageous to me. I full-boarded for $380, my friend who still has her horse there says it's gone up to $410. Includes: stall, small group turnout, lighted riding ring, 24/7 owner on premises care, trails for miles, indoor available for additional fee. Not horse ritz but definately the best care I've ever found with that much turnout. My mare was out on 12 acres with only 5 other mares. And a 40 minute drive to downtown New Brunswick. My same friend rents her 2 bedroom apartment for $650, 1/2 hour from downtown New Brunswick. Granted apartment and horse are in opposite directions she's thrilled with both so she drives. I used to pay $175 for "rough" pasture board, my mare was food agressive at the time so I had to seperate her in order for her to be grained, and it honestly wasn't the barn workers job to accomodate my horse, so I didn't mind showing up 2x a day. But they supplied the grain, and if need be for vacation or emergency would feed for me.

It does exist, and I would be happy to reccommend the place I was at for the last 5 years in NJ. I think the more north you go the fancier the barns tend to get, and the limited the turnout. But in Middlesex/Monmouth, which is reasonable depending on town, it's not as bad as everyone makes it.

[Penthilisea]

This is the benefit of New Brunswick, you can go north/north west for $$$ or south/south east for cheaper alteratives. But generally, if she is going to commute to the bronx, anywhere on the light rail lines will be $$$.

[JanWeber]

Like everyting else, price depends on location. The OP is a Morgan person who likes to do a little bit of everything with her horses: driving, dressage, you-name-it. Doesn't need or want a fancy barn or a "name" barn. You CAN get self-care board for as little as $300/month in a backyard barn within commuting distance. You can find housing in the $700-$1000 price range (assuming no dogs come with you - that limits your options and ups the price considerably). There are many good options that are an easy commute to NY for her boyfriend and to New Brunswick for her. Yes, NJ is not an inexpensive place to live - those who have quoted "when I boarded there" rates - well, prices have gone up. Everywhere.

[City Ponies]

Jan - yes I'm aware things have gone up drastically in 3 years. But I visit every year, and board at my barn has only gone up $30, mainly because they actually have lots of pasture and spend less on hay. If you go to one of the alternate stops in NJ - ie: off the main Newark/New Brunswick/Princeton Line, there are a lot more afforable alternatives. For example, friend lives in South River, train station (Shoreline Track) 5 mins away, also a 20 minute drive to NB up Rt. 18. Pays $550 in rent, I know b/c I almost moved back up to be her neighbor a few months ago. Good neighborhood, I'd certainly feel safe being a single woman. My barn was a 40 minute drive, $410 for full board, there are other barns with self-care for $315 and closer commute. It does exist just be diligent and really seach.

If there is one thing I've come to learn about people new or not from NJ is that there are a LOT of stereotypes and false assumptions. I'm not saying everyone who posted here is, but I was 18 living on my own and paying rent plus full board on 2 horses and I made it just fine. It's not impossible!!

[Alibhai's Alibar]

Is it even feasible to think that I could find a not-huge horse property (4-10 acres) to rent somewhere within commuting distance to Rutgers? What should I expect to pay for such a thing? And how much are rents in general (1 or 2 BR)?

I will admit, $250 - $400 a month for pasture board is more than I was expecting. Out of sheer principal, I have always refused to pay more to keep my horses in a location than I paid to keep me in a location; looks like I may have to amend that.

I'm a Jersey-bred, also a Rutgers grad. Grew up in Monmouth County and lived along the Parkway all the way up to Rutherford. Now I'm back in Monmouth County :cool:

I managed to ride on a regular basis through school both on the equestrian team and my own horse. My barn was in Monmouth County near Freehold/Howell. If you're driving on off hours, you have a pretty good radius of barns in your area. But traffic will throw a money wrench into some locations.

My guess is that finding inexpensive pasture board will be easier than finding an inexpensive barn rental but there are gems out there. Check the local NJ horse forums and publications for listings. www.nj-horse.com is a friendly, active board with good local resources.

Agree with others- there are so, so many horsey activities in the state. If you take the plunge... welcome to NJ!

[Pat]

a 'farmette' you described would run you about $4000 per month if not more, depending on whether it has a barn and/or ring on premises. when we mentioned high property costs,


Um, WHAT?

Really. Ok, I pay $1800 for a medium sized house, and admitedly crappy barn and a paddock. It ain't paradise, but it's here and it's not four grand either.

There's a 5 stall barn for rent right now in Tewksbury. $750. Sure that's alot if you don't need all 5, it's just an example.

You CAN absolutely get a dry stall for $100 to $200 if you wanted to do your own work.

The place "I should have never left" was $600 a month for 4 stalls and a HUGE amount pasture. (close to 40 acres) I haggled the price of the dude's 3 bedroom in-law apartment down to what I could afford and the whole enchilada only cost $1600. Nice while it lasted and we so totally should have just stayed there.

Rentals for horses dont grow on trees here but they don't have to cost 4 grand. that's nuts.