Horse Properties
A C R O S S T H E N AT I O N by Wendy Tinker
Visiting CALIFORNIA in Region 3, WASHINGTON in Region 5, IOWA in Region 11, KENTUCKY in Region 14,
As we travel back and forth across the United States looking at Arabian breeding and training farms, we see the local pride that farm owners have for the towns they call home. Every region has different features to offer and Arabian lovers have found benefits in all types of terrain and climate. We begin our tour of farms this month with Region 3 at the Jesse Saldaña Training Center in Santa Rosa, California. Jesse and his wife Juana have lived in Santa Rosa for twenty years, and they have enjoyed raising their children in the California sunshine. Their training center sits on nine acres in an agricultural area within easy driving distance of several communities. Jesse credits their proximity to a number of schools for providing the source of youth and beginner riders that flock to their riding program. The year-round mild temperatures and great weather are also a draw, in a region where the real estate market is heating up. “Property values are on the rise and there are plenty of options,” says Jesse. “It is a great market and available properties are very versatile, offering single family homes, farms, condos and townhomes.” Next, we travel southeast to Brentwood, California, and home of Valley Oak Arabians and Manny Vierra. Manny moved to Brentwood in 1991 and built Valley Oak Arabians in 2007 where he lives with girlfriend, Vikki Renfrow, and a herd of some of the finest Arabian
& VIRGINIA in Region 15.
Left and top: Valley Oak Arabians in Brentwood, California. Below: Rose City Arabians in Ridgefield, Washington. Bottom: Druid Hill Stable in Norwalk, Iowa.
Saldaña Training Center in Santa Rosa, California.
horses in the country. Manny explains why he was drawn to Brentwood: “It is great a agricultural area and we are located next to a community called Discovery Bay where you can enjoy a lot of water sports. Brentwood is known for its prosperous farms and large areas of land that are ideal for horses, but it still has a small town feel, with all the shopping you need just minutes from home. It also has some wonderful fertile soil for growing feed and pastures for the horses.” Valley Oak Arabians consists of the main barn boasting thirty-five stalls and a gorgeous 2,000 square foot reception area. In addition, there are sixteen stalls in the mare motel, a 1,200 square foot covered presentation and preview arena, and 80´ x 160´ covered arena, all on twenty beautiful fenced and cross fenced acres. When asked about real estate values Manny said, “In 2002-2003, Brentwood was considered one of the fastest growing small cities in the nation, and boosted its population to about 58,000 people. Real estate values have improved by 30 to 40 percent over the past ten years. My property value has increased 40 to 50 percent. “Anyone thinking of coming this way to relocate can expect to find country living within minutes of all the amenities,” continues Manny. “I built Valley Oak Arabians with a lot of love and passion for my pride and joy: the Arabian horse.” Joe and Kim Orr live on the southern edge of Washington in Region 5. Their farm, Rose City Arabians, is located on the north side of the Columbia River, about as close to Oregon as you can get. Joe was born and raised in the Portland area and Kim is a Santa Barbara transplant. Rose City Arabians sits on five, lush green acres and Joe is building a new high-tech five-stall insulated barn with extra-large heated stalls and a covered arena. 70 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
Joe describes their breeding goals: “We breed for solid-minded halter horses that can go on to be great performance animals. We just love the entire breeding and selection process as we breed for extreme beauty (head hunters over here), while focusing on the foundations of the Arabian horse, and then throwing in a dash of stretch.” Living in Ridgefield has its distinct advantages. There is no income tax in the state of Washington, and no sales tax in the state of Oregon. That makes living near the border pretty cost-effective. “Ridgefield and the Portland, Oregon, area (we are only five miles from Portland) offers diversity on every level; our weather offers all four seasons and the countryside has countless lakes, rivers, mountains and trails,” Joe says. “And the real estate market is hot, hot, and getting hotter. The secret is getting out: the rainy winters are worth it for myriad reasons. I sense that the prices will rise substantially in the next five years. We also own a painting company and mainly work for the publicly-traded builders, and they are buying property and building like never before.” We leave the Northwest and head to the Midwest and Region 11, home of MD Isley, Doug Garnett, and Druid Hill Stable. Their boutique breeding farm is comprised of six stalls on four acres, but they’ll soon be building more because they 71 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
have three foals arriving in 2018. We asked MD what drew him to Norwalk, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, and he replied, “I’ve always loved the beautiful rolling landscape of central and southern Iowa, covered with many trees, rivers and grasslands. Greater Des Moines is a vibrant metropolitan area offering an exceptional quality of life. From a horseownership perspective I’ve found the area to be friendly, economically supportive, and environmentally lush with ample pasture and hay land.” Des Moines has received accolades as the number one metro area for economic strength; the number three top city for new college graduates; and the number one best city for young professionals. The market is strong according to MD, and not as vulnerable to market fluctuation as other areas.
