IF an equestrian community were opening up near you

[poltroon]

In theory I would love this but in practice I’m aware of a few different similar type projects and none of them lasted over the long haul.

The biggest problem comes down to the fact that you don’t just have to create the critical mass of horsey homeowners, but keep it. As people move away, or their horsey family member ages out of horses, it’s hard to keep everyone focused on the facility with the right mix of enthusiastic owners. They have to be the same discipline too, and what happens when they decide to move on to a new trainer? New people buy in who don’t have horses, and they tear out the horse facilities that are on their property, which also makes it less horsey going forward. How do you keep space for the people who own in the HOA but also keep it full enough to be a viable operation?

So I think if you’re interested in doing this, what I’d do is hunt down all of the ones you can find, and then I’d learn from the case studies, which ones have worked and which have not. Also look at barns and horse parks that are tightly connected to residential areas but not sharing an ownership interest and see how those have worked out.

[gradytb]

No way in h-- an HOA. And “several-acre” turnout (not sure how much this actually means) sounds limited to me. My horses are spoiled but I have 24x7 turnout over 85+ acres and they can come into the barn and their stalls whenever they want in between breakfast and dinner. I can trail ride on my own place and although I don’t have a “real” ring, there are at least 3 huge flat areas that work just fine. I prefer to be responsible for my own property and I’m not dealing with other people telling me what to do with it! Would be awesome to have an indoor, but it’s not essential here. My place is for sale and I"m looking for a smaller farm (smaller house really), but I’ve found that my minimum acreage to not feel claustrophobic is 40 acres.

[shiloh]

@Paint_Party

And, in typical human behavior, one or more of the horse folk who live within the HOA appoint themselves as Head Honcho or Queen Bee and assert their knowledge and opinion throughout the community, whether you want to hear it or not.

I call them HOA Nazis.

[clanter]

@173north

but there’s many little equestrian neighborhoods and public parks with riding arenas & trail access dotted around, even in the middle of LA.

I worked out of Chatsworth for nearly a decade, my employer knew we had horses and after they investigated the costs to relocate my family it was decided that I would remain in Fort Worth then commute to the office by air.

Here we have direct access (if desired) to over 100 miles of interlocking public trails. Also there is no restrictions to use the streets

In recent years many of the properties around us have been purchased by former Californians

[Christa_P]

Several suburbs around Denver are very horse friendly with access to the Highline Canal system to ride for miles and some horse parks with outdoor arenas and cross-country jumps. My mom had 1.9 acres in Littleton where she could keep 3 horses. She had set it up as a nice little place and, a short ride around the corner, there was a public horse park and access to the canal trails.

[tabula_rashah]

It’d be a 100% NO from me on living in this type of community. As soon as you enter into anything like this, someone would be trying to police you

[trubandloki]

What the OP described simply sounds like a boarding barn in a neighborhood, which would be a No for me.

[Bogey2]

no…I don’t even want to be involved with an HOA lol. Add horses to the mix and it would be too much drama for me.

[Texarkana]

@Bogey2

no…I don’t even want to be involved with an HOA lol. Add horses to the mix and it would be too much drama for me.

I don’t entirely understand why HOA neighborhoods appeal to anyone. The perks rarely seem to outweigh the drama.

[Bogey2]

There is one next to me and it’s only 8 houses …yet still drama!

[Cowboy_Girl]

All of the things that I do in addition to horses that I don’t need protecting from…

[Paint_Party]

It is an interesting question: Why do HOAs appeal to some people?

Out here, where there’s a large segment of wealthy retirees, I think in part they believe there’s security within a gated HOA community. Some find solace in enforced conformity. They don’t have to worry that their neighbor across the street will paint their house purple or repair old cars in their driveway. And then there’s the comfort of a ready-made tribe. Familiarity comes easily when you see the same people at the pool, the monthly social hour and the HOA board meetings.

What’s fascinating to me is I’d say half the people I know that originally bought homes within posh, gated HOAs soon came to resent the meddling, nitpicking and money grabs like pissant punitive fines for things like leaving their trash bin out over night. So they sell and leave.

My goal is to avoid an HOA entirely.

[hoopoe]

HOA + horse owners

what could go wrong

instant pass.

[Ajierene]

@Paint_Party

Out here, where there’s a large segment of wealthy retirees, I think in part they believe there’s security within a gated HOA community. Some find solace in enforced conformity. They don’t have to worry that their neighbor across the street will paint their house purple or repair old cars in their driveway. And then there’s the comfort of a ready-made tribe. Familiarity comes easily when you see the same people at the pool, the monthly social hour and the HOA board meetings.

