So if I want to buy Ships Quarters Farm...

[JP60]

Hire me as a Barn Manager Sure, I’ve not run at the 4* level, bred horses that won at Rolex, or was born from the womb of a champion mare, but you might not want that type of person (psssst…read the thread on EDH)

You want a competent, organized person who understands the requirements of running a farm, yet one who also knows how to deal with people and loves horses above any ego trip. Sure, you could get a kid at a cheap price, and watch them leave after the first disaster, but getting a mature, balanced, well educated adult with a full career in the corporate world (that he wants to leave) would be worth the extra dollars.

Just planting a seed

You are living my dream I’ll say. Two years ago I found the perfect farm for me. 24 acres, 10 stall post built barn with two more on the property, a riding arena and a seasonal creek. Sure it needed TLC to get it back to good, but I was ready. Sadly, the real estate market was not and I eventually had to step back.

I wish you the best for it does look like a great facility.

[JP60]

I certainly agree, hire good help and I know someone who’d love to take on the Barn Manager role.

Now folks might say you need someone who rode at 4*, bred horses that won at Rolex, and was born from the womb of a mare, but maybe not (psssttt…read the thread on EDH).

You need a competent, balanced, steady, witty, and well rounded individual that would always put horse welfare above human interests first. Sure you could hire a youngling, and watch them leave in a couple of years with Rolex stars in their eyes. You might think you can hire cheap, but as my best friend used to say, you get what you pay for.

Getting a mature person who’s owned a farm, rides, works with horses, but is not jaded or has burned out on the inside is the optimum. Working in the corporate world for a long times creates the ability to organize, plan, work with people while still getting the job done. I wonder who you could talk to that meets those points…hmmmmmm…

I had my eye on a 24 acre farm two years ago to do the very thing you are considering. Had the real estate market been kind, instead of a soft pitch I’d be giving advice, but thus how life goes.

All the best for it looks grand.

BTW, after looking at the pictures (and since you posted on an Eventing forum) That place is fantastic to run some lower level event shows, recognized or not (I’d go with not). Feed the base well and the base will come. At the least, build some cross country fences and offer schooling. Hmmmm…I wonder who could build fences

[omare]

I think you likely need to have two different people-- one to manage horses and one to manage “farm” repairs up keep and can run machinery. it is hard to do and be both.

[ladyj79]

JP60, the facility did/does host shows, and in the past I think this included to the FEI level. I keep feeling like they held an Olympic qualifier there back in the day.

It is a very well known and loved property.

[Mango20]

Yeah, Ship’s Quarters was a big deal back in the day (the '80’s). I never realized it was that close to downtown Westminster. It would be great if it could host events again someday!

[ladyj79]

I was at a dressage show there just a few years back, maybe 2012? not sure what their show schedule has been more recently.

[HelenC]

I asked my BO about this property. It is lovely and an important fixture in US eventing. It apparently held at one time the only Advanced HT in the country and did host a qualifier for the 1984 LA Olympics.

[frugalannie]

I salute your desire to this OP, and hope that you go for it (if it’s the right fit etc, etc). My one request would be that you consider protecting the property for the future if you can.

For various crazy reasons, my DH and I made the big leap about 10 years ago to do something similar, but on a much smaller scale. The only thing that balances it is that we’re on the north shore of MA so the acquisition costs and property taxes for our salt water farm are many times higher that Ship’s Quarters for less dry land. I’m not even going to try to figure out how many multiples because I’ll get depressed.

So here’s my advice: define what roles you want to fill yourselves and what roles you need/want someone else to fill. I knew that I was going to be very involved managing, so I made sure there were only 11 stalls when we redid the barn. Creates a useful limit! I already had a great list of contractors I worked with for everything from heavy equipment to painting. Finding the right person to help around has been key. If possible a relatively young couple with some horse smarts who can live on property, keep an eye on things and handle handyman jobs with enough horse sense to know when to call you or a vet is key. I’ve heard that some training centers are closing somewhat south of you and that says to me that some experienced people are going to be looking for jobs. As to trainers, follow your gut but vet them well. The right person is a joy to work with.

If you want any more info on specifics of what we did/ are doing, feel free to PM me.

[Ready_To_Riot]

What farm do they own now? I had no idea who she was, but evidently she is very close friends with my trainer in Ky. I had the opportunity to train with her (still do. She frequents my trainers farm.) but had no idea who she was. I don’t think she lives in TN though. Hmm I’ll have to start investigating!

[Flash44]

I appreciate the replies. I’ve been in touch with the agent and am waiting to get some more information. I think it’s important to target a realistic market. We all would love the top of the line gleaming first class facility, but I don’t know that in this location, there would be enough of those clients. It’s a 30 stall facility on 85 acres, which tells me that there is plenty of turnout. The barns are “shedrow” style, so it is probably a little cold and challenging on cold whippy windy winter days. The indoor is nice but smallish. It’s old. Without having seen it in person, I don’t know what needs immediate attention. I’d aim for a mid-level lesson/training program with a trainer who loves kids and has a knack for making everything fun while still getting the job done. The upper levels probably have horses that can’t get turned out and want a better facility. And they don’t want to get their boots dirty walking from the barn to the indoor. I’m going to try to go out and see it and then make some decisions.

