Wow, making a move from beautiful green Oregon to the SoCal high desert will be a pretty big adjustment scenery wise.  In my opinion, the CA high desert isn't anywhere near as pretty as the AZ desert.  But there are some beautiful places to ride in the high desert.

What kind of riding do you do?  There are a lot of horse activities in the different disciplines in Southern California.  In the high desert there's places to trail ride and there's also a lot of team roping.  If you have QH, there's a Quarter Horse show in Lancaster (in June I think).   There's also a PRCA Rodeo up there.

I have heard there's a high crime rate in Lancaster/Palmdale, but I'm sure there are some safe areas to live.  I wish I new someone who lived there now, so that I could ask them for you. 

Feel free to email Roperchick@cox.net or PM me if you have any other questions.

Way back when and I hate to admit how long ago, I lived in the high desert for a while.  I was stationed at George AFB in Victorville, CA in between San B. and Las Vegas.  I had more interest in motorcylces than horses at the time, but my love for horses helped me find the time to do some horse back riding while I was there.  Found out while I was there that it was the home of Roy Rogers, not right in Victorville, but a little ways out of town in Apple Valley.  I think it was on the main road to Palm Springs, Indio and one of the routes you could take Big Bear.  If the High Desert was good enough for Roy, Dale, Buttercup and Trigger, it must be a pretty nice place. 

My only suggestion when looking to make that move to the desert is searching out some good honest help in making sure your horses don't suffer from the climate change.  Keeping them cool and hydrated will be high on your list.  You will also need someone or some group to help you understand that the desert can be unforgiving for very small mistakes.  It can be a harsh place as well as a wonderful place.  I have VERY fond memories of the time I spent there and it's a good place for horses if you do your homework. 

I made several visits to different places in and around Las Vegas that I called horse ranches.  I visited Wayne Newton's horse ranch several times in Perumpf, NV (sp) where he raised Arabs and was amazed at his facility.  Not necessarily for the money he spent, but the approach he took in caring for the horses in the desert.

PLEASE take heed to my suggestion of finding someone/group that can "show you the ropes" of keeping horses in the desert and I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience.  I know I did.

Happy trails.

I suspect it will cost you more to live in Southern California than where you are coming from. Check and see if the pay raise will off set the cost of living increase. Not only the cost of buying a new home & acreage, but what will hay cost you to feed.

There is a lot of horse activity with in short drives of that area.  Norco is located on I-15, So if you are into showing etc, I would think they would be plenty of opportunity.  Bishop Californa has it's Mule Days.  It would seems lots of horsey events could be found if you could trailer an hour or two.

And while the summers are hot in the high desert. The other nine months of the year offer more comfortable temps. It would be a dramatic change from the lush green you are used to. But people still enjoy horses, and they don't have to watch them stand in the mud for the rainy season.

siseley, I remember a lot scenery just that in your picture when I lived in Victorville.  Makes a little home sick for an earlier time.

Happy trails.

So what are the rules to keeping horses in the high desert?  What does someone like me, who has never lived or had horses in the high desert, need to know?

With 50 degree temp swings (in 24 hour period) in the winter, does it still get cold at night in the summer?  Blankets in winter, or do they still get a winter coat?

any advise would be helpful.

 Ok, here in the high desert our horses grow a good winter coat, and we only blanket when the temps go below 30. Most of the folks have their horses on their property, or at one of a few large boarding facilities. Unless you live in one of the townships, you keep your horses on the lots on the east side of the valley as they are usually pretty good size. ( 1/4 to 2 acres.) A run in shed or shader for both summer sun, and winter wind is best for protection. I'll put a pic of our place here in Lake Los Angeles, and you can see that we have enough room to not bother the neighbors too much.  You of course must clean your corrals and turn outs frequently as most folks do. ( yes, that is snow in the mtns!)

I live in Tehachapi, which is about 50 miles northeast of Edwards and known as a "mountain community".  There are quite a few people who commute to Edwards from Tehachapi and Tehachapi is a big horse community.  Different areas of Tehachapi are "greener" (Like Bear Valley Springs & Stallion Springs) than others - I live in the Sand Canyon Area which is between the towns of Mojave and Tehachapi and is sort of a cross Terrain-wise between Mountain and High Desert.  Tehachapi does get snow in the Winter (although we are seriously lacking this year).  Do a Google search on the various areas (Bear Valley Springs, Stallion Springs, Golden Hills, Oak Knolls, Sand Canyon, Tehachapi) and I'm sure you'll come up with alot of links.  We are also in Kern County, so we don't have the LA County pricing.

Here's some pictures:

My house last March:

Oak Knolls area (cow clinic):

Near the Town (Cherry Lane - Buck Brannaman Clinic):

Bear Valley Springs (Horsemanship Clinic):

Sand Canyon Area:

And beautiful sunsets:

Other photos can be seen at my trainers website: http://www.mattsheridan.net/

I kinow how much you will miss the green trees, and constant misting of the Oregon area, but the foothills where "Kewpalace" lives, and the buttes where i live all have a lot of attraction too. the one common thing is; we all keep our animals on our own land, and can ride out from there anytime and go for many miles. I would suggest you come down and take a look before you discount the area, as there is much to be found here. In my neighborhood, there is a 4br/2bath home with a pipe corrals, and shedrow shelter, on 1 3/4 acres that backs up to the local park, for sale for 255M, and is only 4 blocks from the local supermarket and shopping square.  from the park you can access the entire Love-Joy Buttes area, and can also go up to Piute Buttes and over to the A.V, Indian Museum and Saddleback State Park. We have three hay and feed dealers, two alfalfa growers, and a nice quiet community that is diverse in makeup. In this picture are my wife and I, and the property I told you about is in the background.

Steve ..on the Grey

In my neighborhood, there is a 4br/2bath home with a pipe corrals, and shedrow shelter, on 1 3/4 acres that backs up to the local park, for sale for 255M

As in 225 million? 

Air Force dittoes!  I've been in 10 years, trying to avoid force shaping now!  Yay!

Edwards is pretty good horse country from what I've been told.  I'd prefer New Mexico and southeastern AZ to California; those deserts aren't too bad, but California has some good horse places (Edwards included!)

Good luck with your decision. 

Mike

Looks like it should be 255 thousand!

Sorry I was thinking in roman numerals.