How to scoop the perfect equestrian pad
ROYAL Ascot fever is putting horse racing centre stage this week. Droves of fans have been making their way to the event, donning fascinators (the girls that is) and morning suits to witness the thrilling final furlongs. But what if you fancied your own slice of horse-paddock heaven? According to experts it’s not as hard as you think. City PM got the low-down on buying the perfect equine property.
GET THE RIGHT LAND: “You need flat land, especially for racing, says Robert Jones-Davies, agent at property search company Middleton Advisors. “A slight gradient in places is good for keeping the horses fit,” adds Henry Hannon, from buying agents Property Vision. He added: “Soil is important. You need chalky or free draining soil to keep the top layer dry. Boggy soil is bad for horses and is easily damaged.” Access is also key, says Hannon. “Make sure you have access to bridal pathways so you are not crossing major roads. Make sure access to your property is also easy for lorries and horse vehicles.”
YOU WILL NEED: A starter equestrian property for one or two animals should have 3-5 acres of land and ideally come with additional annex lodgings for a groom. “Horses need several outbuildings and planning permission is never a given, so it’s good to look for places with existing stables, barns or agricultural buildings,” says Jones-Davies. “Look to have at least 2-3 acres per horse so that you’re not over stressing the land,” says James Grillo, associate director of the Chesterton Humberts country department.
WHERE TO BUY: “Wiltshire, Cornwall and Dorset are great – lots of chalk soil – and there’s more for your money than in Berkshire,” says Hannon. Other top areas include Newmarket and Blenheim. For Polo, Cirencester, Beaufort, and Kirklington are good. Cheltenham meanwhile, is the home of national hunt racing. Jones-Davies recommended Northamptonshire as a hotspot for more affordable properties. “There’s more acre for your buck and it’s near the M1 so there’s easy access to London.”
HOW MUCH: Buyers for a “weekend” horse owner property to accommodate 1-2 horses with 3 acres of land, a 5-bedroom period farmhouse and good links to London should expect to pay between £1.5-2m.
ADDITIONAL COSTS: You will need a groom on-site full-time. Salaries run at £16,000 per annum typically with accommodation thrown in. Then there’s land upkeep, fencing, veterinary bills, blacksmith bills, and fencing. “Expect to pay £100 upkeep roughly per acre, per year,” says Grillo.
INVESTMENT STAKES: Jones-Davies says equine properties are solid investments. “Especially with the growing interest in rural land. There’s a market for them on two levels.”