Some Considerations When Buying an Equestrian Property

Purchasing a luxury property has its unique challenges and risks. Add to that the investment and care of horses and stables and you've got a responsibility of a lifetime. Once you find a property you love, be sure you hire a home inspector who has experience with equestrian properties so that he or she can fully inspect the barn & arena.

Being realistic about the number of horses you intend to care for is essential to buying the right equestrian property for you. Once you make this decision, you'll need to make sure you have enough grazing acreage-about 1.5 acres for every horse.

Good horse barn design is essential for healthy horses especially a well ventilated barn. The barn should be at a 45 degree angle to the prevailing wind so that there's good air circulation without being directly in the wind. Remember, horses thrive in temperatures ranging from 45-75 degrees.

The barn should be on firm and level ground with good natural drainage. It should be in close proximity to utilities including water, and there should be land set aside for manure and hay storage. The stall sizes should be around 14 x 14.

With regard to feed storage, there should be sufficient storage for 1 week of grain and 1 day of hay (store remaining supply in another building). Insurance companies are very disapproving of storing hay in horse barns because of the fire threat it poses to the animals and the barn.

Your barn should include a tack room where you store saddles properly to protect your horses backs. This is also where you'll store your grooming supplies and brushes. Nearby you'll need to create a space for washing and grooming your horses. For your riding pleasure, an arena or ring can be built for your specific needs.

There's a lack of consensus among real estate professionals about whether there's a ROI on a horse barn construction. Most importantly is the demand factor for an equestrian properties in your neighborhood. If there is demand for horse barns, you have a good chance of receiving some percentage of your investment back when you sell the property. Like with all properties, the quality of your barn is critical to receiving any appreciation on it. More than any other luxury amenity, equestrian properties are built more for your enjoyment than for investment purposes.

Lisa Keshet is a real estate professional at Unlimited Sotheby's International Realty in the Boston area. She's a horse hobbyist and enthusiast. She can be reached at: 617.902.8205 or [email protected]