horses Archives | PAM DENT

Charlottesville Horse Farms and Country Homes Says Happy Birthday to the Horses

On all of the Charlottesville horse farms someone is having a birthday. January 1 is the day when all thoroughbred horses turn another day older.

For the purpose of the racing industry it was determined that no matter what the actual birth date a thoroughbred horse turns a year older on January 1. You may hear a horseperson saying that a certain horse is a young four year old. That would mean that the particular horse was born later in the year, for instance in June so that horse might only be 7 actual months old when its first birthday rolls around. Since a horse may start racing in its 2 year old year, the custom is to breed a mare so that she will foal early in the year, without foaling too early and having a late December foal, which would be tragedy for a racing career. The thought is that an early youngster would perhaps be bigger and stronger than its younger rivals in its 2 and 3 year old racing years.

So I would like to wish all of the horses a Happy Birthday! May they all get plently of birthday carrots and apples, and perhaps a nice hot bran mash.

Ready For Horses, Fluvanna County Farmette

1891 Covered Bridge Road, Kents Store, Virginia

3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 2,112 finished sq ft, 576 unfinished, 6 acres, built in 2000, priced at $385,000

All you need are the horses. 6 acre horse ready farmette in Fluvanna County convenient to both Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia. The horse amenities include a six stall barn, run-in shed and board and electric fencing. The home features a living room, family room, kitchen with separate dining area, sunroom, first floor bedroom and bath. There are two additional bedrooms and bath upstairs. The extensive decking and pool provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy the peaceful setting. A two car garage and finished bonus room that is not included in the finished sq ft completes the offering.

For more information on this property or on other homes in the area please contact:

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com
www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com

What to do when a gaggle of geese is too many

At my daughter"s horse barn, Shadowfax LLC at the Glenmore Equestrian Center, we wage an ongoing battle with geese. Many other farms in Charlottesville and all over Albemarle County are having the same problem. I remember as a child watching v shaped formations of geese fly over in the fall on the way to their winter nesting grounds. Now flocks of geese make their home in central Virginia year round.

Most people are aware of the problems that golf courses and homeowners associations have discouraging the goose population, but farmers are faced with the problem as well. The numbers of Canada geese have increased all over the United States. Not only are they protected by laws but also in most areas there is a lack of natural predators. People understand the problem of goose poop on the golf course, but don’t realize the destruction that a large goose population can cause on a farm. A simgle goose can eat as much as 5 pounds of grass a day. Image what a sizeable flock can do to horse pastures and grazing land. Also geese can foul the water in the ponds where the horses and cattle need to drink.

Due to the fact that the geese are a protected species farmers are not allowed to shoot them. One solution is to use a dog such as a border collie to chase the geese off of the property. Some farmers also shoot over the geese to make them decide that a pond in another area would be a better choice for a home.

Another theory is that geese are not comfortable in tall grass since a predator mght be lurking unseen. Geese also prefer to eat the tender young shoots of grass rather than the tougher taller strands. Unfortunately it is an essential part of pasture management when maintaining fields for grazing to keep them bushhogged. However, there is the option of leaving a barrier of tall grasses around ponds. The grasses will block the goose’s view from the pond, and they will not feel safe there since they cannot see approaching predators. With a little luck the geese may decide to relocate.

Whichever approach you decide upon it will require constant vigilance since geese tend to be very persistent.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleHorseFarmsandCountryHomes.com

Agriculture Keeps Albemarle Scenic

Albemarle County is known for its scenic vistas of pastures and rolling hills. The healthy local agricultural industry helps keep the open acreage necessary for this rural beauty. The county of Albemarle which surrounds Charlottesville ranks 8th in Virginia in total farm acreage. According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, the county has 177,445 acres in production.

The fastest expanding agricultural business in the area is grape production and wine making. Albemarle County ranks first in the state with about 435 acres planted in grapes.

The horse industry is another important agricultural business in Albemarle County. In 2001 horse sales in the county were estimated to total $7,849,000 and there were estimated to be about 7,000 horses in the county with a total worth of $90,886,000. This would place Albemarle third in statewide ranking.

Another large scale agricultural industry in the county is beef cattle farming. In 2002 Albemarle had sales of $5,968,000 in beef cattle which came from 481 farms. There are about 22,725 head of cattle in the county.

As you can see from this data, Albemarle County has the vital agricultural economy necessary to preserve the rural beauty of the area.

The above information was provided by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES(R)
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 906-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.activerain.com/blogs/pamdent

Market update – Albemarle County Horse Farms

In the current Albemarle County real estate market there are 29 properties listed for sale that are categorized as horse properties. Some have horse facilities already on them and some are listed as suitable for horses. These equestrian properties range from a house and fenced pasture on 2.12 acres listed for $189,900 to Old Keswick Farm, an established breeding facility on 547.4 acres offered at $13,500,000.

As far as horse suitable properties that have sold or gone under contract this year to date, there are currently two contingent homes, one listed for $399,900 with 7 acres and one at $695,000 with 19 acres. There is one farm that is currently pending consisting of a 4999 sq. ft. home and 68.69 acres which is listed for $2,350,000. So far in 2008, 6 horse farms have sold ranging from a 2 bedroom, 8 acre cottage which sold for $285,000 to a 4,000 sq. ft. home on 5 acres which sold for $929,000.

As you can see we have a wide range of property types and price ranges for the horse lover to choose from. So jump into greener pastures and enjoy the equestrian lifestyle of Central Virginia, and Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Pam Dent, e-Pro, SRES(R)
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
                              www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
                              www.activerain.com/blogs/pamdent
                              www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com