Horse Properties
A C R O S S T H E N AT I O N by Wendy Tinker
Visiting CALIFORNIA in Region 3, WASHINGTON in Region 5, IOWA in Region 11, KENTUCKY in Region 14,
As we travel back and forth across the United States looking at Arabian breeding and training farms, we see the local pride that farm owners have for the towns they call home. Every region has different features to offer and Arabian lovers have found benefits in all types of terrain and climate. We begin our tour of farms this month with Region 3 at the Jesse Saldaña Training Center in Santa Rosa, California. Jesse and his wife Juana have lived in Santa Rosa for twenty years, and they have enjoyed raising their children in the California sunshine. Their training center sits on nine acres in an agricultural area within easy driving distance of several communities. Jesse credits their proximity to a number of schools for providing the source of youth and beginner riders that flock to their riding program. The year-round mild temperatures and great weather are also a draw, in a region where the real estate market is heating up. “Property values are on the rise and there are plenty of options,” says Jesse. “It is a great market and available properties are very versatile, offering single family homes, farms, condos and townhomes.” Next, we travel southeast to Brentwood, California, and home of Valley Oak Arabians and Manny Vierra. Manny moved to Brentwood in 1991 and built Valley Oak Arabians in 2007 where he lives with girlfriend, Vikki Renfrow, and a herd of some of the finest Arabian
& VIRGINIA in Region 15.
Saldaña Training Center in Santa Rosa, California.
horses in the country. Manny explains why he was drawn to Brentwood: “It is great a agricultural area and we are located next to a community called Discovery Bay where you can enjoy a lot of water sports. Brentwood is known for its prosperous farms and large areas of land that are ideal for horses, but it still has a small town feel, with all the shopping you need just minutes from home. It also has some wonderful fertile soil for growing feed and pastures for the horses.” Valley Oak Arabians consists of the main barn boasting thirty-five stalls and a gorgeous 2,000 square foot reception area. In addition, there are sixteen stalls in the mare motel, a 1,200 square foot covered presentation and preview arena, and 80´ x 160´ covered arena, all on twenty beautiful fenced and cross fenced acres. When asked about real estate values Manny said, “In 2002-2003, Brentwood was considered one of the fastest growing small cities in the nation, and boosted its population to about 58,000 people. Real estate values have improved by 30 to 40 percent over the past ten years. My property value has increased 40 to 50 percent. “Anyone thinking of coming this way to relocate can expect to find country living within minutes of all the amenities,” continues Manny. “I built Valley Oak Arabians with a lot of love and passion for my pride and joy: the Arabian horse.” Joe and Kim Orr live on the southern edge of Washington in Region 5. Their farm, Rose City Arabians, is located on the north side of the Columbia River, about as close to Oregon as you can get. Joe was born and raised in the Portland area and Kim is a Santa Barbara transplant. Rose City Arabians sits on five, lush green acres and Joe is building a new high-tech five-stall insulated barn with extra-large heated stalls and a covered arena. 70 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
Left and top: Valley Oak Arabians in Brentwood, California. Below: Rose City Arabians in Ridgefield, Washington. Bottom: Druid Hill Stable in Norwalk, Iowa.
