but I don’t want the work and headache of running the boarding and training aspects, what would I do? I would like to own the property and be responsible for capital improvements. I guess I would lease the facility to a trainer in some sort of deal? No financial lectures needed, I’m good with the money aspects and have been involved in horses and owning (much smaller) horse properties for a long time.
http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/1665-GOLDSMITH-DR-WESTMINSTER-MD-21157-177135017
What a property! I think having trainers lease out a barn or portion of a barn is pretty common. Sunset Hill in Woodbine leases the various barns out to trainers and just has a few totally independent self care boarders. Maybe also consider having self care boarders (yes, can of worms on their own)?
Keep your ear to the ground, find out what trainers are looking for in your area, what sort of deal they are interested in finding, and what their reputations are.
It’s a beautiful property – hope you find something that will work for you and a dream trainer!
Hire a good barn manager. Possibly allow a lease by a traner but personally…no one will treat your farm and investment as well as you…so you need to have someone who is guarding YOUR interests.
It is a beautiful looking farm in the pictures. Looks like there could be some upgrades to the barn needed…but how much you put in verses what you can get back do really depend on the area.
I’ll be happy to run it for you 
OMG - you would be in heaven. The price is amazing to us who live in the
Lower Mainland of BC, too. I had no idea You all live in such an established, old part of the continent - anything 100 years old is usually falling down here -but those old stone, historical buildings, sigh.
It is the sort of property us from COTH will be lining up for to come and run for you, en masse! Then you would find out that we might SEEM nice on COTH, we are really a bunch of u-no-whats.
Actually, a trainer, or two. Schooling, x-c eventing, small shows, with a great manager who will keep it ship-shape. You won’t have to touch a weed-whacker.
I’m already in heaven… Love the house and the entire property. In my perfect world, I would hire a facilities manager and then lease the facilities to 1 - 2 trainers. I would have to figure out the going rate per stall. There is a U shaped 20 stall facility and a 10 stall additional barn area. It looks like the property is under-utilized with the facilities concentrated in a small area. Nice indoor with 3 additional outdoors.
The current house trailer looks like it needs to be hauled away. A cute newer modular would not be expensive, for a barn manager
I’d consider turning the bottom of the bank barn into an nice trainer / working student apartment. You hire them, you live with them.
My biggest concerns - how do you ensure the adequate upkeep of the horses and the facility? No skinny underfed horses and keep the facility tidy. Specific is terrific.
Yeah love that property!
That is where you have to hire a good person as your BM. If ensuring proper horse care, then that needs to be under your control through your barn manager. So while you might get a trainer in…instead of leasing on a stall basis, you offer boarding at a rate that works for you and trainer.
Really it is all ultimately about having the right person in whether you do it from a leasing perspective or boarding.
Oh wow. I had no idea the farm was for sale. I groomed at a number of horse trials at Ships Quarters back in the early 1980s. So many wonderful memories. Best of luck with your business plan. This farm is a treasure of eventing history.
You have a few options. I managed a large property (not quite as much infrastructure as this, but indoor, outdoor, and a xc schooling field) for owners that really didn’t do much in the way of anything. I ran the whole thing, and only ran things by the owners if it was a financial decision (we also had a book keeper, so I didn’t manage the books). It was ran as a boarding facility and any trainer could teach their. A couple of trainers had clients who boarded with me, and they would come and ride/teach daily. It was nice for them, because they didn’t have to deal with the horse management/barn management stuff, and could just show up and ride or teach. I had good relationships with a couple, so we could discuss their clients’ horses’ needs easily. It wasn’t a bad situation, and worked well, for the most part. We also had a lot of haul ins (I hated that part) and it required good time management of the rings, but it wasn’t a bad way to run facilities like that.
Does anyone know why Dona is selling it? Is she no longer teaching/training?
I cannot believe how cheap the property taxes are. I’m gobsmacked.
The first photo of the house and pond is gorgeous. Wish there were more photos of inside the barn(s) and stalls – since it IS being marketed as an equestrian facility, after all. And for that matter, inside the house as well. Just lovely.
But photo #24 steals the show! I literally laughed out loud. Great shot of a horse mid-shake. :lol:
What a small world. I had my horse boarded there last spring. Dona’s husband got a new job in Kentucky and they moved out there. Dona had planned on staying around in Maryland longer but I think she just went right away with her husband. It’s a great facility and in a great location. Many stalls and good barn amenities. I may have some recent pictures of the barn and stalls if anyone is interested.
What a beautiful farm.
Calculate the financial aspects carefully. Remember that trainers often can’t pay their bills and that good boarders often more scarce than you would expect. Older homes and barns are usually expensive to maintain. If the financial aspects work for you, buy it and enjoy.
Hire good help, starting with somebody to run the numbers for you before making any decisions.
IME, multiple trainers make for multiple headaches, especially if they have their mutiple entourages in tow. Like a dysfunctional blended family. The backstabbing and constant snipping happen sooner or later and it gets old.
Id think bringing in a single, well established resident trainer for that size facility under a good yearly lease as well as some month to month boarders would be the way to go. Possibly they could also be the BM and handle running the barn. You don’t want too many cooks in your kitchen but you need a head chef, a lawyer and a CPA before doing anything.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;9041697]
I cannot believe how cheap the property taxes are. I’m gobsmacked.[/QUOTE]
I think the price is also surprisingly low for a nice house with land in that area, let alone any equestrian facilities.
Do it, OP! If you host shows, I’ll come play.
John had a job position location change. They relocated to Bowling Green, Ky. They already own a farm there- she is teaching there and does still travel back here periodically.
There are some additional photos of the farm on their FB page. It’s such a beautiful farm and I would totally consider boarding there if all the stars aligned down the road.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
