These superb ranches and country estates are likely to bring out the hidden cowboy (or cowgirl) in a good many of us. Saddle up and brandish that lasso!
When you look at the topography of the United States there’s little wonder that it proves such an excellent choice for not only riding but also owning and stabling your own horses. There is a myriad of ranches, equestrian estates and exciting trail rides on offer with different levels of terrain to suit every rider. Rick Distel, Private Client Group, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, says,
“Equestrian buyers are often more focused on the horse facilities available, as opposed to the area where the property is located. That said, there are certainly towns that attract an upscale equestrian audience, and those include Roxbury, Woodbury and Salisbury in Litchfield County, Connecticut as well as Millbrook in neighbouring Dutchess County, New York. These desirable towns dot the landscape north of the New York City metropolitan area, beginning with towns like Bedford in Westchester County and working north through Litchfield County, Connecticut and Dutchess County.
“For equestrian buyers, the horse facilities are the main requirements when buying these sorts of estates and properties, and the residence is often secondary. For example, barns, paddocks, tack rooms, and indoor rings are all of utmost importance.”
Mr Distel advises that the region is home to a large selection of equestrian estates offered across a wide range of prices.
“A modest but fully functional property on healthy acreage can be had in some of the towns for $1 million while the sky is the limit at the upper end,”
he says.
“Again, to many of these horse owners, if the horses are happy it is worth the investment.”
Solvang, California
In the hills of beautiful Ballard Canyon, this private country estate has spectacular views. The 5,000 square foot main residence includes five bedrooms, two master suites, five bathrooms, a gourmet chef’s kitchen, three spacious living/family room areas, a formal dining room and five-car garage with office. There is also a detached two-bedroom, one bathroom guesthouse with a separate one-bedroom, one bathroom studio, while a separate, three-bedroom, two bathroom caretaker’s cottage is on the lower end of the property. Equestrian facilities abound with multiple barns, an office, covered arena, open arena, tack room, hot walker, paddocks, pastures and on-site riding trails. Additional outdoor amenities include built-in barbecues, a pool, spa, manicured lawns, a regulation tennis court with viewing area, private five-hole golf course and four-acre boutique vineyard growing Syrah and Pinot grapes.
£2.34m / €2.65m / $2.995m Village Properties
www.villageproperties.com
Inyanga, West of Glenwood Springs, Colorado
A sublime parcel of the American West, this ranch consists of 530 acres of beautiful river frontage, ponds, meadows and historic cabins. Located at the end of a box canyon, it is protected by steep granite cliffs that rise up to the Flat Tops Wilderness in western Colorado. Two miles of Canyon Creek flow through the ranch providing excellent fishing and abundant water rights for nine ponds and generous irrigation. Inyanga is named after a national park in the current owner’s native Zimbabwe, bordered on three sides by National Forest Land and BLM (Bureau of Land Management), it is accessed by a narrow road for maximum privacy and security. The house, designed by an award-winning Colorado architect, was created in a simple palette of metal, cut granite and cedar to echo the surrounding cliffs and merge into the environment.
£18.1m / €20.6m / $23m Palladium Properties
www.palladiumaspen.com
Rana Creek Ranch, Carmel Valley, California
Owned by Mike Markkula, Apple’s first backer and second CEO, this property is the largest private holding in Carmel Valley. It consists of 14,000 acres of completely fenced land, owner, manager, guest and staff residences, agricultural buildings and a 2,900-foot private air strip. The property includes 12 legal parcels and is primarily agricultural with cattle grazing (300-450 head) and horse facilities. Over three decades owning the property, Mr Markkula has remodelled the houses and increased the acreage significantly. Fascinated by cowboys, he even installed a ‘cowboy bar’ in the main house and learned to ride at the ranch.
£35.5m / €40.4m / $45m Carmel Realty Company
www.carmelrealtycompany.com
Greenwich, Connecticut
World-class equestrian property with 95-acres, an impeccably presented 36 stall show barn with upper level trophy room/lounge with a fireplace and a wall of windows for viewing inside the 115’ x 240’ indoor riding arena. An office/bedroom with a full bath and staff quarters for six complete the upper level. Amenities include 14 spacious grass paddocks, a jumping derby field, two outdoor riding rings, an aerated pond, the original 34 stall polo barn, cottages and a second indoor riding arena. There are also multiple sites with far-reaching views on the property for those who want to build one or more additional substantial homes.
£30.15m / €34.22m / $39m Knight Frank
www.knightfrank.com
Roxbury, Boston
This spectacular gated estate currently owned by Jerry Adler, the renowned actor and American theatre director, offers 17.3 private acres of land. The property includes top quality equestrian facilities and a five-bedroom residence with stunning architectural features such as beams, panelled walls, high ceilings and French doors. The fully furnished lower level has a screening room with a fireplace, a game room and two offices. Open land surrounds the estate, which includes a large pond and a main barn with 14 stalls. There are also several smaller barns, a three-car garage, guest house and paddocks plus riding trails surrounding the property.
£939,000 / €1.06m / $1.2m William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
www.sothebysrealty.com
