Things to Look Out For in an Equestrian Real Estate
Having your own horses is one thing and to have appropriate property to accommodate these magnificent animals’ needs is another. While it may be easy to buy your own horses as you can afford, finding an equestrian property, farm or ranch that meets your preferences and needs can be a difficult task. Especially that this type of real estate property is unlike typical residential or commercial spaces, you have to be careful in investing.
The first thing you have to prepare is your finances. All real estate endeavors rely heavily on ample funding, but with this property type, you need to have more than a few hundred thousand. Being prepared for expenses as demanded by the estate itself and your horses would be your ultimate tool to be lucrative in this investment venture. Once you have assured your financial capability and stability, you are definitely ready to purchase such asset. Meanwhile, there are certain components you have to look into buying an equestrian real estate. Prepare your own criteria for judging and searching the perfect horse farm or ranch. Here are items you can include in refining your property hunting:
Property area
There are many facets you need to consider with respect to this component. You have to look into the size. See how many horses and outhouses it can accommodate. It would be preferable if you can build or it already has a comfortable house that would enable you to stay in proximity to your animals. The entire area should be able to have room for the following:
- Barn – if the estate already has existing shelter for the horses, ensure that you will check for the soundness of the structure. Check out its storage facilities, proper ventilation, feeding and tack rooms. As for the storage facilities, assess if there is enough room to stack up ample amount of hay, grain and other sustenance needs for your animals. It is vital that the feeding rooms are secured, meaning it has locks and other security measures. This is to protect your horses from over-eating once they get loose from their stalls.
- Stalls – you have to evaluate if these provide safety for your horses. Those built with matted and non-slip stall floors and solid concrete or wood walls are preferable. Once again, size matters. You must ensure that the doors, ceilings and dividers per stall offer minimized risks of injuries. Usually, a 10 x 10 stall can provide ample room for ponies and small horses, while a 12 x 12 stall is appropriate for larger animals.
- Surroundings – most experts in equine breeding suggest that the whole horse property should have vast number of trees. During the hottest summer days, your animals would require the need for a cool shade. They could then live longer and healthier. On the other hand, there are certain locations with distinct warm climates that can still be adaptable to horse rearing. Thus, it would be best to check for the suitability of such endeavor in your region or district.
Fencing
Some properties already have existing fences. However, being the probable new owner, you can always opt for a new job done to your property. Just remember that the primary goal of this component is to secure your animals contained only within your area. Also, such essential land security measure may also add more appeal and aesthetic value to your estate. There are fencing options that are varied according to the material to be used.
- Wood – this traditional material is preferred by most equine property owners due to its natural look and beauty. However, it is one of the most expensive and difficult to maintain.
- Vinyl – most common alternative to the previous material. This is also safe and durable.
- Electric and Barbed Wire – can be used with other types of fencing. However, these both pose harm to animals. The horses could be massively injured which could lead to their poor health or eventual death. Be cautious if you opt for this that you provide another fencing layer to be established as a buffer zone.
Other facilities
The water supply or source must be guaranteed safe for drinking. Horses especially need water as they have significant muscle mass. They generate tremendous amount of body heat and sweat, thus, they easily lose bodily fluids. It is very crucial that they have generous amount of water supply all the time. If the property you have scouted has limited water supply, constructing augment irrigation system would be ideal. Also, you can make their fluid needs suffice by feeding them fresh green grass, which has 50 to 90 percent water.
Accessibility to roads and for transportation is another chief requisite for a full-functioning equine property. Delivery trucks can be accommodated easily. With well-built roads, you can also guarantee smooth operation of all your facilities.
The prospect of owning an equestrian real estate may be more expensive than other real estate ventures. But this type of property opens you up to enjoy a lavish lifestyle or even to an opportunity to profit from an ingenious business. Carefully assessing your finances and searching for the right property can surely give way to your passion for horse rearing and equine business venture.