6 Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Horse Ranch

Buying a horse ranch is the dream for many people. Whether they just love horses or want to raise race horses, a horse ranch is a bucket list item. Before scratching it off the list, however, there are a few things you need to know. 

1. Zoning: The city or county's zoning of your potential horse property is important. Many areas limit the number of horses per acre, which is for the horse's well-being, but some jurisdictions prevent livestock of any kind being kept within city limits. Buyers and their real estate agent need to do their due diligence about any and all restrictions before buying a piece of property for a horse ranch. 

2. Topography: Horses need flat land. Humans may like the privacy offered by a wooded area or admire the view from a riverbank, but those areas can be dangerous for horses. They need wide open areas with low, rolling hills to run. 

3. Outbuildings: Does the horse ranch come with any additional outbuildings? You will need a barn with a tack room and feed room. If there is not currently one, you need to know the zoning and costs to adding one. Also, a run-in shed, or covered area in the pasture where horses can shelter from the sun, rain, or snow, is a great extra to have.

4. Parking: The horse property should have plenty of parking with room to turn around a large trailer. Do not underestimate how much room is needed for this. The parking area should be either paved or, at the very least, have compacted gravel. 

5. Fencing: Horse ranches need strong, secure fencing. Make sure it is all in good condition before you make your offer. If not, ask for a price reduction to allow for repairs. Barbed wire is not adequate or acceptable fencing for horses. 

6. Trail Access: This is a factor that no one is going to tell you. The real estate marketing material may state there there are "miles and miles of trails", but do not assume that you can access those trails from your property. If you have to cross your neighbor's property or, worse, a busy street to get to the trails, it is not truly trail access. On the other hand, if you find a horse ranch for sale with immediate access to an equine trail system from your property line, act quickly. Other buyers will be just as excited.