Barns, trails, and horse-friendly property considerations.
Author
Blake Altman · Realtor, Moore County resident
Reading time
6 min read
Last updated
Updated September 12, 2026
Category
Equestrian living
Editorial status: Facts requiring local verification are clearly marked and should not be used as market, school, tax, or travel-time advice.
Barns, trails, and horse-friendly property considerations.
Why riders come here
Southern Pines and the land east of it form one of the country's better-known year-round riding areas, and the reason is underfoot: sandy Sandhills soil that drains fast and stays rideable when clay country is a mess. The Walthour-Moss Foundation preserves thousands of acres of sand trails right at the town's edge, used daily by riders, and the surrounding area supports foxhunting, eventing, dressage, hunter-jumper, and simple trail riding. Vass, Cameron, Carthage and West End add acreage further out at lower prices.
What to look for in a horse property
Judge the land before the house. Look at drainage and footing, existing fencing type and condition, water to the barn and to each paddock, electric service and lighting, hay and equipment storage, manure management, trailer access and turnaround, and whether the property adjoins or reaches trail access without a road ride. Confirm the number of stalls and paddocks the property can actually support given acreage and rotation, not the number the listing claims.
The practical checks
Nearly all equestrian property is on well and septic, so budget for water quality and flow testing, a septic inspection, and an understanding of well capacity under barn demand. Verify zoning and any covenants for livestock numbers, commercial boarding or lessons, and outbuilding limits — those rules differ between unincorporated county land and property inside a town. Confirm floodplain status, easements, and boundaries with a survey, which matters more here than anywhere else because fencing rarely matches the deed.
Costs and local resources
Beyond the mortgage, plan for hay and feed, farrier and vet, bedding, fence and equipment maintenance, and either your labor or paid help. Line up an equine vet and a farrier before you move, not after — good ones have full books. If you want to ride the preserved trails, confirm current access rules and any membership or contribution expectations with the foundation directly, and ask local riders about seasonal restrictions during hunting and event seasons.
Blake Altman has lived in Moore County for seven years and works with buyers relocating from across the country. Broker with Keller Williams Pinehurst, NC License #326008.
