Horse people helping horse people
Shopping for horse property is not like shopping for a house. You need to know if the pasture drains, if the barn is sound, and if the zoning allows the number of horses you have. A regular listing won’t tell you any of that.
Robin raises Icelandic horses at HestaRokk Farm in Cambridge, Wisconsin, so she knows firsthand what it takes to keep horses at home. When we look at horse property with you, we look at it the way a horse owner does.
Buying horse property near Madison
Whether you want a hobby farm with two horses, a boarding barn, or a few wooded acres with room for a run-in shed, we will help you find it and check it before you commit. Here is what we look at on every horse property tour:
- Zoning and animal limits. Many rural residential zoning districts in Dane County allow one animal unit per full acre, and one horse counts as one animal unit. Keeping more can take a conditional use permit. Towns, villages, and neighboring counties can have their own rules, so we confirm the zoning for each property before you write an offer.
- Barn and outbuildings. Stall count, ventilation, roof, electrical, water lines, and whether the buildings meet setback rules for housing livestock.
- Fencing. Type, condition, and how much of it you will be replacing in year one.
- Pasture and land. Usable acres versus total acres, drainage, soil, slope, and how the land holds up in a Wisconsin spring.
- Water. Well condition, frost-free hydrants, and heated waterers.
- Hay and manure. Storage space, equipment access, and a workable plan for manure.
- Riding. Arena size and footing, plus nearby trails and quiet roads.
- Well, septic, and inspections. Country property comes with its own list of inspections, and we will make sure the right ones are in your offer.
Selling your horse farm or acreage
Buyers shopping for horse property look for different things than typical home buyers. We market your property with photos and details that matter to them: stall count, arena size, fencing, pasture acres, water, and hay storage. We price it using sales of comparable rural property, not suburban comparables that miss the value of your barn and land.
Where we help
We work with horse property, hobby farms, and acreage across Dane County and the surrounding area, including Cambridge, Deerfield, Marshall, Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, Stoughton, Oregon, Verona, Mount Horeb, Middleton, Waunakee, DeForest, Lodi, and Lake Mills.
Horse property questions
How many horses can I keep per acre in Dane County?
In many rural residential districts, Dane County zoning allows one animal unit per full acre, and one horse is one animal unit. Some properties can keep more with a conditional use permit, and some have deed restrictions that allow fewer. Rules differ by district and municipality, so we verify them for each property.
Can I build a barn on land I buy?
Usually, yes, but in Dane County a home generally has to exist or be under construction before a permit is issued for an accessory building, and buildings that house livestock must meet setback rules. We check this before you buy bare land.
Do I need a special loan for a hobby farm?
It can. Some lenders limit acreage, outbuildings, or agricultural use on standard home loans, while others specialize in rural property. Talk with a lender early about the specific property type you want.
Not a horse person?
No problem. We help buyers and sellers with condos, starter homes, new construction, and everything in between. See buying a home or selling your home.
Let’s talk horses and land
Guernsey Real Estate Co | Robin Anderson-Guernsey and Wil Guernsey, licensed real estate agents with Stark Company Realtors, 2980 Arapaho Drive, Madison, WI 53719. 608-213-8778. Equal Housing Opportunity.
