The Right Features To Consider In Horse Properties

Owning a horse can be a wonderful experience, as they offer great companionship, are enjoyable to ride, and interesting to care for. However, horse ownership comes with a set of responsibilities and expenses. On top of the one time fee you’ll have to budget for in order to buy your horse, there are other expenses you must budget for before making your purchase. You need to think about food, healthcare, training, and shelter. 

Unlike dogs and cats, which thrive in small spaces, a horse requires sufficient space to feed and exercise. With this in mind, it’s vital to search for the right horse property. When searching for ready-built equestrian properties, there are several factors to consider. Understanding these considerations helps you avoid common mistakes people make when buying horse properties. Below are the right features to consider in buying horse properties. 

Available Land for Grazing

One aspect of equestrian real estate property you shouldn’t overlook is the quality of land available for grazing. Land with free-draining soil is an excellent choice because it’s easy to manage and will provide pasture for your equine throughout all seasons. While each region has laws regarding the space needed to keep one horse, it’s wise to budget for 1.5 acres to two acres for a single horse. The more spacious your land is, the happier your horse will be. Plus, you can easily rotate your pasture to ensure your equine has sufficient food supply throughout the year. More acreages also give the flexibility to build a riding arena or add another horse. 

Reliable Water Supply

On average, the adult horse drinks five to ten gallons of water daily. During the hot season, a horse can consume up to 15 gallons a day. Naturally, horses eat less if there isn’t enough water, meaning they’ll not only have less energy but also become more susceptible to health problems like impaction colic. So, before settling on any horse property, check if there’s enough water supply. 

The best property will have a piped water system from reliable water sources, like rivers, dams, or water reservoirs. That way, you don’t have to carry gallons of water long distances. With an unlimited supply of water, you can keep your equine family hydrated, irrigate pasture, groom your horses, and keep the stables clean. 

Proper Drainage 

Poor soil drainage causes land to be muddy and slippery, increasing the risk of falls and health problems for your horses. One of the best ways to determine if an equine home has proper drainage is to plan a visit immediately after a rainstorm. This helps identify where storm water accumulates in the lot. You can dig a ditch or drain line to improve the drainage and prevent rising groundwater from entering your property. 

Remember, failure to enhance drainage on your horse property often results in water damage. Rising water after heavy rainfall can cause damages to your property and increase the growth of mold and bacteria. When this happens, you’ll need to hire the services offered by water damage restoration professionals. 

To repair water damage, experts wait until groundwater levels decrease, then apply different tactics to extract water from your property, clean and treat water damaged items, and dry the entire property. Your service provider will also inspect if there are plumbing problems that could cause water damage in your stables and barns. They’ll then offer effective solutions to protect the structural integrity of your equine home. 

Roof Runoff Structures

The importance of roof runoff structures, like gutters and downspouts, can’t be ignored when buying equestrian homes. Having well maintained gutters is essential if you want to keep your stables and barns in good conditions. By directing runoff water away from properties, gutters and downspouts helps prevent soil erosion, foundation problems, water damage to siding, and flooding in basement or under houses. Once you’ve identified the right equestrian property, make it a habit to clean and replace worn out gutters regularly to prevent water from remaining stagnant on the roof and eventually start leaking inside your property. 

Riding Arena

The joy of owning a horse is the freedom of riding it whenever you want. To enjoy this perk, find a newly built equestrian property designed with a riding arena. The characteristics of a horse-friendly riding arena include proper drainage, industry-quality base material, and free of rocks, slopes, and vegetation. After buying your horse-friendly property, you can add rubber mulch to enhance cushioning and drainage. Additional features like gates are ideal for practicing dressage riding. 

There’s no doubt owning a horse can enhance your lifestyle, as it offers great companionship. Caring for and riding a horse can also be therapeutic. However, to enjoy these benefits, you must provide your horse with the perfect shelter and surroundings. Besides having well-built barns and stalls, the best equestrian property must have quality land for grazing, proper drainage, enough water supply, and a riding arena. Also, ensure the shelter has well maintained gutters and downspouts to prevent water from damaging sidings and foundation, flooding in the basement, and soil erosion.