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Veteran
Posts: 159
 
Location: Central TX | The other week I took a trip to the Gainesville/ Ocala and instantly fell in love. The weather, the scenery, the cute mini horse ranches, Long story made short, I live in a rental house on an acreage in central TX ( belton area), i have a simple receptionist job, and i can pack up and move anytime i want..Would trying out florida be a bad decision? I know theirs some good rodeos and jackpots there...but how often compared to where I live? How do you guys like living in FL? cant stop online shopping for houses in the Ocala/Marion county area..lol |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 473
| Love my Ocala <3.
So many tack shops, feed stores. . you have such a variety here. Generally, there's almost at least one jackpot every week. You may have to travel one or two hours, but it's pretty steady. The winter really picks up. It stays fairly warm - and no tornado worries. Just hurricanes, but up here they really aren't bad. . . Plus, we have warnings on them!
Stick to Ocala for a farm, you'll be happy you did.
You have so many disciples here. When it comes to vets, chiros, etc. etc. you've got such a wide choice of GOOD ones - it's crazy.
I always think about moving out west since it's cheaper. . . then change my mind when I think about how cold it gets. lol
ETA - Hay prices suck though.
Edited by AfleetEquine 2013-11-25 11:33 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I grew up in Florida, spent 4 years in south Georgia and now 5 years in Wyoming. I personally hate humidity and a lot of Florida BUT IF I ever were to move back to that state, it would 100003948234% be to Ocala oh man it is just beautiful and HORSE COUNTRY! There is a lot of barrel racing around within a decent (I'd say 2 hour) driving distance and some BIG shows throughout the year. It is pricey however. Good luck! How exciting! |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | THANKYOU GUYS! i just love it but i dont know a whole ton about it! definitely going to be spending the next couple of months talking to realtors and looking for jobs out there. i know this sounds weird, but are the people pretty nice out there? ive lived in some towns and the people have been less than welcoming to say the least. I have a 8 year old daughter and i want a good, safe community for her to grow up in. thanks guys! |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | to clarify, when i say towns where people werent nice, i dont mean in FL. I've never lived there. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 307
Location: Florida | I was born and raised on Florida and LOVE it so much! Unless it was because we were going to start rodeoing heavily or some miracle-job, (maybe not even the job), I wouldn't be able to leave! My fiancé and I just found an apartment in Gainesville, he was set to attend UF, and we spent a few days & a weekend there and he was just IN LOVE! Once we found out we were expecting we decided to stay at our home out in the country but I can see your charm in the G-ville/Ocala area :) Ocala is "horse country," and the little horse farms are fun to see. The barrel racing competition is tough! People take it pretty seriously, and there's just about ALWAYS something going on within reasonable driving distance from anywhere!
We live down, about 3 hours south of there in Arcadia! It's tiny but its home :) Florida is more agriculture than beaches, between cattle and oranges, and other produce, etc.! I'd say if you're really wanting to move, and you're not stuck where you are, make sure you can find a job and c'mon down!!! (Did I sound like Bob Barker just then? lol...please spay and neuter your pets before moving down. hahaha) |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
 
Location: WYOMING | Love Ocala!
I doubt there are as many jackpots as your area but there are certainly enough. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I grew up in FL and moved to TX to be near more jackpots. Yes, Ocala area is beautiful be prepared for a higher cost of living especially with horses. In the past jobs were not as plentiful as they are here and TX. As far as jackpots and rodeos.... There are quite a few but not nearly as many as in the central TX area and if you rodeo there are not any Ammy rodeo associations like CPRA or Upra. Yes, competition can be tough but not as many toughies as there are here in TX. Can you tell I am biased towards TX. I love to visit FL and even ocassionaly bring my horse to run at some of their jackpots but I could not live there. There are not any stores like teskeys or smith brothers and not as many big jackpots to run at. I would carefully consider moving and find a job before I made a decision. I moved love you! This way 10 yrs ago and I believe he housing market is more reasonable there since the housing crash but ranches in Ocala are high you would have to go out further to find affordable houses with property. Best of luck |
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 Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | I grew up and lived in Ocala for 14 years. I loved all the horse farms and rode some TB's to keep them exercised. If I were given the choice I would not move back. I can't handle the heat and humidity. Just like you can't ride up here during the winter because of the cold, in the summer you can't ride or you have to wait until almost dark for it to cool down. There aren't any good jobs that actually pay. I'm a CT tech and I'd be taking over a $10 an hour pay cut. Housing seems to be a little cheaper, but the cost of living compared to IL is the same. Hay is also super expensive. My dad still lives in the area and I go visit at least once a year. It's still pretty, but if given the chance I'm moving to Oklahoma!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | thanks all this is great info! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | Love Florida, hate summers but summer to me is late July through October, I give one of my horses those months off all together, it's still hot and sticky past 6pm but most of our shows are 7/8pm in the summer.
I live on the coast which always had a nice easterly breeze, Ocala is normally hotter since it's in the middle of the state. It costs more to live where I am and property isn't as plentiful.
I still wouldn't trade it for the world! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1201
Location: Florida | I love Florida....I've lived here my entire life. Ocala is beautfiul and love visiting. I live on the East Coast and the price of property is cheaper in Ocala than over here. There are plenty of horsie things to do. The heat is a downfall but I am used to it. I ride year round. The price of hay is expensive but I wouldn't live anywhere else :) |
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 Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Far North! | I spent several months in Arcadia Florida. Loved it there so much. The people are good down home type and the weather, scenery is wonderful. It has always been a wish that I could go back and attend the Arcadia rodeo.
I say go for it, Florida is calling. |
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