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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 19, 2011 11:52:52 GMT 1
Is a move to Canada with 4 cats & 3 horses.
I am feeling very fed up with living in this country for one reason or another and dream of a new life overseas but, I would like to take all my animals with me.
I am tired of being stuck in traffic all the time, I am tired of struggling to find work, I am tired of being in long term temp jobs that offer no security, then end with no warning because of budget cuts and just generally peed off. I have no ties other than my animals but could never leave them behind.
Is it just a pipe dream? Its been on my mind for a while now and someone on the yard who knew someone who moved there says there is a staff shortage...
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Post by cookie on Dec 19, 2011 12:31:01 GMT 1
Do you have an area in mind? How well do you know the lifestyle. The costs involved would be pretty massive. A friend moved her mare and GSD about 7 years ago to Texas from memory about £4k for the dog & 6 for the mare. There was quarantine too. It's a pretty permanent move with the animals.
We would consider Europe, but tbh I need to look into vacs & quarantine issues.
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 19, 2011 12:39:06 GMT 1
Thats my concern, if I wanted to move back it would be unfair to take them over there and then bring them back. I just know of people who have moved there and love it, but I would go over myself for a month or so to assess the lifestyle, property is pretty cheap and you get lots more for your money. But I would have to sell my little house here which I love :/. Wow that is a huge expense, so 6x3 and 4x4 :/
From the research I have done there is no qurantine as long as they have come from a rabies free country and you have vet certification to prove it.
Its a big prospect though thinking about doing it on my own...
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Post by cookie on Dec 19, 2011 12:48:32 GMT 1
I remember being surprised that the dog cost almost as much as the horse! She ended up driving him to France as it was the cheapest direct flight for him, from Paris... That mare came with her to the Uk from Oz the things we do for our animals
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 19, 2011 13:06:32 GMT 1
tell me about it Cookie. If I didn't have my animals nothing would be stopping me.... The properties you can buy compared to this country, with absolutely fantastic views, but, my animals are my life. Oh well, maybe in a few years... I don't think I could justify spending all that money on a dream that may not be as such in reality . Wow that is one well traveled horse. That place in Switzerland looked fab. My mum owns a gorgeous place in France but the language barrier would be a problem for me. I have been to Switzerland and it is absolutely beautiful...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2011 13:06:44 GMT 1
I went there and fell in love with it, I stayed with people who moved there 30 years ago and they love it. Trouble is if you have a profession they need - like being an oil/ pipeline engineer then you'd be fine, but their labour market has always been very up and down, so in labour (horses) and admin/ retail etc type jobs there is very little security, and apparently that's been the case for the last 30 years, not just this recession.
The people I stayed with said you need to visit in winter before making a choice. Their country is set up to deal with the bad weather but it can come as a shock if you've never experienced it. In Didsbury, Alberta they told us they have about 6 months of every year with thick snow on the ground and the temperatures reach -30 every year for considerable periods which could be living hell for your horses if they're not tough to it.
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Post by K8 on Dec 19, 2011 13:16:12 GMT 1
My cousin and his wife and family moved to canada to farm. They were there a few years and had to move back. He said the winters are unbearable then the summers are swarms of mozzies! I know it will all depend on what part you go to... but thats the experience they had.
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 19, 2011 13:39:54 GMT 1
thanks for the info guys, and very informative and useful. Especially the info about the jobs as I had been told something different, butmaybe as you say Michelle the job security is for those with a trade. Not sure I could cope with -30 nevermind the horses, that said, we went to Switzerland in those temps and its very different to the cold here. Maybe I should have a 5 year plan... who knows I may have met the man of my dreams by then (doubt it though as I don't think he exists lol) and Bronte would be the hardest one to take over, she feels the cold more than the other 2 stressier and more difficult to manage than the others but in 5 years sadly I may have fewer animals
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Post by specialized on Dec 19, 2011 13:41:24 GMT 1
Going for a month to assess whether you would like it is like going somewhere on holiday and buying a property - you are only seeing a tiny percentage of the lifestyle, and through rose-tinted specs. Moving the animals would use up a large chunk of your house proceeds - and the same again if you came back - leaving you with very little if all failed. As others have said I am pretty certain they only allow immigrants with a skill/qualification that they are short of, and probably have a points qualification system, you will be unemployable on a short-term visa and would be unlikely to be able to import animals without being accepted as an immigrant. If Canada is anything like New Zealand I think you have to prove you have the means to live for a certain length of time, because there would be no state aid if you couldn't look after yourself.
All in all I think it probably is a pipe dream, exaggerated by the onset of our winter, try going for a month now and you might change your mind. Above all do loads of research so you know all the facts, speak to the Canadian embassy first then you will know if you are wasting your time getting your hopes up.
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Post by donnalex on Dec 19, 2011 19:24:49 GMT 1
I remember it costs around £5000 to take one Fell Pony to America if thats any help. Come to Scotland instead!
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natty
Olympic Poster
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Post by natty on Dec 19, 2011 19:53:14 GMT 1
Personally I think if it's what u want to do u should do it, if I didn't have ties of a family I would be looking to move as far away as possible but couldn't move my daughter away from the grandparents. I'm a firm believer that u should chase your dreams cos you only live once
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Post by ellibell on Dec 19, 2011 19:55:37 GMT 1
How realistic? Well how bad do you want to do it? If its something you really really want, you will find a way no matter how. I would maybe try to get a temp job over there, and take itfrom there. It will be expensive to move the animals, but if its something you really want, you will find a way.
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Post by treacletart on Dec 19, 2011 20:13:36 GMT 1
Its a country I think I would be happy to live in, I love it there, have seen each season there. Whats stopping me? My grown up daughters are happy to stay in this country and as it was my choice to have them i cannot 'dessert' them.Also I know if my parents needed me its a long expensive journey back to them.
I have priced up properties there over the years and if I had no family here I would go. I would also take my pony and dogs.
I have also heard of someone who moved form here to Canada but now needs to come home, and having mixed feelings about bringing her now elderly horse home with her.
If for some reason I decided it wasnt for me, I know it would cost a fortune to get back to a home in england. (I would need to sell up everything here to have more there, and if needed to come back then would struggle to buy what I would need).
However... I do have friends who have made the move and they love it,and wont come back. One friend paid for her horse to go too. I looked after him here in quarantine one winter and he flew out in the spring. This way they got sorted out and he wasnt chucked in the deep end with going form out autumn to their winter. He absolutely loves it there, much happier.
So, I suggest do your homework and follow your heart, but be true to it.
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wills
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by wills on Dec 19, 2011 22:00:13 GMT 1
ohh whare abouts in Scotland r u pony nutt?! But echo that, move up here ;D
My aunts friends moved to Canada, only lasted 6 months then moved back. There dig was in quarintine for 6 months when they came back to UK....
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Post by loubylou on Dec 19, 2011 22:42:26 GMT 1
Looked very briefly into doing just that. Transporting horses via air is done in a crate that takes 4 so the cost between 1 and 4 is similar as you have to have the whole crate (like a lorry back) and groom even if you travel a single horse. Still works out a lot and it's a big journey and lifestyle change. I googled it and found lots of different opinions on it. I decided that I would travel uva if I moved only as I know she travels exceptionally well. As it is it is still a pipeline dream for us as as it stands canada don't need teachers :-(
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