Joe describes their breeding goals: “We breed for solid-minded halter horses that can go on to be great performance animals. We just love the entire breeding and selection process as we breed for extreme beauty (head hunters over here), while focusing on the foundations of the Arabian horse, and then throwing in a dash of stretch.” Living in Ridgefield has its distinct advantages. There is no income tax in the state of Washington, and no sales tax in the state of Oregon. That makes living near the border pretty cost-effective. “Ridgefield and the Portland, Oregon, area (we are only five miles from Portland) offers diversity on every level; our weather offers all four seasons and the countryside has countless lakes, rivers, mountains and trails,” Joe says. “And the real estate market is hot, hot, and getting hotter. The secret is getting out: the rainy winters are worth it for myriad reasons. I sense that the prices will rise substantially in the next five years. We also own a painting company and mainly work for the publicly-traded builders, and they are buying property and building like never before.” We leave the Northwest and head to the Midwest and Region 11, home of MD Isley, Doug Garnett, and Druid Hill Stable. Their boutique breeding farm is comprised of six stalls on four acres, but they’ll soon be building more because they 71 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
have three foals arriving in 2018. We asked MD what drew him to Norwalk, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, and he replied, “I’ve always loved the beautiful rolling landscape of central and southern Iowa, covered with many trees, rivers and grasslands. Greater Des Moines is a vibrant metropolitan area offering an exceptional quality of life. From a horseownership perspective I’ve found the area to be friendly, economically supportive, and environmentally lush with ample pasture and hay land.” Des Moines has received accolades as the number one metro area for economic strength; the number three top city for new college graduates; and the number one best city for young professionals. The market is strong according to MD, and not as vulnerable to market fluctuation as other areas.
Top and above left: Hillsbrook Farms in Lexington, Kentucky. Right: J & M Arabians in Smithfield, Virginia.
Our next stop is Lexington, Kentucky, and Hillsbrook Farms, LLC, owned by Nathaniel Newton, DVM, a Kentucky native. Dr. Newton is an equine veterinarian who has practiced equine reproduction since graduating from veterinary school. He lives with his partner, Reed Spaulding, M.D., in the Lexington area and expounds on its benefits, “Our diverse community is full of industry and wonderful Southern hospitality. It is quite small and very supportive of horse production. The city also has a great restaurant scene and craft breweries.”
Hillsbrook Farms consists of two separate properties with over two hundred verdant acres of rolling pastures, turnouts, and twenty roomy stalls. Dr. Newton breeds for quality halter horses with athletic abilities. “Here in Lexington we have access to the best veterinarians and the highest quality feed,” he says. “The limestone-based paddocks make excellent grazing for the horses. We also enjoy a nice climate with four seasons, which is quite natural for the horses. The weather allows the horses to live outside enjoying the lush grasses for a minimum of eight months a year. It’s a very good environment in which to raise foals and their bones and muscles develop quite well as they run and play in the natural rolling fields.” Lexington also has major horse shows including the Egyptian Event and the Region 14 Championships, and Dr. Newton adds, “Lexington is also very popular for horse tourism from all over the world so I often get calls or emails from visitors interested in seeing Arabian horses. “The real estate market is quite strong, but very high quality horse properties are frequently available. There are many lovely cities immediately surrounding Lexington that also offer excellent properties including Paris, Midway, Versaille, and Georgetown.” 72 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
Above: Trowbridge’s Ltd. in Bridgewater, Connecticut.
