Equestrian property has a lot to offer; it means you have a large plot of land to make use of, and it means you have the time, energy, and money to run a stable of your own, full to the bring with horses. These are an expensive animal alone, and being able to care for them can bring a lot of value into your home.
But equestrian properties can vary wildly. They can be smaller, with only a couple acres of land to spread out on. They can be middle sized properties, such as farmland, or they can be huge plots, an estate even. No matter what size you manage to get your hands on, you need to ensure the same qualities run throughout each.
And what are these qualities? Well, we’re going to go through a few details below. In terms of working space, arable land, and the architecture of equestrian properties, there’s a lot you need to take into account before you decide to buy.
So, whether you’re interested in the architecture of a stable or farmland (because of how lucrative either can be on the current property market), or you have plans to live in an equestrian property of your own, make sure you keep the points below in mind.
An equestrian property is many people’s dream home – are you getting a good deal on the equestrian property you’ve set your heart on? (Pexels Image – CC0 Licence)
The Right Land
The land you’re going to need most, if you want to build a stable and put horses out to pasture on it, is land consisting of free draining, or well draining, soil. The soil you’re currently working with might not be of this texture or mix, but you can always DIY a solution if need be – it’ll take a lot of time, however, so it’s best to find the right soil beforehand. Plus, you’ll need to rotate pastures, as often as possible, between seasons.
If you want to set up some equestrian facilities of your own, make sure the yard or field space you intend to put your horses to pasture in, or where you intend to build your stable, is not close to the house that comes with the property. After all, this can be a key issue in valuing the home – horses too close to the horse, with the associated noises and smells, can mean a serious dip in your original investment.
Water Access
Horses drink a lot of water; indeed, they can consume at least five gallons per day. Because of this, the equestrian property you’re thinking of investing into needs to have a good water access point. The plumbing costs alone can be in the thousands, and need to be under the barn and deep enough in the fields to not be disturbed. Planning out such a layout can take a lot of time, and it’s recommended to work with a professional designer to ensure you’re taking every factor you’ll need to into account.
One of the key points to remember is that, on big properties, you’re going to need multiple sinks, wells, and hose pipe points. It’s essential that no stable worker is carrying gallons of water for miles on end. The horses are unlikely to wait around for these kinds of trips either.
The Means to Build
People love the ranch style of equestrian properties, and having a stable to hand in the back garden can be a very aesthetic decision for the modern home owner. It adds a touch of the classic and the traditional, and in a world of white washed walls and floor to ceiling windows, that’s something more and more people are buying into.
But with an equestrian property, you’re going to need the means to build on your side, no matter what kind of style dreams you’re holding in your heart. It’s not a one time job you can be done with; changes are going to need to be made all the time, and you’re going to need a good foundation to work off of.
First of all, you’re going to need to be able to build a barn, that’s both stable in structure, and useful in practicality – there’s no such thing as a small barn when you’ve got an entire stable to outfit! Every single horse you put out in the field is going to need at least an acre of land to themselves, and a similar principle applies in the barn – at least a 12×12 foot space is essential for each horse to be closed into when necessary.
Similarly, storage space is essential. If you’ve got more than one horse to take care of, you’re going to need a bunch of different (and separate) storage spaces to keep their feed, their equipment, their hay, and anything else essential to their care that doesn’t fit into these categories. Do you have the land available for a storage complex like this?
The Necessary Budget
And finally, but most certainly not the least important point, you’re going to need the necessary budget to run your equestrian property properly. Depending on where you are in the world, and depending on the property you’ve got your eye on, this can vary. At the very least, you’re going to require a quarter of a million to put towards your equestrian dream.
When you go hunting for the right land to house your stable and riding fields on, make sure you focus on the land first of all, rather than the home that comes with it. You need enough space to build out your equestrian facilities, you need high quality soil to work with, and you need the promise that you’re never going to run out of the grazing or farmland that’s necessary to home horses.
It’s important to note that the home you will be moving into can be demolished, built out, or entirely renovated and improved, as and when you need it to. Keep this in mind, and worry about your own four walls later.
And then comes the running costs – a stable can be expensive to keep up with, and monthly overheads and turnover can vary from season to season. How do you work with this? Indeed, shopping at places like Equi Supermarket could very well keep your running costs low. Shopping with a company that specialises in equipment for horses, and for ensuring you have all the right nutritional items for keeping a healthy stable going, can ensure you’re met with the lowest, most value for money costs on the entire market. Keep this in mind, and note down a few places you can shop with that hold this promise to heart.
So, What Makes a Good Equestrian Property?
It can be a hard question to answer, but there’s a lot of details that remain the same each and every time. If you’ve got the right quality to the land you’re basing your equestrian property on, and you’ve got enough space to put your animals out to pasture (and also use as a working space), you’ve got a good chance of turning your property into the stable of your dreams.
Ensure that you’re up to date with building codes, and that you’ve obtained the necessary planning permission from your local council before getting to work. All in all, keep the above points in mind when doing your own research, and don’t stop to look at just one equestrian facility – keep going until you find a perfect one.
