Best state to relocate to start a new life with horses (Richmond: living, cost of living)

[hotwired99]

My daughter is 16 and loves horses. She wants her life to revolve around them in some way throughout her life. We live in central Maine which isn't a bad place to live other than 8 months of winter (okay...3 months...but you wouldn't be far off saying 8 either! haha)

However, she's indicated a desire to be in a warmer clime so as to be able to ride more months of the year. Florida is out, or at least low on the list because the number of months that are too HOT to do much riding are equal to Maine's un ridable winter months. (when I say un ridable, I mean "easy or pleasant" to ride)

We want to help her start "dream building" by maybe taking a couple of short trips to locales to get a feel for them. We've thought that the Carolinas might be a good spot. She's LIKE to be near the coast but isn't a beach person, so half hour's drive or even a little more is not out of the question.

Like to keep it "east coast" if possible (not much further west than Florida, let's say. In other words, let's eliminate California, Arizona, and especially Oklahoma. (been there...yeah...)

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[svband76]

I'm a bit of a horse enthusiast myself. Racing that is. Does she wish to eventually have a career in the horse business? North Carolina may be as far south as I would go. I know Maryland and New Jersey are good choices as well but you'd still have some snowy days but maybe not so many.

[gf2020]

Kentucky is the natural choice.

[Traveler1026]

I would recommend North Carolina. Great weather most of the year and decent cost of living

[atlantatomaine]

North Carolina is hot....not much difference than Georgia....the south has hot weather 7 months out of the year....also its very conservative.....the Richmond area is beautiful and has plenty of horse farms.

[hotwired99]

Ah yes, Kentucky! That is a possibility. We've never visited. Her and I both have "The Carolinas" stuck in our minds. I think it's mostly the proximity, plus like one commenter said, North Carolina has just the right mix...a bit of a winter but nothing horrible. I have heard that North C is a little different climate-wise than South Carolina (i.e. Summers hot but not quite as hot, more of a colder snap or two in the Winter, etc.)

I get that there will be hot months anywhere south of us, really. Virginia does come up in our searches as well. Thanks for the hints so far. (PS: We LOVE conservative. Sometimes it's a bit overbearing but the whole Southern old fashioned conservatism really grows on us, though I know it's not for everyone)

[Zymer]

I's consider Tennessee as well. I've been through there, nice country, nice people, lots of horses.

[HomeIsWhere...]

Originally Posted by hotwired99

Ah yes, Kentucky! That is a possibility. We've never visited. Her and I both have "The Carolinas" stuck in our minds. I think it's mostly the proximity, plus like one commenter said, North Carolina has just the right mix...a bit of a winter but nothing horrible. I have heard that North C is a little different climate-wise than South Carolina (i.e. Summers hot but not quite as hot, more of a colder snap or two in the Winter, etc.)

I get that there will be hot months anywhere south of us, really. Virginia does come up in our searches as well. Thanks for the hints so far. (PS: We LOVE conservative. Sometimes it's a bit overbearing but the whole Southern old fashioned conservatism really grows on us, though I know it's not for everyone)

Originally Posted by Zymer

I's consider Tennessee as well. I've been through there, nice country, nice people, lots of horses.

There you have it kids, the colonial trail from Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and last but certainly not least, the Bluegrass State of Kentucky!

I'd say that sums it up quite nicely.

Good luck and best wishes OP!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Kentucky is the natural choice.

You beat me to it. /\this/\

RR

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Kentucky is the natural choice.

Exactly what I thought.

Maine is great country, to be sure. But it gets awfully cold here in the winter. Is it possible to raise horses here? You bet? Is it ideal? I wouldn't say so.