[Flash44]

Oh and how could I forget! I’d love to set aside some acreage for retired racehorses that cannot have second careers, and also use the training facility to place some good retired racehorse prospects, on my dollar.

[vineyridge]

[QUOTE=HelenC;9042333]
I asked my BO about this property. It is lovely and an important fixture in US eventing. It apparently held at one time the only Advanced HT in the country and did host a qualifier for the 1984 LA Olympics.[/QUOTE]

On 85 acres? How could one possibly hold a HT on 85 acres, much less an Olympic qualifier? Although I suppose the Wellington Showcase shows how it is possible to shoe horn 2170 meters of course in much less space.

To me 85 acres is the size of a postage stamp even without buildings.

[Flash44]

I think there has been some subdivision done since the O’s.

[gypsymare]

I live just a few miles from there and attended a Carrollton Hounds hunt there as a guest in 2013. It’s an unrecognized, small hunt.

Tillable acreage in Carroll County is around 10-20k/acre. That farm is a smokin’ deal. I would have expected a much higher price. We are right on the edge of skyrocketing property values here but it is just a tad too far to be a comfortable daily commute to D.C.

The U-shaped barn is well oriented to block the prevailing winds here which are nearly always out of the WNW. I’d be happy to have a nice airy shedrow stall in our stifling summers. I’m surprised I don’t miss a center aisle as much as I thought I would.

[Janet]

Good chance that the HT ran over some of the neighbors’ property as well.

[whbar158]

I agree it depends on how strong of a role you really want. And how barns in the area work. A lot where I am from people do own or lease the place from a fairly absent owner and have a lot of control over the place. I too would probably stay away from multiple trainers leasing the place that is hard and not super common on the east coast at a lot of barns. Personally I would consider hiring a BM for the boarding aspect and hiring your own trainer vs leasing the property out especially if you are wanting to use areas for yourself. That way everything is yours and handled the way you would like it. I would have everyone paying ME and then pay the trainer their cut vs board to you, training to them etc and obviously get everything on contract etc. But that would be my ideal set up as a BO. I don’t think I could just let control of my own property especially if I lived there and wanted to do some things there on my own. This way the BM and trainer can be hired and be like minded to you on how you like things and hopefully that helps not have troublesome boarders/trainers etc on the property.

[findeight]

No in trying to create a barn for the elite levels unless you have elite level contacts. Of every 100 potential clients for an average barn, maybe 1 is elite level talent and budget to develop it.

Aim for the 99% that are normal talent and budget looking for a good barn with good instruction at an average and fair price. You’ll get more clients that way.

[ladyj79]

I’ll dissent; multiple trainers renting blocks of stalls is totally standard in Europe. I think it’s actually quite beneficial as, say someone doesn’t work out, you don’t lose the whole barn at once. It has worked at Morningside, it has worked at Stone Gate, it id pretty normal in Florida during the season.

I will say remember that trainers and riders are just that–very rarely do they make good barn or facilities managers. I would lease out blocks of stalls to trainers/riders, but would either plan on being or hiring a facilities manager. Not a barn manager overseeing horses and clients, but someone dealing with maintenance, watering and dragging rings, landscaping, etc.

[gypsymare]

It’s not in the right area for a 1%er elite barn either. Westminster is a bit of a haul from anywhere with the kind of property values to attract super high dollar owners. The town is getting a bit depressed and fighting a heroin epidemic.

[Catoctin]

Over the years we’ve had a number of horses at SQF (one even went to KY with Dona) and for the most part the stalls were full with a combination of dressage and eventing oriented horses/riders. The stalls are,for the most part, huge and although in a shed-row configuration, they are well protected. We’ve had horses in the court yard barn, the silo barn, and my husband had a stall (and man-cave) in the bank barn. The layout may be a a bit cold for people in the winter but the horses do just fine and I don’t remember the upper dutch doors ever needing to be closed. In addition to the larger pastures there are several smaller paddocks for those horses that needed/wanted private turnout. A large part of the acreage is not fenced and was used to make hay. Plenty to fence for a retired racehorse project I actually liked the indoor being separate from the barn and didn’t mind the walk - but we have horses at home and we have to walk everywhere. Some of the old fences from the xc course are still around if you know where to look. Actually the Irish bank is visible in the hay field but it’s overgrown. One huge advantage was that,for most of the year, no matter how many people were there riding, you weren’t crowded because there are multiple rings. Winter time at night in the indoor was really the only time crowding was an issue. Oh, one other advantage is the privacy afforded the house with it being just downhill of the barns.

It’s a beautiful farm; I’d live there.