What's it like out west?

[appyfan1]

I was thinking about moving out west after I finished college, and I was wondering what it was like. (ie. weather, community, land, jobs, things you enjoy, and things you don't, cost of living, etc) I currently live in NY, and I own 2 horses, and finding a place to keep them is a true task with board being $425/ month, + vet and farrier care, so my horses are in my parents 2 acre yard at the moment.

[Northern Rancher]

Go west young man you won't regret it.

[tumbleweed_texn]

i love it and wouldnt wanna be anywhere else. i was raised in n.e. texas and have lived in 20 different states. i have literally lived on all 4 sides of the country. 2 years ago i came to gillette wyoming. this is home now. the scenery around gillette isnt as pretty as other places, but we do have plenty of wide open country. being from n.y. , can you imagine driving down a dirt road for 30 or 40 miles and "maybe" seeing one house, much less a town? compared to what you are probably used to, the real estate market would be cheaper than n.y. in gillette, they cant find enough people for all of the jobs. they are everywhere. good jobs too. the people out here are what make this place kinda cool. still alot of the old west , but also alot of industry. check it out sometime. its right between the bighorn mtns. and the black hills. a ton of fun things to do.

[TXTibbs]

[TXTibbs]

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I was just thinkin $425 a mo in alot of places would get you a place to live yerself along with your horses.

[tumbleweed_texn]

Hardy Har Har txtibbs. if you must know, i travel the land spreading goodwill and friendship. i hold prayer meetings and counsel exotic dancers through out america. lol. honestly, i had to get away from the ex's....lol

[Judith]

Lilly, when I board mares in KY or NY they are 25.00 per day and that is pasture board with run ins. One place I boarded was $750.00 per month. There is a reason I bit the bullet and bought my own Ky stud. I could not afford the shipping and mare care rates. Board is crazy in the good ole US . Frankly I'm too poor for that this year.

[Faster horses]

The most beautiful places in the west are the more expensive places to live. And there are less real Westerners in those places too.
But there are lots of other nice places like Tx Tumbleweed mentioned.
Being more rural can have some real advantages. But you'd be in
for cultrue shock probably.

Our area is in bad need of workers as well, as is all of Eastern
Montana where there is any oil production.

Good luck in your search.

And horse pasture here isn't very expensive.

[Jinglebob]

It's hot and cold, windy and dry and got too many people in it.

'Course, I suppose we could always find room for one little ol' girl.

[IL Rancher]

Its a wonderfull place... So are lots of areas... It is differen than the east, some ways better, someways worse but different nevertheless...I personally love it but that doesn't meant it is for everyone.. I liked the time I have spent in eastern Colorado, Western Montana, Colorado and Utah... Some of it is the scenery, some of it is the feeling and a lot of it is the people who live there.... Go out, visit, you will know if it is for you or no...


and no matter where you end up try to find the beauty.. It is always there, somewhere.

[appyfan1]

well actually i'm a chick and i was kinda thinking mayb montana i love the snow and hate the ice. I don't really like NY. there's not really any room to breath. i'd like to be able to saddle up and go for a loooong trail ride, and there actually be trails. i just need to get through college become an RN and save money to move my butt and my horses out there, and leave my pain in the ass boy friend behind. about the board it depends where one place had 10 x 10 stall, or tie stall your choice. daily exercise and feed, with a round pen no trails or anything. the other place was really nice, but everyone there was really into jumping, and my QH were out numbered by TB. It included feed, indoor arena 2 riding rings 4 round pens, 12 x 12 box stalls feed but i had to supply daily de-wormer. and there weren't that many trails. they had a descent pasture, and by feed i mean 5lbs of sweet feed twice a day plus hay.