On the East End, there is no shortage of beautiful horse stables with luxurious amenities. But, why board elsewhere when you could keep your horse on your very own property?
For equestrians, nothing beats waking up and heading straight to the barn. Hard work, for sure, if you’re handling the mucking and feeding, but from true horse lovers there will be few complaints. And, let’s face it, in the Hamptons, most who have the dough for an equestrian property can likely afford hired help.
“The center of the Hamptons universe is horse country with many of our clients loving Water Mill and Bridgehampton for their proximity to the many horse farms that they and their children ride at,” says Jack Pearson of the CeeJackTeam at Compass. “These days, ‘having it all’ in the Hamptons often means having room for your horses too!”
While many come to the Hamptons and North Fork for the beaches and boating, there are plenty of others who spend their summers in the saddle. From show jumping to dressage, polo playing to barrel racing, horseback riding is a big part of recreation on the East End.
“The equestrian properties are sought after because they are unique and purpose-built to the equestrian lifestyle,” says Holly Bridges of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “Long established on the North Fork and Hamptons by people who love horses, the tradition continues because of the culture, camaraderie and care of the community. There are opportunities to participate in sporting events and also to just relax on the farm with the horses. These are very special places.”
On Shelter Island, the property pictured on this page is already set up as a small horse farm. It came on the market this summer for $5.75 million. Michael Brennan of Douglas Elliman Real Estate says the estate at 44 St. Mary’s Road is, “A rare opportunity to acquire this magical self-contained property of nine-plus acres offering an elegant sense of place in the beautiful Shelter Island countryside.”
This article appeared in the Labor Day issue of Behind The Hedges magazine. Read the digital edition here.