Moving to lafayette, Am I going to hate it!? (New Orleans: house, transfer)

[dragonfly_dore]

So I am pretty sure I am going to be relocating from southern Indiana to lafayette in the next year with my husband (he was born and raised there and moved here about 3 years ago)

Im terrified I wont like it.

I was born and raised in central FL and moved to Indiana 4 years ago but am ready for a change.

I am a huge outdoors person, I love to hike, horseback ride (I will be bringing my horse down with me!!) and just generally prefer being in nature.

I also love a more slow paced relaxed town setting.

Am I up for disappointment?

Anybody here know if there is much of a horse community in the area? Any barns or places to ride?

[sailordave]

Oh my god. There are trail riders all over the place. In Carencro, just north of Lafayette, there are plenty of horse ranches due to a horse race track that use to be located there. Carencro use to have a quarter horse track. In many of the small town parades there are horses in the parade. I grew up in Carencro watching people riding their horses in the parade. One guy rode his brahama bull in the parade. Not too far away is a horse race track/casino. There are several western stores that cater to horse riders. Some parts of central and north Louisiana is a forested area with state parks where people can go camping. Not positive if you can bring your horse. With a horse you'd probably better look for property north of Carencro just outside Lafayette Parish. Property prices are cheaper and more land available depending on your location. My cousins live on the Carenco/Lafayette border and they use to raise horses. They stopped due to family illness and bills.

[Owen08]

Originally Posted by dragonfly_dore

So I am pretty sure I am going to be relocating from southern Indiana to lafayette in the next year with my husband (he was born and raised there and moved here about 3 years ago)

Im terrified I wont like it.

I was born and raised in central FL and moved to Indiana 4 years ago but am ready for a change.

I am a huge outdoors person, I love to hike, horseback ride (I will be bringing my horse down with me!!) and just generally prefer being in nature.

I also love a more slow paced relaxed town setting.

Am I up for disappointment?

Anybody here know if there is much of a horse community in the area? Any barns or places to ride?

it is very possible on somethings but you can make the best out of it go there with a open mind and you may like it

[dragonfly_dore]

Originally Posted by sailordave

Oh my god. There are trail riders all over the place. In Carencro, just north of Lafayette, there are plenty of horse ranches due to a horse race track that use to be located there. Carencro use to have a quarter horse track. In many of the small town parades there are horses in the parade. I grew up in Carencro watching people riding their horses in the parade. One guy rode his brahama bull in the parade. Not too far away is a horse race track/casino. There are several western stores that cater to horse riders. Some parts of central and north Louisiana is a forested area with state parks where people can go camping. Not positive if you can bring your horse. With a horse you'd probably better look for property north of Carencro just outside Lafayette Parish. Property prices are cheaper and more land available depending on your location. My cousins live on the Carenco/Lafayette border and they use to raise horses. They stopped due to family illness and bills.

Its great to hear this, I was so worried that there would not be any horse culture there at all.

Is it mostly thoroughbred barns down there? Im not a huge racing fan but I can get over it. OTTB's make great hunter jumpers once they're track careersw end.

I trained Paso Finos and Friesians in Florida and now own a 5 year old TWH that I started under saddle myself.

[WendyW.]

Horse people are practically a dime a dozen in south Louisiana. You shouldn't be hard pressed to make like minded friends.

Like the other poster suggested, I would make sure to look at the zoning for any property you buy. You'll more than likely want to settle down in more of the rural areas. You'll livestock galore out there.

I'm from one of the very very tiny towns and it's a very laid back rural lifestyle we live out here. I personally find Lafayette proper to be too fast paced for me. lol I'm glad it's there for the shopping and what not but I'm always so glad to get back to the country!

[NOLA3811]

You are going to love Lafayette!! It is so very friendly. The people there are warm and will talk at the drop of a hat. Lafayette is the perfect size. You can be anywhere in 15 minutes, but there are all the stores that a bigger city has. There are loads of great resturants, festivals, free concerts. People in Lafayette are very social and love having lots of things to do.

You will never want to leave, believe me. We are from the area, were transferred to New Orleans and wouldn't sell our Lafayette house because we are going back by hook or by crook.

[Innotech]

Ill put it this way, there used to be acres of land IN town with horses and I think still might be in a few areas. On the northside ("upper lafayette") youll find a lot of horse pastures and riders. People ride them in parades and out in the countryside not far away youll probably see one walking the streets in summer. There is a huge place called Ranch Outlet off of I49 that is very busy and services pretty much every need a cowboy/horse rider/rodeo-goer would need. In short, Lafayette is definitely into horse culture and racing. the track is still nearby, about 25 minutes drive up the road in Opelousas. not far at all to travel. They mainly moved so they could have the casino.
I think if you are outdoors fan, youll find it quite warm here (read HOT as hell)
but very friendly and catering to your interests. This is a Cajun town but its also a country-loving, more conservative, nature loving kind of place. Youll probably notice a huge abundance of trees all through the city. The neighborhoods in many areas are covered with them. No acres and acres of asphalt jungle here.

[cBach]

Sounds like you'll love it.

[JimLFT]

Originally Posted by Innotech

Ill put it this way, there used to be acres of land IN town with horses and I think still might be in a few areas. On the northside ("upper lafayette") youll find a lot of horse pastures and riders. People ride them in parades and out in the countryside not far away youll probably see one walking the streets in summer. There is a huge place called Ranch Outlet off of I49 that is very busy and services pretty much every need a cowboy/horse rider/rodeo-goer would need. In short, Lafayette is definitely into horse culture and racing. the track is still nearby, about 25 minutes drive up the road in Opelousas. not far at all to travel. They mainly moved so they could have the casino.
I think if you are outdoors fan, youll find it quite warm here (read HOT as hell)
but very friendly and catering to your interests. This is a Cajun town but its also a country-loving, more conservative, nature loving kind of place. Youll probably notice a huge abundance of trees all through the city. The neighborhoods in many areas are covered with them. No acres and acres of asphalt jungle here.

Have you ever visited Magnolia Ridge in Washington, LA? My wife had a photo shoot there yesterday and I decided to go with her with our two year old daughter, On the way up I-49 were all those beautiful horse farms looking better than ever. The horse culture is certainly alive and well here.

[Brian Egnew]

Originally Posted by NOLA3811

You are going to love Lafayette!! It is so very friendly. The people there are warm and will talk at the drop of a hat. Lafayette is the perfect size. You can be anywhere in 15 minutes, but there are all the stores that a bigger city has. There are loads of great resturants, festivals, free concerts. People in Lafayette are very social and love having lots of things to do.

You will never want to leave, believe me. We are from the area, were transferred to New Orleans and wouldn't sell our Lafayette house because we are going back by hook or by crook.

How about Opelousas? Or should I look to stay in Lafayette?