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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 795
  
Location: GODS country | My husband has been offered a job in Ocala, Florida and I was curious if we have anyone on here that lives in this area!
Curious of feed/hay costs, pasture quality, weather (especially the humidity) and of course....barrel racing/rodeo!
We currently live in the Midwest. I am assuming the cost of living, in general, is much higher down there...but I could be wrong!
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | I am up in Ohio but have relatives that have a TB farm right by Ocala and know of other people right there, Hay is expensive but Ocala is HORSE COUNTRY EVERYWHERE. A new horse complex is being built there that is UNREAL, multiple indoors and barns all air conditioned with adjoining 250 room hotel. Weather---summer is so hot and humid you pretty much have to wotk horses very early in the morning or late at night---during the day is a no go. I do not think property it crazy though--places can be bought reasonable.
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | Mighty Broke - 2019-01-23 8:44 AM I am up in Ohio but have relatives that have a TB farm right by Ocala and know of other people right there, Hay is expensive but Ocala is HORSE COUNTRY EVERYWHERE. A new horse complex is being built there that is UNREAL, multiple indoors and barns all air conditioned with adjoining 250 room hotel. Weather---summer is so hot and humid you pretty much have to wotk horses very early in the morning or late at night---during the day is a no go. I do not think property it crazy though--places can be bought reasonable.
Folks in Florida(and all of the south) get used to heat and humidity and it's just another day.
Just like folks in the north and midwest get used to cold and shatty food and i'ts jut another day.
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Ocala is smack in the middle of everything - horse mecca. Tons of arenas, good pastures, world-class vets, hay suppliers. It's a great place to have horses and run barrels. They just had a No Bull in Ocala either last weekend or the one before that. Love that area.
Pastures are generally good unless it's straight sand. There isn't a lot of sand in Ocala proper but if you get closer to the coast, it can get sandy and then grass won't grow great.
I'm told hay is more expensive here, especially if you're feeding something that isn't coastal grass. I've only lived in FL so I have no frame of reference. 
Summer is hot and humid and it's probably going to rain in the afternoon for fifteen minutes. Around May, shows will start moving to night time starts to avoid the heat of the day. July and August are generally "summer vacation" for jackpots/rodeos because it's just too dang hot. Go to the beach, go sit by the pool, go to Busch Gardens and ride roller coasters instead.
The trade off is winter of course. I'm in Tallahasee and the high today is 73. We have a cold front coming through tonight - the weather man says high of 55 tomorrow. That'll last maybe a week and it'll be back to upper 60s, low 70s. |
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 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | Ocala is known as the horse capital of the world. You'd have an abundance of everything horse related. I am about 2.4 hours from Ocala. Great vets, tack shops, trailer dealers, lots of barrel races that way, trail riding places, etc. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24952
Location: WYOMING | Ocala is the equine promised land. |
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Location: in the ozone | Lived not far from there for a few years - after living in the midwest. Never did get used to the humidity, still can't stand it. Out west with low humidity for me! I know hay has improved since I lived there but the hay most were feeding then was called Pangola or something like that. It was "supposed" to be as close to midwest type hay as possible & it was crap & not cheap. I know things are better there now but I still couldn't handle the humidity. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | geronabean - 2019-01-23 10:17 AM Ocala is the equine promised land.
It is. I would move out of Ocala. The barrel races that you guys have is wonderful though.
I live in So GA, and coming from the NW, the humidity was awful at first. Now, we are just used to it.
We haul from So GA into FL all the time for races. I find the producers are a lot better then what I was used to too.
Feed isn't that much more, if any for what we get here either.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 795
Location: GODS country | Thank you all for the responses! I did not know that Ocala was horse country!
I truly do hate the humid summers here, and I can only imagine how much worse it is down there!
