Having a healthy, well organized equestrian property is the best way to raise horses and enjoy riding them. So, it should come as no surprise that experienced horse owners take a lot of time and care in order to pick the right one. And, while you can organize an equestrian property in different ways, there are certain factors that always play a role in how good it actually is. So, to help you wrap your mind around it, we are going to take a closer look at what people usually look for in an equestrian property.

Traits of a quality equestrian property

While raising horses can be quite rewarding, it is often a dirty, arduous job. And in order to tackle it properly, a person needs to be situated on a good piece of equestrian property. The property that you work on will in large part determine how efficient, thorough, and energetic the owner is while handling horses and performing regular maintenance. So, the more you can organize your property with future buyers in mind, the better.

Quality land

One of the most important traits that people look for in an equestrian property is that it sits on a good piece of land. Everything else about the property can be fixed or altered, but the land it stands on is there to stay, so having quality land is a must. Ideally, you want to have free-draining soil as it makes maintenance a whole lot easier. If possible, you should always try getting as much land as you can. Remember, there is no such thing as an equestrian property that is too large. Every horse requires around 1.5 acres of land, so keep that in mind when you market your property.

Water management

Having easy access to water is a must, both for raising horses and maintaining the property. A grown horse will drink between five and ten gallons of water every day, so the owner needs to have an easy way of bringing that water to the horses. Furthermore, it is important to note that an average equestrian property can get really dirty, really fast. In order to keep it clean, the owner needs to be able to easily connect cleaning tools to the water supply. The main things to ensure are:

  • Proper plumbing – This includes state of the art plumbing systems and proper insulation for pipes. The most important thing to avoid is pipes bursting or water freezing during winter.
  • Drainage systems – An equestrian property is easy to clean only if there is a good drainage system. If there are puddles remaining after you clean, or after it rains, know that you will problems.
  • Multiple faucets – You need to able to access water from multiple places on your property. The bare minimum is to have one in your barn and one outside. But, this can greatly depend on the size and layout of your property.

A decent barn

While we are on the subject of barns, we should note that they are usually the first thing that people see when they look for an equestrian property. So, if you want to make a good first impression when selling your property, you need to ensure that your barn is in top condition. A well-situated barn has a decent stable, a sizable track room, and easy access to water and electricity. Stables should have proper insulation so that horses don’t get cold or wet. And you need to ensure that they are properly sized (each stall should be at least 12×12 feet).

Strong fences

It doesn’t take much experience to learn that horses are powerful animals. An average horse is 990lbs of pure muscle, which is why you need to have a strong fence to keep them enclosed. Know that horses can become quite restless, especially young ones before you geld them. This is why having a strong fence is a must. You also want to ensure that your gates are large enough so that vehicles and equipment can roll through with ease.

Ample storage space

To keep an equestrian property running, the owner needs to use a lot of tools. So, if you think that your storage space is too big, think again. Maintainacese equipment alone can be quite big, especially if you count in the cleaning tools, so the bigger you can make your storage space, the better. You can even learn how to organize your storage space from professional movers like spydermoving.com and give future buyers an idea of what it will look like. Also, keep in mind that the owner needs to keep their horses’ equipment there. Along with that, there also needs to be enough room for storing feed, hay, and food supplements for horses. Know that you need to ensure that it is safe and easily accessible.

Location of the barn

The location of the barn can sometimes be as important as its size. Ideally, your barn will be close enough to your home so that you can easily see and hear what is going on inside. But, keep in mind that having your barn too close to your home can bring down the value of the property. Some horse owners like their homes to be a bit further away from the barn as horses can get noisy. If you feel that your barn is too close, consider investing in some extra sound insulation.

Easy access to the property

While this might be a bit expensive to ensure, it is important to have easy access to main roads from your property. Know that anyone using an equestrian property will spend a lot of time hauling heavy items in or out. Be it tools, food for horses, or simply for moving in, they will transport heavy items, so there needs to be a decent road that leads to your property where trucks can drive on.

A final tip about what people look for in an equestrian property

While having a lot of land is always a good thing, it is not paramount for having a good piece of equestrian property. People always value good organization, cleanliness, and efficiency. So, the more you can make your property function like a well-oiled machine, the easier it will be to sell.

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