We migrate east to J & M Arabians in Region 15 and the pastoral community of Carrollton, Virginia, situated close to the history-steeped town of Smithfield, Virginia, (incorporated in 1752). James and Mary Dahling had horses and a trainer, but lacked a facility when they found their farm fourteen years ago. They have twenty-two rich, stately acres and eighteen stalls. Mary explains their breeding objectives, “Our primary breeding focus has been purebred Arabians with a few Warmblood and Saddlebred crosses. We have a full-time trainer who starts our youngsters, with hunter pleasure, sport horse and dressage as a primary focus. Our horses determine the discipline so occasionally we hit other areas such as western pleasure or country English. Our goal is providing an all-around horse that one can enjoy for many purposes including showing.” The Dahlings have improved their property with the addition of a covered arena and round pen and several outbuildings. Mary is aware of a number of equine properties in her area for sale, but the market for horses has taken a hit recently and she is unsure about how that will affect prices. Overall, if you are thinking of moving to this historic Virginia region, Mary expects that you will enjoy the peace and small-town feel of her little slice of Americana. For the last stop on our tour, we sprint north to Bridgewater, Connecticut, and Region 16 to visit Mary and Pat Trowbridge of Trowbridge’s Ltd. They moved into their farm just before Christmas in 1994 and have nothing but good things to say about their community. “Bridgewater has all of the very best things about a small town — great people, close friends, a fabulous fire department and grade school, and a close-knit, caring community in a beautiful rural setting. And the Bridgewater Store and Bistro with its world-famous chocolate and some of the best cooking in the state is just five minutes from the house. “Bridgewater is ten minutes from a decent size community with all the accompanying benefits, i.e., hardware, tractor supply, etc., twenty minutes from a large town with a full-size mall, and an hour from New York City,” Mary continues. “A good portion of our business has been built and sustained through our lesson program that introduces new people to the Arabian horse and riding.” Trowbridge’s Ltd. is comprised of fifty-five stalls in three barns located on nearly twenty acres. They have four pastures with run-in sheds and an additional four turnout 73 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017
pastures, and train in all disciplines with an emphasis on the English divisions. Mary believes that their location has had a positive effect on their business. “Each year we host a large group of families who are in New York City with the United Nations, and a yearly Christmas party that is open to the public in the area. We can have as many as 500 people at the Christmas party on a good year, and many come again each year. These events create a pool of clients that get started taking riding lessons, begin showing, and eventually buy horses. This is a great area to bring in new people — it’s rural and a lot of people come up to second homes from New York City.” Mary feels that properties of the Northeast took a hit with the 2008 crash and it’s been slow coming back here, but the market is now rebounding well and sales are vibrant this summer. “If you are thinking of moving this way, now’s the time,” she says. “There’s a beautiful property available at the moment just above the farm with one of the prettiest views in the area — come and visit!” As we look back at our expedition visiting “Horse Properties Across the Nation,” we find specific features to be valuable to horse owners of all regions: Small-town atmosphere, friendly people,
good grazing and pasture lands, proximity to veterinary care and equestrian activities, natural beauty and climate. These are the factors that are important to us and our horses as we live the life we love with the Arabian horse.
Where in the world should we go next? How about Canada? Join us in August as we discover the beautiful breeding and training barns of the Great White North.
Region 3
Best Value
21725 Salt Creek Road, Grass Valley, California MLS# 20170556 This farm is over 11 acres and is reasonably priced at $649,000. It includes three oversized stalls, a tack room, a 90' x 130' arena, and white pipe fence turnouts. The elegant 3,307 square foot home has four bedrooms and three baths.
Offered by Laura Berman of United Country-Great West Realty Phone number: 530-913-8789 Email: laura@gvRealEstate.com
Region 3
Most Incredible 23514 Patino Road, Penn Valley, California MLS# 20170554
Listed at $799,900, the horse amenities on this 11-acre farm include an 80' x 110' lighted covered arena, and a 120' x 280' outdoor arena with loading chutes, heeler box, and catch pen. The Castlebrook nine-stall barn has an enclosed tack room and a porch off of the front. The spacious 3,456 square foot home offers three bedrooms and three baths.