What about the bugs/snakes/gators, etc.? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| Sort of eves dropping on this topic, as we would LOVE to move out of the midwest cold, just scared to actually jump ship with the horses and not having a secure job in place. Is Ocala a low crime city or area unlike other parts of FL? We have visited Daytona, Miami, no thanks. What about boarding horses, how expensive is it? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| Sort of eves dropping on this topic, as we would LOVE to move out of the midwest cold, just scared to actually jump ship with the horses and not having a secure job in place. Is Ocala a low crime city or area unlike other parts of FL? We have visited Daytona, Miami, no thanks. What about boarding horses, how expensive is it? |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24952
Location: WYOMING | Better learn to love bugs, snakes and gators. Mosquitos the size of jet planes, only a couple venomous snakes and a gator in every body of water. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 795
Location: GODS country | geronabean - 2019-01-23 11:46 AM
Better learn to love bugs, snakes and gators. Mosquitos the size of jet planes, only a couple venomous snakes and a gator in every body of water.
This is what I fear the most!! |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| TrackinBubba - 2019-01-23 9:06 AM Ocala is smack in the middle of everything - horse mecca. Tons of arenas, good pastures, world-class vets, hay suppliers. It's a great place to have horses and run barrels. They just had a No Bull in Ocala either last weekend or the one before that. Love that area.
Pastures are generally good unless it's straight sand. There isn't a lot of sand in Ocala proper but if you get closer to the coast, it can get sandy and then grass won't grow great.
I'm told hay is more expensive here, especially if you're feeding something that isn't coastal grass. I've only lived in FL so I have no frame of reference.
Summer is hot and humid and it's probably going to rain in the afternoon for fifteen minutes. Around May, shows will start moving to night time starts to avoid the heat of the day. July and August are generally "summer vacation" for jackpots/rodeos because it's just too dang hot. Go to the beach, go sit by the pool, go to Busch Gardens and ride roller coasters instead.
The trade off is winter of course. I'm in Tallahasee and the high today is 73. We have a cold front coming through tonight - the weather man says high of 55 tomorrow. That'll last maybe a week and it'll be back to upper 60s, low 70s.
right now in oyster bay below crawfordville gale winds raing like,,,,,, be 68 you got any showing coming up like to meet board people |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| ecranch - 2019-01-23 8:35 AM My husband has been offered a job in Ocala, Florida and I was curious if we have anyone on here that lives in this area! Curious of feed/hay costs, pasture quality, weather (especially the humidity) and of course....barrel racing/rodeo! We currently live in the Midwest. I am assuming the cost of living, in general, is much higher down there...but I could be wrong!
go on zillow.com look aroiund at properties |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | Wild1 - 2019-01-23 12:37 PM Sort of eves dropping on this topic, as we would LOVE to move out of the midwest cold, just scared to actually jump ship with the horses and not having a secure job in place. Is Ocala a low crime city or area unlike other parts of FL? We have visited Daytona, Miami, no thanks. What about boarding horses, how expensive is it?
I like it closer to Bell, Trenton, Live oak. THen I like towards Marianna and Blountstown. All of those areas seem like nice quiet places to be. ANd, not far from races either. |
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A Cool Sharp One
| I am a born/bred Floridian and cannot think of living anywhere else. Yes we have bugs (lots of them, including no-seeums), alligators, snakes but it is a great place to live.
Possibly look in the Morriston area that is just a few minutes away from Ocala and very nice.
People don't realize that Florida has more horses per capita than any other state.
Unfortunately to those of us that are born/bred here there are too many outsiders moving here and really wish we could put a cap on it!
Allot of places to go and visit on a day trip, and there are also great places to hop on cruise ships for a long weekend |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | mattslilwonder - 2019-01-24 7:44 AM I am a born/bred Floridian and cannot think of living anywhere else. Yes we have bugs (lots of them, including no-seeums), alligators, snakes but it is a great place to live.
Possibly look in the Morriston area that is just a few minutes away from Ocala and very nice.
People don't realize that Florida has more horses per capita than any other state.
Unfortunately to those of us that are born/bred here there are too many outsiders moving here and really wish we could put a cap on it!
Allot of places to go and visit on a day trip, and there are also great places to hop on cruise ships for a long weekend
It seems like I've heard Florida also has a surprising amount of cows. I wouldn't have thought of Florida as cow or horse country. However, since you also have Gators I will stay here in North country where it was -7 here yesterday. |
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The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | Timber Creek - 2019-01-25 12:20 PM
mattslilwonder - 2019-01-24 7:44 AM I am a born/bred Floridian and cannot think of living anywhere else. Yes we have bugs (lots of them, including no-seeums), alligators, snakes but it is a great place to live.
