Keeping an eventer/SJ in the USA (including the flights from UK)!!

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jennystreek

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Has anyone ever emmigrated over there and taken their horses with them?

A friend of mine may have the chance to go there next year, but has no idea as to how easy it is to keep a horse there - for instance, do they have the same eventing / bsja system over there, and is it spread over the whole country? How much would livery be compared to here? Philadelphia would be the area she would move to...

Also, how easy is it to transport horses via plane? Also, how expensive?! Do they have to be quarantined on the other side?
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Alternatively, if it is not feasible to take her own horses, how easy is it to get involved with horses or find work on a yard?

Bit random so not expecting too many responses, but thanks anyway
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John Marsden rode shillelagh gold which was owned by Americans who returned to america and eventually took the horse back with them. Don't know whereabouts in America (I suspect the situation for horses will differ between states) but it may be worth speaking to John as he may be able to put you in touch with them..
 
hey jen my friends got a yard in america can't rem where it is i'll find out shes always comin over 2 buy horses and takin them bac. who is it whos goin? x
 
My sister lives in America and she had horses but wasn't really involved in any competitions, but there is plenty going on, you just have to remember that the distances are VAST. The local Pony Club was run by the Church, as are a lot of things. The levels are sort of similar. There was a report in the local horse mag about a clinic given by Leslie Law when I was over there a couple of years ago. I don't know about the structure or whether things are countrywide, but there is certain to be something to suit everyone. Americans take their sport very seriously, when my nieces were in Pony Club they were expected to go to rallies EVERY weekend, like the swimming club, where they had to turn up at 6.00 a.m,. every morning before school and tennis club where they were supposed to be playing every day.

If you take a horse over it will need all sorts of tests in case it is carrying a disease and be in quarantine and it costs several thousand to fly horses over, although people do so it isn't impossible. Horse in the USA also have to have multiple vacinations against all sorts of odd diseases. As it is a often a long way for a vet to visit, I saw somewhere that the horses got 6 different vacinations on one visit! It is also a good idea to have it insured in case it is turned back and you have to fly it back again, in spite of having all the tests before it went. (That has been heard of).

As for keeping horses, I reckon it was about the same in $ as it is in £s,
so if something is £50 here it would be $50 in the USA, although I thought vets charged a lot more. Actual fodder wasn't too expensive. Standards of farriery are very variable, as up to now it hasn't been necessary for a farrier to have any sort of training. They can just pick up a hammer and do it (although I think that might be changing now).

There are no bridlepaths in the USA most land is privately owned, although you can get permits to ride in some areas and some of the National Forests have riding trails. There are some organisations that are trying to get longer trails, like bridlepaths going. Although I saw some horses riding on a road in Canada, my sister says that in the USA where she was it would be suicidal to ride on a road,and she lived next to a forest where riders would trailer their horses to and ride out, just minding the bears and coyotes. Because the Americans speak English we think the country is like England, but I found it very, very different in lots of ways.

To go and live there and compete would be a great experience though.
 
A Google check turned up a good number of boarding stables (livery yards) in the Philly area. Prices ranged from $475 to $650/month for full livery. Part livery or DIY is rare in the US, but you can find little co-ops or individual farmers that offer something like it.

Just to re-emphasise: the country is vast and very widely varied in terrain, and in the equestrian culture. Philly is a large, old, East Coast city, and as such you'll find a well-established "English" riding culture there, with excellent infrastructure. But no or very little hacking. There is a fox hunt, though.

It's also expensive: remember, there's no NHS, so your medical insurance needs to be private (and expensive), and prices for flats in that area may be comparable to London.

Many workers on yards will be Mexicans, and will be getting rather little. If she has qualifications or a competition record, however, I'd think someone would be happy to hire her.

How long is your friend thinking of going there?
 
thanks - does sound quite different. I worked there myself a few years back, but only made it to a stables once, and they were all in western saddles
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I remember going to a livery yard, and all the horses seemed well looked after though.

