A horse farm is certainly the ideal place to keep horses. However, wealthy people know that a horse farm is far more than serving the purpose of keeping and/or breeding horses and here I will reveal this well-kept secret.

Buying horse farms has been an outstanding real estate investment strategy that nowadays is more valid than ever before. They have remarkable differences with other animal production farms (for chicken, pigs, cattle, etc.), agricultural farms, and timberlands. First, horse farms are usually located closer to or within urban areas than the other farms. Furthermore, areas with high concentration of horse farms have a topography, soil, and climate that are adequate for the animals, have an equine infrastructure (horse supply stores, equine professionals, equine hospitals, horse events, riding trails, etc.), and, often, are closer to one or more major airports. 

Such strategic location (close or within urban areas) has a reason from the investment point of view: As the town or city continues to grow, the price of those horse properties is expected to increase due to the need for more land to build new residential neighborhoods, commercial buildings, industrial parks, hospitals, schools, roads, etc.

Horse farms are more accepted than the other types of  farms to be close to the urban areas, not only because historically the equine species have been associated with royalty and are closer to people’s hearts, but, also, because these properties are generally well maintained for both the joy and pride of the owners and to make them more attractive and comfortable for clients, visitors, and employees. These farms usually have expensive fences made of stone, wood, vinyl, or no-climb wire mesh (not just barb-wire like many cow farms have). Horse farms usually also have elegant gates beautifully landscaped, green pastures with trees, riding arenas (covered, sometimes) or racetracks, and stylish buildings. 

Second, although close or within urban areas, horse farms usually pay taxes for agricultural use, which are lower. Besides, a horse farm CAN be the owner’s primary home and a horse business, both of which may have substantial tax benefits in Florida, even at the time of being sold. (These taxing laws, however, may not apply in other states or countries). 

As a comparison here, I want to refer to the iconic example of an enormous international real estate investment business known as McDonald’s. Yes, the same McDonald’s that you and most people know as a hamburger place or a, so-called, “fast food” restaurant chain. Some analysts and authors describe this corporation as a sort of real estate investment business, which greatest secret to their success is “location; location; location”. In fact, McDonald’s owns thousands of some of the best located commercial properties in over 100 countries.

Applying the McDonald’s example to our subject here, a well-located horse farm is the same: A real estate investment that is used to keep horses and could also be the owner’s home and a horse business. Although wealthy people have known this secret for so long and they use it to increase their wealth, most people still believe that a horse farm is just a place to keep horses. What are your thoughts after knowing this secret?

Now, why Ocala (Florida) is the best place to invest in a horse farm?  Owners of all horse breeds continue to move to the ‘Horse Capital of the World’ (Ocala) and its surroundings, in order to enjoy all of what the area offers to them and their equine friends: climate, topography, soil rich in calcium (ideal for raising horses with strong bones), abundance of water, equine infrastructure (veterinarians, farriers, horse trainers, farm workers, horse feed stores, equine hospitals and rehabilitation centers, tack stores), horse shows and horse-related activities all-year-round, and a unique city-country lifestyle, in close proximity to major airports and metropolitan areas (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville), and the Ocala International airport where horses can be flown in and out.

In fact, Ocala is a true “Horse Lovers’ Playground”. Not in vain, private developers have invested millions of dollars to build here the impressive ‘World Equestrian Center’, with the most well designed facilities for horse competitions in the nation and an spectacular hotel. 

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