Buying an equestrian home shares many of the same aspects as buying any other property. You’ll certainly have to think about the usual considerations of mortgaging, budget and ultimately finding somewhere that you would be happy to call home.
However, purchasing a property that is suitable for keeping horses adds a further dimension to the buying process that you’ll need to think about. This will be the case whether you are a professional competitor or a casual rider.
Take a moment to read our guide to buying property for keeping horses for tips on what to look for in an equestrian home, as well as advice on how to find equestrian properties for sale within Cheshire.
Finding the Right Location
Location is an obvious first consideration for any property purchase. However, buying a home for equestrian purposes can add a practical element to finding the right area. For example, competitive riders may need a property that is close to motorways to allow for easy travel to events and gatherings.
Whether you are keeping horses professionally or as a more casual pastime, access to local bridleways and open spaces for hacking or days out will be important for keeping your animals happy and well-exercised.
Community can also be an integral part of the equestrian lifestyle, so taking the time to see what local clubs and facilities are available can ensure that you have everything you need to keep your horses healthy - it can also be a great way to help you set roots in your new home!
Perhaps one of the most important points to consider regarding the health of your horses is the availability of veterinary services. Local vets should be high on your list of priorities when deciding on whether a location is right for keeping horses.
How Much Land do you Need to Keep Horses?
Buying a property for keeping horses will mean making sure that you have enough land to accommodate them.
The British Horse Society (BHS) recommends 1.5 acres of grazing land per horse. However, you’ll also need to think about the long-term quality of grazing grounds, as well as the availability of drinking water and shelter.
Rotating grazing land is a good way to ensure that your soil is well maintained and that your animals always have access to suitable pasture. This may mean buying a property with slightly more land attached to it, or spending some time investigating how to best manage your acreage, but this will be a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Planning Permission for Equestrian Properties
One point to consider when buying a home for equestrian use is making sure that you have the correct planning permission. Primarily, you’ll need to think about whether you are using land for agricultural or equestrian purposes.
Horses can be kept on land classified for agricultural use, so long as the animals are working the land or grazing without additional hay or hard feed. However, if your horses are fed hard feed, rugged or ridden you will need to ensure that your property has the correct planning permission to be used for equestrian activities.
Stables and Barns
When buying a property for equestrian use, you should consider whether it has existing stables, or the potential to create additional structures. Checking to see if the previous owner has applied for planning permission to build stables or other buildings could help you to decide on the suitability of the land for your own use.
Just as you would when buying a residential property, be sure to pay close attention to the general condition of any existing stables on the land you are interested in. Buying any property is a significant investment and having to invest in unexpected repairs could cost thousands.
If there is potential to build new stable facilities, you might want to consider investing in an American-style barn rather than traditional stables. These buildings make good use of available space and allow animals to be kept together - which is ideal for nervous horses that do not like to be alone.
Equestrian Facilities
Of course, every equestrian property owner will dream of owning a property with everything from barns to full-size equestrian swimming pools, but it’s important to be realistic and think about what can be achieved within your budget.
One thing you will always need is a good water supply, so make sure that the plumbing to any property you wish to buy is in good order and suitable to make sure that your horses always have enough to drink.
Professional riders will probably likely need access to more robust facilities on-site and be in a position to invest in them however, casual horse owners will want to make sure that any additional facilities they require can be accessed nearby.
Buying an Equestrian Property
If you are looking to buy a home that is suitable for keeping horses, Meller Braggins can help you find suitable equestrian property for sale. As Cheshire’s leading boutique property experts, we provide a professional and personal service to guide you through every stage of the buying process.
If you would like to know more, contact Richard or Simon today, or give us a call at 01565 656544 for the best advice on finding a suitable property for your needs.
Equestrian Property For Sale
Free Green Lane, Over Peover, Knutsford
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A beautiful country residence comprising a five-bedroom house, separate self-contained Annexe, and two-acre paddock in addition to the large formal gardens bordering the Peover Eye situated in the highly sought-after village of Over Peover and enjoying a lovely rural feel yet convenient for a wide range of centres, the motorway network and the airport.
The property features a range of buildings that provide tremendous potential to be developed further whilst to the front a return driveway provides parking for several vehicles and leads to a detached double garage. Just across the road is the separate paddock with vehicular access and this extends to approximately two acres and provides an ideal area for equestrian interests or development for recreation purposes.
You can find the full details for this listing here.
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