Establishing your own horse farm can be a challenging, costly undertaking and one that you’ll have to prepare for even before you decide to look at equestrian property in your dream location. Aside from simply knowing how much acreage you’re looking at and the types of horses you may want to keep, there are a number of essentials to keep in mind so you can get your horse farm up and running without a hitch.
Well-built structures
The horse farm you have your eye on might already have a barn in place. While an older barn does lend a rustic charm, you will still need to make sure that it’s structurally sound and suits your needs.
If you prefer to keep your horses contained instead of roaming out in the pasture, look to well-constructed stalls that allow horses adequate movement and ample ventilation. Stalls also keep your horses comfortable in any weather.
Fencing
Make sure your fences are visible from a distance to prevent horses from running into them, and select ones that are sturdy enough to withstand impact. Also, choose fences that are at least five feet high. If you keep athletic horses, increase the height of your fence.
Storage
Your horse farm should have facilities dedicated to storing feed, grain, and hay. They’ll last a lot longer if they’re sheltered from the elements.
You can also set aside room for manure storage if your horse farm doesn’t have available ground to spread manure on. Make sure the manure storage facility is sealed to prevent substances from leaching into the soil and built close to trucks and manure removal equipment.
Pasture
There should be plenty of room for your horses to graze and wander freely – it’s all part of keeping them healthy. Turnout is crucial to keeping their legs strong, and it also satisfies their need to interact with other horses. Being confined in their stalls all day causes boredom and gives rise to behavioral issues. Ideally, a horse should have an acre of land to roam around in. Make sure your pasture features two kinds of grass species, which can be rotated throughout the year.
Arenas
This is important if you plan on doing some arena riding on your horse farm. Your arena can be an indoor or an outdoor one. The main thing to remember is to keep the surface clean and level, and to monitor the surface and depth every few months to keep them consistent.
You can find some of the best equestrian communities in North Texas with the help of a real estate professional with ample experience in this specialized market. When you meet our trusted agents at Sarah Boyd & Company, you know you’ll be in great hands.
Sarah and her team bring to the table their passion and extensive knowledge about the real estate market and matches your ideal property. If you’re interested in ranches or farm properties as well, contact Sarah Boyd to get some insight into the local market and discuss what you would need as a horse owner.
Call Sarah Boyd at 214.649.4403 or email Sarah(at)SarahBoydenRealty(dotted)com.