Buying a Horse Property

Ed Vanderpool has experience and knowledge of not only real estate but also of  Colorado horse properties and livestock and land in general.

Born and raised on a working ranch in Deertrail, Colorado, Ed has over 40 years of experience with Horses. He has had hands-on experience of helping many horse people to purchase suitable properties over the years. He worked with his father for a number of years training thoroughbred race horses.

In Ed's experience, there are many factors to be considered when buying or selling a horse property. From land to barns, soils and water, he has the experience and knowledge to help you.

What ever your requirements, from the recreational horse owner, to potential investors of large parcels of land for development, tell Ed your specific needs for a property.

Basic Grazing Capacity:
Counties in Colorado generally allow 1 horse per 1/2 acre. However, Homeowner's Association Covenants can further limit those guidellines. Check with your Homowner's Association for specific guidelines, or call the Vanderpools for more information (303-902-6600).

The fragile land combined with the semiarid climate may lead to a loss of grasses, water contamination and erosion problems when maintaining horses and other livestock on smaller parcels of land. The potential for damage calls for an involved stewardship of the land. The land owner must be sensitive to the number and type of livestock kept on their land, the amount of land that is devegetated, and the proper management of manure.

The following chart is intended as a very simplistic representation of the amount of time livestock can be pastured without damaging the vegetation on the land. Unique characteristics of the land may further limit the grazing capacity. The chart is based on a grazing standard of 30 acres of pasture per head of livestock.

# of Horses:       30 Acres               10 Acres                5 Acres                 2.5 Acres

        1               24 hrs/day              8 hrs/day              4 hrs/day               2 hrs/day     
        2               12 hrs/day              4 hrs/day              2 hrs/day                1 hr/day    
        3                8 hrs/day               2.6 hrs/day           1.3 hrs/day             40min/day  
        4                6 hrs/day               2 hrs/day              1 hr/day                 30min/day  
        5               4.8 hrs/day             1.6 hrs/day            50min/day              24 min/day 
        6                4 hrs/day               1.3 hrs/day            36 min/day                 N/A       
        8                3 hrs/day                1 hr/day               30 min/day                 N/A       
        10              2.4 hrs/day             50min/day              24 min/day                N/A       

Source: Douglas, Araphoe & Elbert Counties