I realise once moving here what a big network of services and products you really need for your horses. The network I had in Sweden had taken me years to build, from hay farms to trainers, farriers, vets, horse dentists, horse blanket cleaners, tack shops. I am now in the process of building this network here in Florida, it takes time but I am very grateful that we live near Ocala where you can find most of the best things and services you want for your horses. The local hay are of two qualities, Coastal or Tifton, both sorts are very fine, otherwise it wouldn't dry as quickly as it have to here and also the traditional grasses used for hay like ray, timothy and sometimes alfalalfa cannot grow here. The problem we learned with the finer Tifton hay we tried is that it might cause colic in some horses. The hay is fine but very tasty so the horses eat and eat and some times it get too packed in their guts. We had one severe colic attack in one of our horses so now we feed Tifton and Timothy and Alfaalfa hay mixed so that the Tifton will not pack. Looks like it works for now. Horses seem to do very well on this mix. The first vet we took out was a disaster, he was supposed to vaccinate against West Nile and Rabies as well as Western and Eastern Encephalitis, he was totally arrogant and acted like he had to sneak up behind our horses and attack them with the injections, they got all scared and stressed by his somewhat absurd behaviour, if he had asked before he attacked the horses we would have told him that the horses are totally ok with having injections, it is a part of their training to become as "user friendly" as possible. Having injections are a routine that every horse must learn, as much as lift their feet or move when you tell them. Well, we threw out the phone number to that vet and found an very good vet that has been a tremendous help for us. After finding his team we feel a lot safer. Looking for local hay of good quality was also an experience here in the more rural parts of Florida. Being a Volvo-driving, Latte-drinking European I admit I had some scary moments when meeting with some of the local hay farmers here. They drive hughe pickup trucks with license plates "real people eat beef", and are prepared to do anything to "protect their land". I survived some bad encounters and have found a local hay farmer "The Bates Brothers" they are brothers and cousins of native Floridians who make really good hay. In the beginning I understood about 30% of what they said but now I do understand more and more. The Bates clan father told my husband that they did not understand what I said either so I guess we where equal. In order to buy the hay, shavings etc you need a pickup truck yourself, which I think is a necessary evil, I went out and bought the ugliest pickup truck I could find, I think they are called Georgia Milk Cowes here. Hate to drive it but it is necessary in this part of the world.

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