Horse Farms go far beyond career farming and can vary largely from a for-profit farm to a hobby farm for horse lovers. With the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the lovely countryside Virginia has to offer, it comes as no surprise that you may be thinking of purchasing a horse farm.
In general, there are two types of horse farms:
-
A farm where horses are bred and raised.
-
A farm where horses are boarded and trained.
In addition, there are subcategories within farms as well. (Such as certain breeds of horses, or a personal horse farm where you board your own horse/horses, versus a commercial horse farm where you may pay to have your horse boarded there.)
Just think, you, your horse, and the mountains in the background? If you love horses, this may sound like a dream come true. Retired? Free to roam? Virginia Estates can help you search the state for the perfect horse farm for sale, or farm for sale that you may transform into your own horse farm.
Regardless of the type of horse or horse farm, there are some things that are necessary regardless. Some of the things you will want to keep an eye out while searching for the perfect property:
-
Barn*
-
Pasture
-
Fencing*
-
Auxiliary structures*
*Keep in mind that these can all be built to your liking depending on your budget, or transformed from existing structures if not currently up to par.
The Barn
If you have the luxury of designing and building your horse barn, it can be done in such way that can save you future time and money, as well as make it a pleasant place for you and your animals. Whether or not you build the barn, or take up a pre-existing barn, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind for your barn:
-
Is there natural drainage nearby?
-
Is the ground firm & level?
-
Do you have easy access to utilities?
-
Do you have easy access to the barn?
-
Is there room for possible expansion?
Preferably your barn will be oriented so that the wind is not directly on the barn but can provide adequate air circulation. To get this, the barn will be at a 45 degree angle to the prevailing wind. It is also necessary to have some land nearby the barn that can house your manure. Your hay can be kept inside or outside, with inside being preferential. You may have an alternate building in which to store hay, or in the same barn if there is space. A few other things you may want to consider:
-
Stall size: A generous stall size will provide some moving room to your horses for those days when they are stuck inside. This means the extra hot days, the rainy days, or the cold days, their stalls are their home.
-
Lighting
-
Closure: During the winter time, is there a way to keep the heat in and cold out to some extent.
-
Feed Room: This will be a place where you can store grains, and potentially medicine.
-
Tack Room: This is where you will store things such as bridles, saddles, and equipment.
The Pasture
If you would like to own a horse farm, be prepared to also own a decent amount of acreage. The reason being that each horse should have between 1-3 acres to themselves. This number can also vary depending on the quality of the pasture, such that, the lower quality the land, the more should be expected necessary per animal. Also, be prepared to bale hay. Baled hay is required for the horses to have food stored away to eat. Whether you hire someone or do it yourself, it is generally a task known well to horse farmers. Preferably you will have plenty of acreage in addition to the 1-3 acres per horse so that you can use that specifically for your hay bales. A few types of pasture that horses enjoy are:
-
Timothy
-
Fescue
-
Clover, their personal favorite!
Fencing
Be sure your fences are at least 4 feet high. Horses enjoy roaming, and without the fence, they may just keep going! Fence material can be a variety of materials: metal, wood, or plastic; the important key being that it is indeed sturdy. If fencing does not currently exist, it could be a pricey investment, so keep that in mind when thinking about your budget.
Other Structures
Now, these all depend on what you and your horses will be doing. Do you need a riding ring? A breeding shed? A structure for tractors? You may need to do some additional research based upon your desired type of horse farm.
If you are looking for a realtor that can help you answer these questions and can lead you to many prospective properties, look no further than Virginia Estates. The company is extremely well established and knows the Virginia farms for sale real estate market.