Horse property is as much about a life style as it is about a place to live. There are many things to consider when buying a property for you and your horses.

The horse property checklist

In many ways this checklist of horse property and facilities is a great starting place. Each person has their own needs and wants that make for the perfect northern California foothills horse farm. The gold country offers a rich selection of equestrian properties. Some are hilly and filled with trees, others are open areas that turn that golden brown which is the mark of the Sacramento valley. What works best for each person is the ideal horse property for them.

Horse property checklist questions

• Where are the nearest horse friendly trails?
• What zoning does this property permit?
• You should be informed about the government laws on how many horses you can have per acre. Placer County will have different zoning rules then Sacramento County or any other of the foothill counties in California.
• How many animals can be accommodated on a property?
• What are my water rights?
• What is the well for volume and quality?
• Does the property have access to enough clean water and of good quantity sufficient for the need?
• Many rural properties don’t have good wells. Check the well for volume and quality. Learn of all water sources that the property has access too. Find out about the water rights and contracts before owning the property.
• Will my neighbors be troubled with fly and odor nuisances?
• How will hay and supplies delivery be handled?
• What will be done with the manure?
• Unless the manure is composted, do not use manure as fertilizer or soil bedding to prevent contamination.
• Is the property able to bring in horses as boarders to help pay the bills?
• Can the property work with the size of horses we have?
• Can the equestrian ranch handle large breeds?
• Is the area good for small breeds or ponies?
• Can wild horses be boarded at the property?

Equestrian features of the property

• What are the horse training areas?
• Is there an arena?
• Is there a round pen?
• How much will it cost to update the barn?
• How much will it cost to build a new barn?
• Can the barn and corrals be easily cleaned daily?
• Is there a good, ventilated area for storing hay, feed and shavings?
• What are the rules about building arenas?
• Are the stall’s watering systems in good condition?
• What is the condition of the stall gates?

Daily barn chores

During the day the barn manages tasks slightly differently than purely horse-related tasks, but there are some overlaps. Clean water, adequate hay, and access to shelter have the greatest impact on horses’ health and the operation of the barn. Stalled horses will need their bedding cleaned regularly. Grains, supplements, and some medications are also stored in the barn.

• Is there a tack and equipment room?

Every horse owner should be able to quickly break down and reassemble their tack, and clean it on a regular basis. The tack and equipment room is great for this work. The storage room is a good place for the turnout blankets and stable blankets.

• Is there a good tack-up area for the horses?
• Is there a wash rack?
• How are the paddocks?
• Check and see if there is good footing in the stalls and turn-out paddocks?
• What type is the fencing?
• What condition is the fencing?
• Where are the storages areas?
• Does the property have pastures?
• What condition is the Pasture in?
• Are there any run-in shelters in the pastures in case of down pours or excessive heat?
• Is there enough pasture land to have dry pastures too?
• Is there irrigation available for pasture management? 
• Does the pasture consist of spring weeds or planted pasture grasses?

The pastures could look green in northern California foothill horse properties. But find out why they are green? Often, unmaintained pastures look green and lush from a distance, but on closer inspection are full of undesirable weeds. There can be noxious plants. One example is the beautiful red oak trees which are lovely to look at, but their leaves are poisonous to horses. The fundamentals of equine pasture management covers issues like grazing, soil fertility, and weed control.

 The local focus northern California foothills or gold country

Where the horse property is located is important in northern California foothills.  If the property is off the beaten path, then it will take longer to get to work on time.

• Is the property horse trailer friendly?
• Does it have narrow and winding roads?
• Is the road to the ranch traversable by horse trailers?
• How will you dispose of the manure?

All manure should be picked up at least every three days in stalls, paddocks, confinement areas and high-traffic areas. Tarping your manure piles will help keep the nutrients you are trying to save in the compost.

• How will you control the summer fly situation?
• Will your horse need a fly mask?
• Is there cheap horse property for sale?
• Are there small horse farms for sale?
• Is there land available for horse farms?
• Will a young horse, known as a foal, be safe on the land?

 The location of the horse ranch

The natural features of the horse property can have a big impact upon the usefulness of the parcel. Some northern California foothill horse properties have steep mountainsides sections. Many times this does not make for good horse pasture.

Pay attention to where low spots or other troublesome characteristics may be on your prospective horse property. Areas that are largely covered with rocks with spaces in-between can be a real hazard for horses.

Examine potential horse property for land prone to flooding from water sources. Low-lying areas that catch the rain and run off could be dry for half the year and a lake the other half. 

• Is there easy access to trails?
• Are there horse communities in northern California?
• Are there small ranches in the area?
• Are there large ranches in the area?
• Are there commercial equine operations in the area?
• Can the climate handle all breeds of horses?
• Will the veterinarian and farrier be able to get there if it gets snowed in during the winter?

What are the upkeep cost and issues of horse property?

While owning a large horse property is very tempting, often it comes with an upkeep cost. The larger the property, the more upkeep work there is. Are you prepared to build or repair outbuildings? Examine any existing fences and buildings for safety and work needed to bring them up to your standard. Check maintenance issues: things like water pipes, electrical, weeds, feeding areas, stalls and the general condition of the property. Take note of the state of roofs.

Here are some purchasing issues when buying the horse property

Purchasing an equestrian property is a long term investment. The needs and desires over time will change. Factor that into what horse property you want to buy. Future the question like what do you want to do in five or ten years?

• Will this horse ranch be a investment long term?
• What will you do with the property if you decide to relocate?
• What are your long term goals for this equestrian property?
• Can this property have future renovations?
• Can this property be made into a commercial venture?

Develop more questions when you are ready to buy the right horse property.

The people’s home questions

• How many bedrooms?
• How many bathrooms?
• What features do I want the kitchen to have?
• Do you need a home office?
• How will the commute to work be?
• How will the commute to school be?
• How will the drive to go shopping be?

Commuting to work or driving to the grocery store can take a lot of time and a lot of energy.

The house can help to organize and maintain your horse’s health records.

Check out the new house check list for more ideas.

Using a professional real estate agent to help purchase a horse property

A competent real estate agent will use their expertise and knowledge to find the horse property that suits your needs and budget.

I hope if you are looking for horse property in northern California you contact me to assist you in your search. Coffee Real Estate’s team approach of using many experts to make the real estate transaction go smoothly can help you reach your goal of finding the best horse property for you. If you are looking to sell your horse property, our team will find all the value of your horse property when selling. Contact us at 916 481 8106 or use the form below to email us.

 I know you have a 1000 more questions. Great, contact Dan Parisi northern California foothills gold country equine real estate agent.

Final thought

Horses when moved to their new home need time to acclimate. Especially those that are not normally exposed to traveling for shows, or trail rides. Ultimately, give you and your horse plenty of time to bond and settle into your new home.

Horse property sold by Dan Parisi – Coffee Real Estate

Gold County ranch combines an open concept country home, 20+ acres land & amazing views into dream home. The completely remodeled home includes a new roof, AC & heating system, custom textured drywall, brilliant kitchen, inviting living area & comfy master suite. The land is framed by new white vinyl fencing. The horse ranch, farm or winery is an exceptional find. Discover more notable foothill horse property with Coffee Real Estate.