Not Your Average Land Planning

By Allison Mouch
Equestrian Services, LLC

Land use planning is a profession easily summarized; enormously broad, infinite in possibility, and at best, difficult to describe using standard vocabulary. There are those who plan for cities, those who specialize in residential or suburban culture, the planners who focus on environmental concerns ranging from water quality to ecologic preservation, and those who specialize in “other” planning fields - of which there may be hundreds. For every aspect of land use, a planning field may very well exist and this has proven to be the case for equestrian land planning.

The equestrian industry may be one of the most specialized areas in which planning has become a necessary step toward development. With debate raging over preserving our natural resources – of which open space is key - it seems only natural that planning for equestrian use would become desirable among facility owners, equestrian enthusiasts, and developers (both residential and resort). As equestrian facilities and their related elements (trails, jumping fields, and other satellite features – colloquially described as equestrian amenities) continue to be developed in a wide range of communities and other venues, it is important to realize that there are a variety of reasons this field has come into its own, requiring the unique discipline of equestrian planning and design to emerge.

In today’s space-conscious society, municipalities often require the inclusion of a non-residential or “open space” component within subdivisions or other planned residential developments. Certain tracts of land are further required to maintain an agricultural use on a portion of acreage in an effort to maintain the character of historically rural land. Designing communities with equestrian amenities is a unique solution to this growing issue. Not only do these amenities allow for effective use and preservation of open space within these communities, resorts and planned unit developments, but they also provide a practical, desirable option for the equestrian who strives to balance the sport within their daily life. As the popularity of riding continues to grow, more and more people find themselves wanting to own a horse, yet have few options with which to entertain their dreams. Equine land use planning offers an educated solution to this problem.

Equine land planners face a challenge not often faced by planners in other fields. They must plan for the needs of and the impacts created by a significant non-human population. The average horse weighs 1100 pounds that is supported by four relatively small (and often metal-clad) feet, is in its ideal environment when outside (on a grassy field) most of the day, requires specialized surfaces on which to train, and is safest when it can ridden in a relatively quiet and controlled environment. Allocating pasture areas and management strategies, as well as creating trail alignments, riding and design criteria, and efficient facility structure placement (because horses require a lot of assistance from humans, too) are all skills an equine land planner must possess.

Equine land planners do utilize the same skills sets and techniques traditional planners implement every day, requiring a general knowledge of all aspects of planning, not just one specialty. This is because equestrian planning can be called for at anytime, anywhere, be it in an urban setting, residential, rural, or somewhere in between. A considerable knowledge of equestrian sports and the equestrian client is also obviously a must. One could not expect to design and construct world-class golf courses having never played the game, and the same is true for an equestrian land planner. Varying degrees of competency in architecture, landscape architecture, construction, engineering and natural sciences is also beneficial when working with developers and clients who desire top-notch service in creating an exceptional finished product. Having a broad knowledge base when it comes to planning and design allows the equine land planner to be both versatile and marketable in a growing business.

For the developer, an equine land planner also brings tremendous value to the project. As interest in equestrian communities continues to grow, and the buyer becomes more sophisticated, the planning involved in creating a successful amenity becomes paramount. Amenities must provide more than a pretty picture on a web site and a few choice words in a brochure. They must be bona fide equestrian environments – safe, healthy, and efficient places offering residents and clients access to riding opportunities they desire. Equine land planners can provide this and the return for all – residents, their horses, and project investors can be very grand indeed.