[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by LoveSellingFLHomes

Your best bets are likely going to be Central Florida such as the Ocala area, Lake, Pasco or Polk Counties.

Originally Posted by annerk

The schools in Polk are generally poor.

Parts of Marion County (Ocala) and parts of Lake County are your best bet for good schools, employment, and owning horses. I would also look at Alachua County near Gainesville.

School quality and job availability aren't particularly favorable in any of these areas outside of possibly Gainesville.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Zaba

Unless you're boarding, if you plan on keeping your horses at your own place, be sure to check the minimum acreage requirements. I know 5 acres minimum applies to some places.

The catch there is that acreage in commuting distance to major metro areas = $$$. Less expensive acreage = rural areas = much less desirable schools pretty much every time.

Someone noted St Johns County but good luck finding a suitable horse property there anymore without spending a fair chunk of coin, even in the furthest reaches of the county. It wasn't always that way but it is now.

I know of three places zoned for horses with existing homes and stable in Southern Lake and Western Orange Counties that are for sale right now and less than 35 minutes to Orlando and with good to excellent schools--and I'm not even in real estate.

This is not as difficult as it's being made out to be.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

School quality and job availability aren't particularly favorable in any of these areas outside of possibly Gainesville.

You're saying the mostly "A" rated schools in Clermont aren't good? I would have to disagree. With a 30 minute drive to Orlando, Leesburg, and 40 minutes to Ocala, there are plenty of jobs.

[Zaba]

Originally Posted by annerk

I know of three places zoned for horses with existing homes and stable in Southern Lake and Western Orange Counties that are for sale right now and less than 35 minutes to Orlando and with good to excellent schools--and I'm not even in real estate.

This is not as difficult as it's being made out to be.

I know of places within a close drive to Ponte Vedra Beach where one can have horses.
Did the OP mention that they had a wide-open, high end budget where the sky was the limit?

Or do the context clues (currently a student, going to school and entering a profession that isn't high income) suggest that there might be budgetary realities involved?

[Robyn55]

There are still lots of horse places in Ponte Vedra Beach - in Palm Valley. Can't say they were ever inexpensive - but they're high priced spread now.

FWIW - when we first moved here - the Budweiser Clydesdale horses were stabled at the entrance to our HOA. Robyn

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Zaba

I know of places within a close drive to Ponte Vedra Beach where one can have horses.
Did the OP mention that they had a wide-open, high end budget where the sky was the limit?

Or do the context clues (currently a student, going to school and entering a profession that isn't high income) suggest that there might be budgetary realities involved?

Do you know anything about Southern Lake or Western Orange? I think not.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by foxwillow

We are planning a move to Florida in the next five years. Just haven't decided on exactly where. I know that Ocala is famous horse country but don't want to rule out any other horse friendly area either...any suggestions? Also completing my psychology degree and when we move I should have completed my masters for Marriage and Family Counseling...what is a good area for jobs in that field? Any other advice would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

Check out Brevard County. Great family oriented county with good schools, friendly people and we have properties that allow for horses-especially in the Malabar/Grant area . Also some in the Lake Washington area. We have parks that have riding trails. Some roads even have signs to watch for horses.

Parks and sanctuaries with horseback riding trails include:

Wickham Park in Melbourne
Buck Lake Conservation Area
Pine Island Conservation Area
Malabar Scrub Sanctuary in the Town of Malabar
Jordan Scrub Sanctuary
Micco Scrub Sanctuary

Wickham Park used to board horses there, too but not sure if they still do that. Check out this too if you would want to board your horses.

http://www.equinenow.com/riding/palm+bay-florida.htm

[Zaba]

Originally Posted by annerk

Do you know anything about Southern Lake or Western Orange? I think not.

Sometimes, I forget what passes for 'acceptable schools' in Florida, to some people.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Zaba

Sometimes, I forget what passes for 'acceptable schools' in Florida, to some people.

"A" Rated aren't acceptable?

[Zaba]

Originally Posted by annerk

"A" Rated aren't acceptable?

Haha, most 'mortgage backed securities' were "A Rated" in 2005.
I know those exact areas very, very well. I'm guessing you're going on 'theory' or whatever fragments of info you've cobbled up off the internet.

You're consistently naive.