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Equestrian Facilities and Resources for the Horse Enthusiast in Southwest Florida

(written by Amy von Keyserlingk for Pfeifer Realty Group)

When we first decided to move to Sanibel, I began dividing my search time between real estate websites and equine websites. I admit, it was

tough getting used to the idea that I would have to spend time commuting over half an hour or more in order to see my horse, especially since I like to ride at least four days a week.

There are no longer any horses on Sanibel, and riding on the beach is prohibited. A friend of mine did have a small barn here with three horses and a dressage arena before moving away. It wasn’t as fun as it might sound. It’s almost impossible to sustain pasture grass, it’s not easy to get farriers, veterinarians, or trainers to come over the causeway, and she had about a 3-hour round-trip to pick up hay, feed, and shavings. Most of the stables are going to be located east of I-75 with a few exceptions.

Weather: June-September is the rainy season which brings incredible heat and humidity. Covered arenas are helpful to keep the sun off, but when it rains here, it’s often from a thunderstorm so there’s too much lightning to safely ride even under a cover. We keep the weather app handy on our phones. If lightning is less than 7 miles away, we do not ride. Fortunately, these storms are usually over quickly. Riding early isn’t much cooler but allows you to typically beat the afternoon pattern of storms. When looking at stables, be sure to ask just how wet they get in the rainy season. Even though much of the soil is sand, continuous rains can saturate the ground.

Ah, but winters here are amazing! By October, the air becomes drier and the ground never freezes. Nearly every day is sunny, and the “cold” fronts are refreshing and rarely bring the temperatures below 60 degrees and last only a day or two. This beautiful weather lasts till early May. Body clipping is often necessary for the working horse who may still grow an unnecessary winter coat.

Health Care: Bugs and fungal issues can be a problem, especially if you’re thinking of just pasture board. Both of my horses had trouble with gnats when I boarded just south of the Caloosahatchee River. Some horses develop such allergic reactions to the pesky biting bugs that they require allergy shots or steroids. A stall with fans can provide relief from the bugs and sun. This will also provide shelter from rains that may lead to rain rot and other skin issues. Pre-ride cooling is one of my favorite techniques for dealing with the heat and avoiding anhidrosis. Not only does hosing off my horse before I ride cool her down, but it also keeps my saddle pads a little cleaner. Then I stand her by the fan while I finish tacking up. Oddly enough, I find my saddle pad stays in place better on a damp back. Deworming should be done on a regular basis since the ground never freezes. I deworm my horse every 2 months on a schedule recommended by my veterinarian. Surprisingly, imported breeds seem to adapt just fine. Fjords from Canada or warmbloods from Europe do remarkably well and are no more bothered by the heat or bugs than thoroughbreds raised right here in Florida.

Avoiding Traffic: During peak tourist season (Jan.-April), traffic can be a challenge. Getting off the island from morning till about 2:00 pm is no problem. After that, expect to crawl. Getting on the island is slow-going from about 8:00 am-10:00 am. So, even if paradise comes with a price, to me, it’s worth it. I never want to be bucked off onto frozen ground again (or any ground for that matter), pick muddy ice chunks out of my horse’s hooves, stick a cold bit down my jacket to warm up before putting it in my horse’s mouth, fumble with blanket buckles with numb fingers, nor worry about the water buckets freezing over. I’d rather sweat than freeze. And on the days that I’m not riding, I look for seashells, garden in my tropical yard, bike the paths on Sanibel, or paddleboard with the manatees and dolphins. Life is good here.

GOLF COURSES ON SANIBEL

Golfing in Nature on Sanibel Island (written by Amy von Keyserlingk for Pfeifer Realty Group)

The surroundings are part of what makes a golf course special. Pebble Beach offers spectacular Pacific Ocean views, TPC its mountains, Augusta its azaleas, but here on Sanibel, you can enjoy the game in a setting of unusual wildlife and tropical foliage.

Bermuda hybrids are typically the preferred grass for the sandy soil. Palms, gumbo limbos, poincianas, and other exotic trees line the golf courses. Yellow and red canna lilies bloom along the edges of the water, allowing you to enjoy the beauty even while hunting for a wayward golf ball.

Usually, a ball on the water’s edge is still playable unless it rolls to a stop next to an alligator sunning itself on the bank. Then you might want to take a penalty stroke. Typically, gators really are alarmed by humans and will dive into the water as soon as a human approaches. Honestly, I’m disappointed when I don’t get to see one of these impressive creatures when I’m out on the course.