Possibly look in the Morriston area that is just a few minutes away from Ocala and very nice.
People don't realize that Florida has more horses per capita than any other state.
Unfortunately to those of us that are born/bred here there are too many outsiders moving here and really wish we could put a cap on it!
Allot of places to go and visit on a day trip, and there are also great places to hop on cruise ships for a long weekend
It seems like I've heard Florida also has a surprising amount of cows. I wouldn't have thought of Florida as cow or horse country. However, since you also have Gators I will stay here in North country where it was -7 here yesterday.
Inland Florida is all flat grazing land. It is perfect for cows and horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
Location: North of where I want to be | I am following along on this one as I travel to Orlando next week for a decision making interview.
MitghyBroke....you are gonna have to FB message me. I'd love to meet the Southern branch of your herd. |
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Ms. Dr. Phil
Location: My happy place | Interesting read, I have a question for people who travel to FL with horses. I know the health requirements for out of state horses, but do you have to stop any place when entering the state to show paperwork? Seems I remember years ago you had to stop. I'm asking because I get to leave to cold midwest and head down around Ocala, to trail ride and camp for a week then a week in Live Oak. Can't wait to escape the cold. Also how bad are the bugs mid February to early March? Thanks a bunch, you lucky warm weather people.
Edited by Palopony 2019-02-04 10:24 PM
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | I keep remembering horse races shown on telecasts from Hialeah and Gulfstream where all the horses went to the gate soaked in sweat and steaming from the combination of heat and humidity. Can't imagine how they keep them reasonably cool in their stalls with only a fan. Doesn't sound like a climate that would suit those who can't deal with humidity. Sometimes even in Kansas it gets really oppressive on hot summer days. |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | Palopony - 2019-02-04 11:21 PM Interesting read, I have a question for people who travel to FL with horses. I know the health requirements for out of state horses, but do you have to stop any place when entering the state to show paperwork? Seems I remember years ago you had to stop. I'm asking because I get to leave to cold midwest and head down around Ocala, to trail ride and camp for a week then a week in Live Oak. Can't wait to escape the cold. Also how bad are the bugs mid February to early March? Thanks a bunch, you lucky warm weather people.
When you come into the state on state highways and the interstates there are agricultural stations. They are ususally around the weigh stations. You must stop at the ag stations. All you need is a current health paper and current coggins.
And, yes, there are bugs in February/March. Though not as bad. Normal spray will keep them away from you and your horse.
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Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | 3canstorun - 2019-02-05 8:06 AM Palopony - 2019-02-04 11:21 PM Interesting read, I have a question for people who travel to FL with horses. I know the health requirements for out of state horses, but do you have to stop any place when entering the state to show paperwork? Seems I remember years ago you had to stop. I'm asking because I get to leave to cold midwest and head down around Ocala, to trail ride and camp for a week then a week in Live Oak. Can't wait to escape the cold. Also how bad are the bugs mid February to early March? Thanks a bunch, you lucky warm weather people. When you come into the state on state highways and the interstates there are agricultural stations. They are ususally around the weigh stations. You must stop at the ag stations. All you need is a current health paper and current coggins.
And, yes, there are bugs in February/March. Though not as bad. Normal spray will keep them away from you and your horse.
Oooh are you going to Suwannee River? I love that place.
Yes! Stop at the ag station whenever you see one even if you haven't crossed a state line. They will run you down and give you a hefty ticket like you committed some major crime. Ask me how I know.  |
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Ms. Dr. Phil
Location: My happy place | TrackinBubba - 2019-02-05 8:19 AM 3canstorun - 2019-02-05 8:06 AM Palopony - 2019-02-04 11:21 PM Interesting read, I have a question for people who travel to FL with horses. I know the health requirements for out of state horses, but do you have to stop any place when entering the state to show paperwork? Seems I remember years ago you had to stop. I'm asking because I get to leave to cold midwest and head down around Ocala, to trail ride and camp for a week then a week in Live Oak. Can't wait to escape the cold. Also how bad are the bugs mid February to early March? Thanks a bunch, you lucky warm weather people. When you come into the state on state highways and the interstates there are agricultural stations. They are ususally around the weigh stations. You must stop at the ag stations. All you need is a current health paper and current coggins.
