Great Horse Communities

[andra]

I am writing an article for a major national horse magazine, and I am collecting nominations for the best and worst horse communities in the U.S. If you live in one or know of one, please let me know where it is! I am looking specifically for places that have horse-friendly legislation and zoning laws, in addition to a general "horsiness" about the culture. "Worst" nominations would be places that actually used to be good horse communities but have passed laws or encouraged development that have forced horse owners out in recent years. Any leads? Please respond to this post.

[RackingHorse]

Not sure if this is what you are exactly looking for. But my community in the upstate of South Carolina is trying to legislate in Zoning. The community used to have nice pasture lands and farming areas. However now we have legislated in zoning and very little farmland. It converted what was previously great horse country at the foothills of the appalachia's to row cropped housing.

[TheRider]

I am near the SC beaches myself and the area has taken a turn for the worst in the horse area. We have had law after law totally restricting horses. The downtown Charleston area has carriage horses but for public riding the area has really removed the horse rider from the picture.

[Mikki Here]

Not many places left to ride near any city everywhere you look they are building houses. Of course you can board your horse, but it costs so much.

[upstatesc]

there are some marvelous areas in the mountains of Virginia that are perfect fits for this sort of lifestyle, especially in the Shenandoah region

[caliber]

Our farm is located on a very small town by the name of Anthony, Florida, Anthony is part of Marion County and only few minutes away from Ocala, Florida. Our Farm is located on 105th Lane also known as PASOFINO Lane!, wow! all you see all day long is Paso Fino Horses back and forth!, every farm is set and divided by what we call it, an alley..... lots of fun!!! Oh! I almost forgot the main foucus point!!! On our LANE!!! resides not only the USA National Champions for 2007 mare and stallion, but almost one of the most famous trainers!!! MALE and FEMALE!!!, oh! by the way! our National Champions both are being trained by an AMERICAN FEMALE TRAINER!!!!:D

We are lucky! very Lucky!!!!

[cathmarmar]

Heaven on Earth it sounds like to me. Well, besides the heat and humidity. Does it ever seem to bother the horses tremendously? I know it would me!

[caliber]

Heaven on Earth it sounds like to me. Well, besides the heat and humidity. Does it ever seem to bother the horses tremendously? I know it would me!

Not at all! the worse months will be during July and August where the tempertures could reach 100f during the peek of the day but at night is back in the high 70's and that is not bad!

Horses go out during the day, back in by noon and every stall will have a fan for their comfort. The pasture horses have a shelter shed...

The schedule for working horses is between 6am-11am and then resumes at 4Pm till 8:30 or 9PM!

So, Ocala is not bad! all the contrary, we enjoy our horses all year round! mind you, in the winter it can get to teens! but still by noon is the the 40s. 50s and 60s.

[chisella]

I would like to know of any horse communities between Westcliffe, CO and Prairie Farm, WI. I am riding from CO to WI but with a van and trailer support. I know it would depend on my route, but I would alter my route to go through horse friendly communities. (anybody want to go, there's room for one more horse, leaving Westcliffe,CO in MidMay.