The insider’s guide to buying equestrian properties

There are some spectacular horse farms and ranches for sale at any given time, so you likely have a wide variety of properties to consider. You may be tempted to dive in and start touring the areas you’re considering for your property, but we encourage you to be deliberate in your process, because we know that the time you spend up front will pay big dividends later.

To help you, we have prepared this quick read, a kind of basic manual.

Then let’s get started. There is quite a bit to consider when looking for horse ownership. We’ll start with some general questions first and follow with a list of important considerations to keep in mind when searching for properties. Here we go:

1. What is your level of interest in horses?

Of course, you like horses, or you would not have made the decision to buy a horse property.

But beyond that, the spectrum ranges from wanting a property that can accommodate one or two of your own horses, to a commercial horse facility that specializes in professional training, boarding, breeding and more.

And keep in mind too that your level of interest may progress from, say, beginner to fully involved professional, which may lead to a new property or property improvements.

2. Where do you want to be?

Naturally, there can be many variables that go into this decision, the basics being things like a desire to be close to friends and family, or to live in a particular school district or county, or near a particular city. But beyond that, keep in mind that your answer to Question #1 will also bring up its own considerations, such as:

• Desire to be near facilities that suit your horse-related interests, such as open state land, trails, or particular training or show facilities for specific types of horses.
• Desire to be close to the ‘centre of industry’ for your particular horse business. This is particularly important if you are a professional serving a market or if you aspire to levels of achievement in the horse industry. The ability to easily network with like-minded horse people may be a consideration.

3. Do you want to build a new one on vacant land, buy an existing property for horses, or buy an existing property that can be renovated to house horses?

You can specify one or be open to all of these possibilities, and your preference may be influenced by some of the factors to consider as you continue reading.

For now, know that each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages.

– New construction will allow you to have exactly what you want, but it will also require more planning and preparation time, and can be more expensive.

– Buying an existing property is likely to be quicker and possibly less expensive, but you may not find exactly what you want.

– And buying an existing property that can be renovated can bring some advantages of the first two options, but it requires planning, patience and vision that not all buyers have.

4. What is your price range or budget? Will it be a cash or financed purchase? Is it contingent on the sale of another property?

Like the answers to Question 3, each of these alternatives has its own advantages.

If you’re paying cash, you should be able to close your purchase sooner and possibly negotiate a better price.

If you’re financing your purchase, it’s best to contact a lender ahead of time to confirm your purchasing power and begin the application process.

With those broader questions behind us, let’s get into more specific questions and important factors to consider:

How many hectares are you looking for?

Think about the layout of the farm: the residence, barn, barn, paddocks, round pen, and storage for equipment, hay, feed, tackle, bedding, etc., as well as pastures and hayfields ( unless you plan to buy all your hay), riding stables and trails on site.

Are there zoning or other restrictions that need to be considered in the areas where you want to farm?

If you intend to keep grazing pasture, you’ll want to allocate two acres per horse. Be sure to select properties where horses are a permitted use or are permitted under a special use permit.

And be aware of border line setbacks, which can vary by government unit.

Know your floors.

Know what the types of soil are before buying the property.

During wet seasons, poorly drained loamy and loamy soils in high horse traffic areas are a maintenance nightmare and can be a health problem for horse hooves.

Ideally, stalls and paddocks should be on well-drained sandy soils, or if on fine-textured soils, they should be graded to promote positive water drainage away from stalls and high-traffic areas.

Many farms will have a variety of soil types, which should influence farm design based on the uses for which the soil types are best suited. Tall loam soils are ideal for hayfields and pastures to help resist drought. Agriculturally marginal lands can be used for trail rides, training areas, and holding areas where horses graze on hay instead of grass.

How would you like the topography to be?

The layout of the land has both practical and aesthetic relevance. A picturesque horse farm in a rolling, wooded landscape has enormous aesthetic appeal.

However, from a practical standpoint, level ground is desirable for construction and training areas. Also, hayfields and pastures do best on flat or gently rolling land that can be farmed.

Topography controls how well surface water drains from the property. Wetlands, swamps and ‘pothole ponds’ characterize poorly drained areas, which contribute to ecological diversity, but have little practical use on a horse farm.

access to water

A horse farm operation will use potable water both at the residence and at the barn, and depending on the number of horses, the gallons used at the barn can far exceed the amount used at the residence.

Most rural areas do not have access to a public water supply, so it is important to have a good well (or wells) available, or that there is an aquifer below the property, from which good water can be developed. water supply.

The main uses of water on the farm are for watering and washing horses, general cleaning, dust control in training areas and, in some cases, irrigation. Irrigation used to keep grasses green or to irrigate hayfields may exceed all other uses. If available, surface water, from a pond, lake, or stream, can often be used for irrigation purposes.

Availability of other utilities and services

Other utilities and services cover wastewater disposal, electrical connection, energy source for heating (natural gas, LP gas, fuel oil), internet availability, cell phone coverage and solid waste disposal. They are all important to consider.

In rural areas, septic tanks and drain fields are the most practical way to treat and dispose of wastewater. However, not all soils are suitable for the use of these systems. Percolation tests may need to be performed to determine if the soils are suitable.

Natural gas is the preferred energy source for heating, but many rural areas will only have propane gas available. Horses generate a lot of body heat, so the need for heating may be limited. Heating the wash water and keeping the horses’ drinking water from freezing can usually be done better with electricity.
How is the coverage?

Having a good internet connection and cell phone coverage is increasingly necessary. Some remote areas may still have connection problems.

How will you handle the stinky stuff?

Horse farms generate a considerable amount of solid waste in the form of manure, and you’ll want to consider how the manure will be handled when planning to purchase a horse farm. Options are to spread it on the land, perhaps give or sell it to nearby farmers, or have a waste hauler take it to a landfill.

Existing and Planned Structures

Whether you are purchasing an existing horse farm or one with existing structures that can be renovated for horse-related uses, closely inspect (1) the quality of the structures, including buildings and fences, (2) for the possibility of nuisance problems resulting due to poor design or adoptive use, (3) to determine the cost of renovations necessary to accommodate the intended uses of the property.

Get help!

Find an agent who truly understands equestrian properties: If they don’t know what you’re talking about when you talk about “horses,” they can’t adequately represent your best interests. Do your own due diligence to find one with the necessary knowledge.

And last but not least, consider the neighbors

Horse people are generally very friendly and easy to get along with. In general, they like to mingle and socialize with people who have similar interests, such as horses and country life.

That said, there are people who enjoy the outdoors without regard to caring for the environment or the sensitivity of others, so before you buy, it’s wise to ask a few questions about the neighbors, or better yet, get to know them. personally.

Wow, there it is.

Hopefully, that list of questions and considerations was helpful and not too daunting. Yes, there is a lot to consider before buying horse property, or any property for that matter.

But, as the saying goes, it’s not rocket science either, but simply a matter of doing your homework and due diligence. And of course, in that sense, it is also important to work with a qualified and competent real estate agent.