This message is from: "Lois Berenyi" <bossm...@atmc.net>
Debbie....I mentioned in a previous post a location where I wish now I had moved. As previously mentioned I live on the southeastern coast of NC midway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. Before we moved we looked at Tryon NC mostly because of the horsey atmosphere. My husband thought he'd be bored so since I'd had my dream for 30 years thought it was time he got his. He is deliriously happy here, me not so much. I'm not a golfer nor am I suited for the gated community everybody-in-everybody's pocket lifestyle. As previously mentioned living in the rural areas around here is not particularly wise especially for a yankee transplant and the fact of weird, drug-related crime. What horse activities there are (not many) are rather crude. I did bring my Fjord mare down with me and boarded her at the best places I could find. The first one was knee deep in water after a tropical storm and she was left out in mud up to her knees. The second place was with a quarter horse trainer that used questionable training methods I felt were cruel and although my horse wasn't in training I was nervous. Then I arrived one day to find a terrified kid on MY horse, without my permission, who was the son of a wealthy land developer and top customer for this trainer. My third attempt at finding a place for the mare was a hunter-jumper stable run by a woman from the northeast with ideas similar to mine. The stable was well-built, clean as were the grounds. Decent fencing, etc. with hay and the farrier "imported" from Southern Pines, another horsey enclave. Board was expensive but worth it but by necessity my Fjord was turned out with two enormous warmblood mares who had been together for ages. My mare unfortunately thought she could push them around. It just wasn't working out much as I'd hoped it would. It's tough to board out when you've cared for your own horses and had your own routine and could manage things your way. Another boarder at the farm expressed interest in purchasing my mare and since the home promised to be a good one I sold her. Last I heard she had produced two foals, a colt and filly and everybody was happy and healthy.
So I wish I'd moved to Tryon. I believe there are members on this list who live in that area and may be able to tell you if it's as ideal as I think it is. It is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains so neither flat nor extremely hilly. Weather is temperate, neither too hot or cold. It's about equal distance to Asheville or Greenville, SC. The Tryon community as a town is committed to the horse lifestyle and has a facility called FENCE that is both a nature reserve and also has a state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor show facility. The horse people I met were "mature" and dressage and driving activities were active. There is a protected trail system and a hunt club (the horsey kind). For a while I subscribed to their weekly newspaper to keep up on what was going on. We also entertained the thought of buying a second place there where I could perhaps lease a pony or somebody's old mare to care for in the months I'd be there. I still keep that thought in the back of my head. I don't think I'd want to buy any more horses at this stage of life and health but think if I could get my hands on a horse it would be better than the medicine I have to take.
You can check out Tryon on the internet. It's an interesting place for people such as ourselves. The town itself is charming as well. Check out real estate listings too!
Lois Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
