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Veteran
Posts: 170
 
| Playing with the idea of leaving Northern MN to head to AZ this fall.. I have family in the area and looking for a change. My family is in the Mesa/Tempe area. Curious about what it is like down there from a horse owners/barrel racers perspective (family lives in town). I know summers are miserable, but what is the barrel racing, economy, crime (I have a young child, single mom) and job market like? I'm not set on that area, I'd be fine with Northern AZ, etc... Thanks!  | |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
 
Location: Where I am happiest | All the big winter races are in Buckeye just outside Pheonix and they had races every day of the week. HUGE weekend races. We spent the month of jan. down there this past winter and it was in the 70's every day. Absolutelly gorgous weather. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 170
| I have looked into Pheonix, Buckeye, area and the cost of living seems fairly affordable...
Edited by MNcanchaser7 2014-07-08 12:09 PM
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
 
Location: Arizona | Houses with property are still pretty reasonable. There are barrel races all over town, from south to north, east & west. Winter of course is our busiest time of the year for races. The job market isn't too bad right now, depends on what you are looking for. Don't move here now, it's miserable!! If you need any information on anything let me know!!
gas is $3.70 a gallon
alfalfa is about $12-$15 a bale
grass is about $16 a bale
Edited by LIVE2RUN 2014-07-08 5:06 PM
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | You couldn't pay me to live in the Phoenix area. Super crowded, bad air quality, and too dang hot. Not to mention the haboobs lol. The barrel racing is great though. Buckeye has a ton of races and there are other big horse events in the area too especially in Scottsdale.
I much prefer Southern AZ, Vail (where I live has the #1 school district in the state) is only about a 2 hour drive from Phoenix, much smaller town, low crime, and easy commute to anything you need (10-15 minutes) Property is pretty affordable but the ground isn't as good as Phoenix or Marana area (I don't like Marana either) Hay is about 16.00 a bale, gas is about 3.50 a gallon. Water is an issue here and recommend as much water conserving as possible as well as rainwater collection systems for horses/livestock.
I've lived here my entire life so if you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Also, no offense to those who live in Phoenix and like it lol. I'm still a die hard Suns fan
Edited to add there is a lot of barrel racing here in SOAZ too. NBHA etc. There are several associations to run in within 30 minutes of my house.
Edited by MsDuchessGoTe 2014-07-08 5:40 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | I just moved from AZ. It's impossible NOT to find a barrel race every weekend... Some even have them mid-week!
So you have your pickings of where to go in that aspect.
Job market isn't bad. Again depends on what you're looking for.
However... AZ is FULL of unnecessary drama... I guess it goes for anywhere. Just be leery of who you associate yourself with. It can make or break your experience. There were plenty of awesome people, but plenty of mean people too! I no longer had fun at barrel races due to being unable to go to one without people I strongly disliked being at them... It was really just a specific group that haunted any decent race. But I put myself around positive people and started having fun again! If you're looking to board I have a few recommendations depending on the area.
I also can tell you where to avoid.
I am thoroughly glad I left the state. Fresh new starts are always great. No one knows you or your back story. Don't let what I say scare you off though.
Crime... it depends on the area. I'd stick to east valley if you want horse property. Lehi in Mesa has good property, queen creek, etc. And its affordable if you're looking to buy!
I lived there for almost 25 years and the worst that happened to be was my house got broken into last year, but I put in an alarm system in and it never happened again. | |
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 Cyber World Challenged
Posts: 2526
Location: My Own Little World | I'm sure there are some good reasons for going to AZ but for me, we are leaving the desert (Nevada) because the cost of keeping our livestock is killing us. There is no such thing as pasture here :( Hay is $15 + per bale | |
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Veteran
Posts: 170
| My biggest thing is NO MORE SNOW. EVER. I HATE IT. I love MN summers, even the misquitos I can deal with because the weather and green is so beautiful, that is something I would miss. In all honesty, AZ is not my first choice of places to go... I have played with Iowa, Wyoming, Tenessee, and Oklahoma... I'm just leaning towards AZ as being a single mom, I don't want to be completely alone whereever I decide to go... I don't know what I'm going to school for, I'd love to be a vet (If I had the eight years to put into it) but will probably go for Nursing, Dental, or Marketing... I have experience PCAing and Bartending. I would most likely be looking to rent a small horse property, or an apartment and board my two horses... Where I am now I pay $30-50 for round bales, and $3.50 for squares.... | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Ive tossed around this idea also while job seeking. Finally finished school and have applied a lot out of state. AZ has been an option but I am not sure the desert if for me. We pay $5-7 for good quality alfalfa/grass bales... thats insane at $15! (ouch)
Thanks for the thread! :) | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | MN, I sent you a PM :) | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Stacey, if you do go to AZ, go up north where the summers and winters aren't awful lol. I moved to California and absolutely love it here! I live on the way outskirts of Los Angeles in San Bernardino county... Tons of barrel races, theres even a place labeled 'horse town USA', beautiful trails, tons of cow stuff too!
Edited by Phxbarrel 2014-07-09 1:36 AM
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 Voice of Reason