And, yes, there are bugs in February/March. Though not as bad. Normal spray will keep them away from you and your horse.
Yes! Stop at the ag station whenever you see one even if you haven't crossed a state line. They will run you down and give you a hefty ticket like you committed some major crime. Ask me how I know.
I don't know if we are going to the Suwannee River we are going to the Goethe National Forest for a week then to a place in Live Oak. We are going with friends who have been there before. I'm really not a trail rider but since I'm getting old and cutting is way to $$$, I have found new ways to enjoy my horses. I say that but .... trail riding on a (quick as a cat) cutting horse is an experience. If you all know of any fun things to do in the area please let me know. This is one trail ride I am excited about, can't wait to escape to the warm weather.
I do have to take a 12 week old puppy with me who weighs 26 lbs already, and a chihuahua should be a real treat in a motor home. At least it won't be cold when she has to go out. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Palopony - 2019-02-05 8:05 AM TrackinBubba - 2019-02-05 8:19 AM 3canstorun - 2019-02-05 8:06 AM Palopony - 2019-02-04 11:21 PM Interesting read, I have a question for people who travel to FL with horses. I know the health requirements for out of state horses, but do you have to stop any place when entering the state to show paperwork? Seems I remember years ago you had to stop. I'm asking because I get to leave to cold midwest and head down around Ocala, to trail ride and camp for a week then a week in Live Oak. Can't wait to escape the cold. Also how bad are the bugs mid February to early March? Thanks a bunch, you lucky warm weather people. When you come into the state on state highways and the interstates there are agricultural stations. They are ususally around the weigh stations. You must stop at the ag stations. All you need is a current health paper and current coggins.
And, yes, there are bugs in February/March. Though not as bad. Normal spray will keep them away from you and your horse.
Yes! Stop at the ag station whenever you see one even if you haven't crossed a state line. They will run you down and give you a hefty ticket like you committed some major crime. Ask me how I know.
I do have to take a 12 week old puppy with me who weighs 26 lbs already, and a chihuahua should be a real treat in a motor home. At least it won't be cold when she has to go out.
One of my closest friends use to ride her main cutting mare when we rode out around her house. And Bit would squat and "work" the same culvert every time. Glad it was her and not me! |
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Member
Posts: 27
Location: North central Florida | I live in the same area as the Goethe State Forest. Not sure when you are planning to come for your visit, just be aware that Spring Turkey Season begins here March 16-22, 23-31 and April 1-7. Legal shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1:00 pm. It is possible that hunters could be in many of the designated riding areas as these are not exclusively horseback riding only. The fee to access the state forest trails is $2.00 per day (self pay, honor system). The trails are well marked and there are a variety of trail distances with watering stations periodically. Many endurance trail rides are held here because of the extensive trails. Most of the trails are dirt paths. https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Goethe-State-Forest You might also consider trail riding on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway during your visit (no entry fees). There are a series of trailheads, many with overnight camping available in Marion County (Dunnellon, Ocala areas). The trails are shared (horsebackriding, hiking, biking, but no hunters allowed). In my personal experience, I haven't found these trails to be as well marked as Goethe, but it's been a few years since I've been on the Greenway. I would suggest downloading a GPS trail tracking app on your cell phone just in case. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/marjorie-harris-carr-cross-florida-greenway Don't forget to pack your bug spray (for horse and rider), hat, sunscreen, water bottles and evidence of a Negative Coggins test less than 12 months old. We currently have quite a bit of standing water as we had a very rainy summer and winter and it hasn't been warm enough to evaporate all that water (the trees are not drawing water just yet either). Just be aware there could be many areas with long water sloughs. HAPPY TRAILS! 
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A Cool Sharp One
| I just saw an article that rated Ocala as the least "tech savvy" area of Florida..... well that is because everyone is riding their horses! |
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