She will be going with her OH, who is being transferred there from his work. Therefore he will probably be on an ex-pat contract, so living costs/medical insurance should be covered etc. They will probably be there for a couple of years I would have thought.

Seems a shame about the lack of hacking, especially given how spacious it all is out there
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Regarding the transport of the horse itself, and the costs associated with it, I'd contact either an animal transport service, or the airline directly, to get an estimate (I did this with my cats last year). A transport service will take care of everything for you, and if you have the money to spare, is probably the most stress-free option. However, the airlines usually have someone in their cargo department dedicated to animal transport, who will provide a lot of help and guidance.

To find out about comps and the organisation of the sport in the US, check out this website: US Equestrian Federation
 
[ QUOTE ]
Regarding the transport of the horse itself, and the costs associated with it, I'd contact either an animal transport service, or the airline directly, to get an estimate (I did this with my cats last year). A transport service will take care of everything for you, and if you have the money to spare, is probably the most stress-free option. However, the airlines usually have someone in their cargo department dedicated to animal transport, who will provide a lot of help and guidance.

To find out about comps and the organisation of the sport in the US, check out this website: US Equestrian Federation

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks
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Most of the competition establishments (esp for eventing) seem to be on the Eastern side eg Phillidelphia, Virginia etc. It also seems that they migrate South in the winter to Florida and South Carolina as it's so cold up North. Distance to travel do seemto be vast though so would imagine that transport is costly.
 
looked into this last year as looking to go to Arizona taking my horses with me. Had a quote from IRT at £3000 per horse from pick up in Newmmarket, where horses have to spend 60 days in quarentine before leaving to, thier final destination including 2 days quarentine in USA this covers horse and 1 large crate for saddlery/rugs etc horses have to be vaccinated and microchipped hope this helps
 
Where exactly will your friend be going to? As mentioned, America is a HUGE place and the horsey situation is very different in different area. That said, there is English riding pretty much anywhere you go and given that the current dressage World Cup Champion is American (and from the West Coast), I think there are a few people there who do quite well at it.
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If you want to ask specifics go to COTH, http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/ and have a look around there. It's similar to HHO, although a good bit bitchier.
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QR.

Here is a link to Area 2 of the US Eventing Association which includes Philly. Don't know much about the showjumping side of things.

http://www.usea2.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

Here is a link to the classifieds for Area 2 which include employment, etc.:

http://www.usea2.net/ads/index.php

Area 2 should have some other useful links too, including to the USEA. I don't live near Philly but have been. I am sure there are trails for hacking out of the city depending on where she lives. Think it would be more trail riding though as opposed to hacking on roads and such ...
 
Sorry, didn't read for comprehension!
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She shouldn't have much trouble finding livery (boarding
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) in the Philadelphia area as that's quite a horsey part of the world. As said, the prices are similar (not counting conversion) although exactly what costs what might be different. What you won't find though, is DIY so if your friend is keen on that she'll likely be disappointed. Some people with small farms offer reduced rates for help or similar but the vast majority of horses, especially around major centres, live in central facilities. There are some lovely facilities in Pennsylvania - a lot will come down to what she has to spend. I would say overall keeping horses is slightly more expensive in the US, especially in the East, as there is not the same ability to cut costs and things like an indoor area become essentials.

Same with competition. There are no shortage of A rated shows in that area but she may find distances to be a bit of a shock. At the top end most people have their horses with a trainer and travel to shows with him/her, unless they have land and their own transport. Even so most people will have a regular trainer and go to shows with the barn, as it were.

Hacking is variable. Lots of places have private hacking and many people do ship to parks etc. but yes, in most places in the US and Canada hacking on the roads in any real sense would be suicidal.
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The COTH website is useful for information, as are the Area 2 sites above. The major horseshow organisation is the USEA, which I'm sure also has info on barns, trainers etc and would be a place to start.
 
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