There are potentially a few advantages to an HOA. While my area of the world doesn’t see gated communities, it does see HOA’s outside of town limits so the individuals have to pay for plows, trash pick up, and other road and sidewalk maintenance a town would. Paying into an HOA can pay that. They are also generally a certain income level so, like your example - no houses turning into junk yards and the like.

Some are OK and I think usually the first few years are better but the quality dwindles. It does depend, though.

The HOA’s in the area that I am aware of do have restrictions on house colors, yard decorations, fencing, etc. and that would not interest me. I did know someone that lived in a relaxed HOA where fees basically just went to road/public property maintenance and when I knew here she was complaining that in recent years the promised maintenance was no longer being done.

I know someone else that still has a house in a small HOA and it isn’t to bad. I heard of some neighbors having issues with keeping boats in the driveway that contradicted HOA guidelines. I also recall last summer an issue came up where someone on an adjoining street was blocking access to the river. The access point was “public” as in part of the HOA agreement and the houses on that adjoining street were there before the neighborhood.

There were continuous issues with that one particular home owner. The conversation I recall is that friend’s husband wanted to address with the home owner but he is not the president and president wanted to handle it but was not very assertive and it meant the issue was not being resolved.

[JanM]

I live in a HOA neighborhood because I liked the location. However, that was when the builder was in charge, and they pay a lot more than the HOA dues to keep the place neat and clean, to make it attractive to buyers. Once it changed to the homeowners association control, no one wanted to do the work, no one wants to irritate a neighbor by giving them a citation. The builder also didn’t do anything about enforcing the rules, because he didn’t want residents telling prospective buyers anything to make them pass on buying.

Now there’s a property management company, but the board of directors are the ones who make the rules, and that resulted in HOA dues doubling last year. Now the same people that said we need to keep that stupid, deteriorating pool want to replaster it for $12,000. That means almost $500 per house extra assessment. So, when they pass the assessment, this year will be $1000 dues. Enforcement of the rules is better, but if I could find somewhere to move to that I could afford, I would be out of here.

[Paint_Party]

My friend, who was one of the first to build inside an upscale gated HOA, is having the same issues. Maintenance costs have skyrocketed and while some of the wealthy residents don’t seem to mind, I think it’s hitting her hard. But she’s so invested financially that at this point in her life (she’s near 80) I don’t think it’s feasible for her to sell and move.

[tabula_rashah]

perfect response lol

[Bogey2]

'nuff said

[SharonA1]

Ahhh, my peeps. Would anyone who is not a raging individualist (and really and truly, more power to those who are ) care to comment on what they would like in such a community (keeping in mind that were are ignoring HOA issues, since this [abstract] HOA would be wonderful)?

As in, (yes or no):

Having access to a community for casual social connection when wanted, or that could help me if I temporarily could not take care of my horse or wanted to go on vacation, is important to me.

Owning a small lot but with deeded rental access to an adjacent lot of say 3 acres (ie, yours as long as you own the home) for horsekeeping my way (as long as basic principles of good care are in evidence) but with access to shared amenities would be financially advantageous to me vs. buying my own large property, such that this sort of community would allow me to stay in horses. (If you need more land, you can buy more lots, promise.)

I would appreciate buying a home in a community where I knew the area trails and open space would not be developed into vast tracts of suburbia.

I would appreciate better access to trailers, vets, farriers, etc, because these things are getting hard to get in my area if you’re in a backyard barn vs a large barn.

I understand that people are concerned over what might happen in the next generations, but a) I’ll probably be dead, and b) that can happen anywhere, and there might actually be less chance of a preserved community changing in character than the risk to a private lot.

One other thing, just for context – I know acreage and access to public land is more readily available and accessible in some parts of the country, but, this is not one of them.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I’ll play, just for grins. In your scenario… I have 3 acres to do whatever (?) with and shared amenities. Amenities being? Arena - both indoor and out. I’m not footing picky so long as it’s safe, so generic is fine. Farrier area, vet area, hot water wash rack.
3 acres and one horse… equals unhappy horsey being alone. And 3 acres isn’t enough for one horse without turning into a dry (weed) lot over time… so let’s say I have 2 horses, or maybe my horse shares company with a neighbor’s and we switch pastures as needed.
What about stalls… I think they should all have some kind of run, let’s add that to the shared amenities? Or… hmm… small barn on my 3 acres … but again I go back to does my horse have any company? That’s my biggest hang up here.
Anyway… trails, hacking lanes, would be absolutely fabulous. Arena, if you get ‘toys’ out (jumps, barrels, whatever) put it away when you’re done!
Let’s say this is in an area that actually gets winter. It would be nice to have a shared barn where we could all help each other with frozen water and such. So yes, stalls in the shared amenities barn.
How about an income CAP to live here? I say that because people with a lot of money tend to think their way is the way and throwing money at something will get them what they want. Don’t need that drama, and it ruins it for ordinary people.