Offered by Laura Berman of United Country-Great West Realty Phone number: 530-913-8789 Email: laura@gvRealEstate.com
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Region 5
Best Value
Cascade Meadows Farm 18001 Tualco Road, Monroe, Washington 98272 MLS# 1123307 This three-and-a-half acre commercial boarding and training facility is priced at $1,095,000 and includes 56 stalls, a 70' x 160' indoor arena, 80' x 200' outdoor arena, 24' x 36' hay shed, two heated wash racks, two heated offices, three tack rooms, seven and a quarter-acre paddocks, shop, longing pad, retail tack store. The residence has two separate living areas with two kitchens, making it perfect for a trainer and barn help. The home is 3,560 square feet and includes three bedrooms and three baths.
Offered by Jeff Williams of Windermere Professional Partners Phone number: 253-303-1135 Email: jeffwilliams@windermere.com
Region 11
Best Value Best Value 20852 S Avenue, Dallas Center, Iowa MLS# 539923
This incredible nine-and-ahalf acre listing includes a 30' x 40' four-plus stall barn, a 20' x 30' loafing shed, a 16' x 10' run-in, and fenced pastures for just $549,900. The sparkling 4,000 square foot home includes four bedrooms and four baths. Offered by Nancy Johnson of RE/MAX American Dream Phone number: 515-710-0474 Email: nancyjhomes@gmail.com
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Region 11
Most Incredible 21185 20th Avenue, New Virginia, Iowa MLS# 540534
Priced at $527,900, this spectacular property sits on eight acres with a 60' x 120' building suitable for indoor arena, 39' x 49' barn with room for six to eight stalls, and fully fenced pastures. The spectacular five-bedroom, fourand-a-half bath home provides gorgeous formal and informal spaces, and an in-ground pool. Offered by Nancy Johnson of RE/MAX American Dream Phone number: 515-710-0474 Email: nancyjhomes@gmail.com
Region 11
Most Incredible 1201 N CR 1900, E. Charleston, Illinois MLS# 9594067
This 35-acre listing includes 21 stalls in the main barn and an additional three stalls by the 160' x 82' CoverAll indoor arena. There is also an 80' x 200' outdoor arena as well as five grass pastures of four to 15 acres each, five dry lot paddocks, a 70' round pen, and perimeter trail for only $445,900. The house is a 2,880 square foot modern replica of a 19th century farmhouse with four bedrooms and three baths. There is an additional one bedroom, one-and-a-half bath apartment in the barn.
Offered by Neal Wood of RE/MAX Choice Phone number: 217-232-9665 Email: nealwood6@gmail.com
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Located in the heart of the Gold Country between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, California. Buckboard
Spink Road
$859,900 – 52+ acres with quality top-of-the-line 3173 sf home plus guest
Diamond F
$995,000 – 63 Acres, 40 Stalls, ½-mile training track, 110' x 220' arena, 60' round pen, gravity irrigation, 1-bedroom trailer. Perfect for breeding, training, lay up or retirement facility. Potential for vineyard or whatever your dream may be.
quarters. Granite kitchen, solid alder oversized doors, 7" thick walls, 4-Acre year-round lake with large mouth bass and bluegill. Fenced, nearly all level, so there is room to put the barn, arena, etc. anywhere. Four miles to 11,000 acres of riding trails. Also purchasable as 59+ acres for $896,900.
$875,000 – 107 -acre “Gentlemen Farmer” walnut ranch. Solid cedar home with remodeled granite kitchen,
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, on level to gently rolling land. The horses will love the 5 stalls, 80' x 100" arenas, fenced turnouts with loafing sheds, trails on your own property. 1500 sf shop plus 775 sf shop, water and septic already in for another home on separate parcel. The added benefit of 500 walnut trees on 25 of the acres allows for a small business with potential tax advantages.
Country property is my specialty!
Laura Berman Broker Associate
(530) 913-8789 laura@gvrealestate.com www.gvrealestate.com
226 Mill Street, Grass Valley, CA 95949
BRE#0934015
If you don’t see what you want here, call. We have some of the best properties in California with plenty of irrigation water, great soil and an abundance of riding trails. 77 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2017