I am living in the wrong state.
I grew up in Santa Clara (which is near Fremont) and now live in the "Valley." I don't think you're going to get acreage for horses out here for less than $1M (for 1-2 acres in a po-dunk town), and your wife would have a huge commute on our famously overcrowded roads.
How long does it take to drive to TX, anyway?