Another interesting reptile that you may see is an iguana. The young are bright green, but the large ones, around three to four feet in length, become darker and even orange striped. They are plant-eaters and quite harmless although a destructive invader to the island.

The foursome in front of you taking a little too long? Pack your bird watching book and binoculars to record the beautiful birds that make these golf courses their homes. Even better, keep your phone ready to video eagles or ospreys swooping down to snatch a fish from the lakes. Sometimes they steal them from each other, making for even better footage. Perhaps a flock of roseate spoonbills will be showing their pink plumage reflecting against the water, or talkative little moorhens will be taking their young for a swim. Ibis, herons, and hawks are other native birds that you will often see.

If you hit your ball really, really, far into the woods, you might even be lucky enough to see an elusive bobcat. Once again, they are completely harmless and a real treat to glimpse.

And if you find yourself spending more time in the sand traps than on the greens, perhaps it’s time to take off your socks and shoes, put on a little more sunblock and work on those tan lines. Enjoy the barefoot freedom of sand between your toes. After all, this is island living.

After your eventful day on the course, cool down with a drink at the club house. Relax. Enjoy. Exaggerate about how well you played. You’re on vacation, not the Pro Tour.

ISLAND SUN - APRIL 17, 2020

It’s Been War in My Victory Garden submitted by Amy von Keyserlingk

Last year, I started my small garden. We had just moved about two miles from our previous home to another

house on Sanibel with a little more room and a lot more green space.

My first crop was just in flowerpots until I knew the sun patterns. This attempt was quickly wiped out by the marsh rabbit brigade that included rabbits standing on their hind legs and dining away. A major defense was now required. I enclosed an area of 10 feet by eight feet with plastic green fencing and edged it with bricks to keep the rabbits out. It worked, and I had lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and leafy green okra thriving.

We went on vacation for about 10 days, and when we returned, nearly everything was gone. I checked the fence for breaks, and the bricks for digging, but there was no sign of entry. I was stumped. Rats? Raccoons? Japanese beetles? Napalm?

Then, a few days later, the culprits appeared. Three large iguanas were finishing off the few remaining plants. The biggest iguana was about five feet long from nose to tail, with a thick body and spiky crest. I yelled and chased them for days until they got the message that they weren’t welcome, except for one particularly determined one. I opened my garden gate and surprised him in action. He panicked, ran straight at the fence and got stuck in there. Not really having a plan, I reached down and grabbed him by the tail. I held him at arm’s length while he thrashed and struggled. He was about 3 ½ feet long overall. I was surprised by his weight and strength. As I debated on what to do with him (I have a hard time killing even a bug), his tail suddenly snapped off and he made his escape. I was left holding a muscular, wriggling tail about the size of a cat’s tail. That finally did it. I dropped the tail and, as it still moved about on the ground, I ran for the soap and water. There was no blood, but I was disgusted.

I have yet to see that tailless iguana again. I read that when captured, just like a lizard, they have an amazing physiological ability to shut off the blood supply and abort the tail in order to escape. It would take about a year for the iguana’s tail to grow back, and hopefully even longer for his foolish courage and mine as well. That article showed images of rather nasty bites that they could inflict.

There was no way to put a lid over the garden, so I built a very amateurish cage while discovering just how much I hated fighting with a merciless roll of chicken wire. I was scratched and poked, and the cage that was roughly four-foot by five-foot resembled more of a trapezoid than a rectangle, but my tomatoes and peppers now had a safe place to grow.

I started my new spring crop last week outside of the tomato cage, and the other day I found some of the little seedlings chewed off. I had been lulled into a false sense of peace. The war was back on. I returned with more seed packets and found a rabbit inside the garden. He made a beeline for the fence and seemed to magically fit right through the little squares. On closer examination, I found three cuts in the squares and three little pieces of green plastic on the ground. The little bugger had chewed through the fence. Back to the battle plan. I gathered all the scraps of fencing wire I could find and double-wrapped the entire garden.

Today, I went to weed around my plants and got swarmed by large black ants. I ran for the insect spray and pushed back their assault.

Please don’t ask me how much I’ve spent on all the fencing, seeds, soil, bandages and the swear jar. This fight has become a challenge. The losses have been high: Washingtons, Lincolns, Jacksons, and probably even some Benjamins by now. I will not surrender. The rewards are too great: vine-ripened tomatoes, crisp orange bell peppers, and the sweet taste of success. Stay strong, fellow gardeners!

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