Equestrian property hotspots

In a year where uncertainty has kept a cap on property prices, equestrian property for sale has held it’s own better than some sectors.

Certain equestrian property hotspots have proved particularly resilient. Houses continued to sell well — provided they were realistical priced as overpricing will put off today’s equity-conscious buyer even in the hottest locations — and values remained robust.

So what do these locations have in common? They attract private riders and professionals alike, because they combine advantages that are rarely found together in the same location.

For example, any place that is situated in peaceful countryside with plenty of off road hacking, but also excellent road links, will elicit interest both from serious competitors looking for easy access to venues, and from pony families who need manageable commuting.

Britain’s top equestrian hotspots

We asked specialist estate agents and property buyers to nominate an equestrian hotspot in the county or region they cover. East to West, this is what they picked:

• Aberdeenshire, Scotland, chosen by Strutt & Parker
• Newmarket, Cambridgeshire to Suffolk borders, chosen by ECR Properties
• Brentwood, Essex, chosen by Zoe Napier Country & Equestrian
• The golden triangle of Brackley, Daventry, Towcester, Northamptonshire, chosen by Fisher German
• Winchester area, Hampshire, chosen by Carter Jonas
• Lambourn Valley, West Berkshire to East Wiltshire, chosen by Carter Jonas and by Property Vision
• South Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, chosen by Prime Purchase
• Blackmore Vale, Dorset, chosen by Fox Grant
• Mendip Hills, Somerset to Avon borders, chosen by Carter Jonas
• Herefordshire to Gloucestershire borders, Three Counties, chosen by Fox Grant
• Exmoor, Somerset, chosen by Webbers Fine & Country and Stags
• East Devon, Devon, chosen by Strutt & Parker
• Southern Dartmoor foothills, Devon, chosen by Stags

Read more about equestrian property hotspots in Horse & Hound (2 December, 2010)