Location: NOT at Wal Mart | Phoenix is HOT! even in the evening, it can still be in the 100's, it's crowed, air quality sucks and it is expensive. Water is a HUGE issue, but that is in ALL of AZ. I am paying 17.00 per bale for alfalfa, plus tax! I live south of Tucson, the weather is not as hot as Phoenix but we have been in the low 100's already. I look at my dry lot with my horses out there and wish I had a place for them to graze, sigh... | |
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Veteran
Posts: 170
| So is northern AZ not a good option? | |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | MNcanchaser7 - 2014-07-09 7:57 AM So is northern AZ not a good option? NO.
I'm in Flagstaff. I have to travel 2.5-3 hours to PHX to find a barrel race. Every now and then, one will come to Camp Verde. But not often. We were supposed to have 2 series going this Summer, but the arena keeps changing management, so nothing sticks.
Cost of living is high in my opinion. We rent a 30 year old, 3 bed, 2 bath on 3 acres. No grazing pasture. BUT absoloutly beautiful trails right from our house. We pay $1,400/mo + utilities.
Alfalfa is $17+ tax/bale. Grass is $18+tax/bale. 3 string, 100 lb bales. I cannot locate round bales. I WISH. I saw an ad for round bales from Colorado at $180 a piece. But a truckload had to be purchased. 
All that said, the weather is gorgeous all summer long. Were just stepping into the midst of monsoons. It's hanging around 65-70 during the day with storms moving through every afternoon. Typically, after monsoons, we are high 80's. Winters suck though. But I am not a cold/snow person.
I love Flagstaff. Been here 15 years. Built 2 houses with my family. Married my best friend. Brought my beautiful daughter home here. But really, as far as horses go, trail riding is all we have.
Edited by ~BINGO~ 2014-07-09 10:30 AM
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 Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
Location: NW MT | If you are set on AZ & want a "happy medium", then Prescott area is nice. It doesn't get quite as hot in the summer as southern AZ, nor get the snow/cold as northern. I lived in Chino Valley for almost 3 yrs. Jobs are sketchy at times & I don't think anywhere in AZ the cost of living is great, nor cost to feed a horse. Be prepared - they bale hay in 100 + # lb bales!  When I was younger, living in AZ, that wasn't too bad, but these days this old woman would die. You are high desert there & wouldn't be too far from either area for horse activities. (they went from being such a nice "cowboy town" to a Yuppie town tho). I also lived for a couple yrs in the Phoenix valley ... east Mesa for awhile & then Queen Crk. That was early 2000 & before QC boomed - at that time it was the best little western town, no stop lights, etc - now I hear it is as bad as other areas. My horses missed the grazing - I moved there from MI so close to what you are used to. I hated the extreme heat in the summer (they were miserable too) in Phoenix area, & the wind up in Chino. I LOVE where I am now (NW MT) but not alot here for a young single mom. (and lots of hauling to get anywhere for any "real" horse activities, whether it's barrels, roping, sorting/penning, etc - other than trail riding. We are in God's country here for that.) And as surprising as it is for many, this area of MT, also extending across northern ID to eastern WA (Spokane area), we do not get that bad of winters in comparison to what you are used to. The snow falls vertically here. ;) If you can swing it, go visit the relatives in summer when it's the worst there ... and also do a road trip if possible to some of the other areas you are considering. Also check into wages vs cost to live ... I didn't think it was any too cheap to rent down in AZ, anyplace. OH - also check out http://www.bridleandbit.com/artman/publish/index.shtml - you can find alot of places to rent or buy, & activities available, etc on there.
Edited by Rockyroad 2014-07-09 11:44 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 170
| Rockyroad - 2014-07-09 11:42 AM
If you are set on AZ & want a "happy medium", then Prescott area is nice. It doesn't get quite as hot in the summer as southern AZ, nor get the snow/cold as northern. I lived in Chino Valley for almost 3 yrs. Jobs are sketchy at times & I don't think anywhere in AZ the cost of living is great, nor cost to feed a horse. Be prepared - they bale hay in 100 + # lb bales! When  I was younger, living in AZ, that wasn't too bad, but these days this old woman would die. You are high desert there & wouldn't be too far from either area for horse activities. (they went from being such a nice "cowboy town" to a Yuppie town tho).  I also lived for a couple yrs in the Phoenix valley ... east Mesa for awhile & then Queen Crk. That was early 2000 & before QC boomed - at that time it was the best little western town, no stop lights, etc - now I hear it is as bad as other areas. My horses missed the grazing - I moved there from MI so close to what you are used to. I hated the extreme heat in the summer (they were miserable too) in Phoenix area, & the wind up in Chino. I LOVE where I am now (NW MT) but not alot here for a young single mom. (and lots of hauling to get anywhere for any "real" horse activities, whether it's barrels, roping, sorting/penning, etc - other than trail riding. We are in God's country here for that.) And as surprising as it is for many, this area of MT, also extending across northern ID to eastern WA (Spokane area), we do not get that bad of winters in comparison to what you are used to. The snow falls vertically here. ;)   If you can swing it, go visit the relatives in summer when it's the worst there ... and also do a road trip if possible to some of the other areas you are considering.  Also check into wages vs cost to live ... I didn't think it was any too cheap to rent down in AZ, anyplace. OH - also check out http://www.bridleandbit.com/artman/publish/index.shtml - you can find alot of places to rent or buy, & activities available, etc on there.
Wow! Thank you sooo much everyone for all the advice and replies! :) | |
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The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | Not all places are desert. You can find irrigated property. I live on irrigated property. It hardly cost me anything to irrigate. Prescott is a great place to live as far as the weather. It has the basic 4 seasons. I would love to live there. It's not too far from much. Phx is only 2 hours away. | |
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