Property pampers people and their horses

The number of people enjoying horse ownership has more than doubled since 1999. In North Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire there is also growing interest in suitable properties from polo enthusiasts. All of them are would be interested to look at a property that has come onto the market through the rural department of Dreweatt Neate.

It offers a luxurious five bedroom Cotswold stone farmhouse together with recently upgraded facilities for the horses that will pamper their occupants even more. Set in 97 acres of pasture and woodland and enjoying a secluded setting with far reaching views near the ancient Saxon town of Cricklade, Farfield Farm now boasts equestrian facilities that will impress any potential buyer no matter how long they have been involved in the world of horse ownership.

With good riding country on the doorstep, together with the Marlborough Downs to the south and the rolling Cotswold Hills to the north, there could hardly be a better place for a horse owner to live. Polo is a major feature of the local sporting calendar and, of course, there’s the ages old delights of Badminton and the newer charms of Gatcombe Park events to enjoy, too.

Staff accommodation is provided by a groom’s mobile home while horse accommodation consists of a barn with five traditional stables that have rubber matting, five bay indoor school with fibre sand surface, a horse walker, a second barn with seven monarch boxes with rubber matting, manege with chopped rubber surface, and four pony boxes.

Two Dutch barns give plenty of storage space and as well as a tack room with woodburner there’s a secure inner tack room, an indoor horse washing area, and an open fronted shed.

When it comes to time to turn out the horses, the majority of the land is pasture, with 33 acres divided up into post and rail paddocks. A pressurized water system serves the majority of the fields.

After a long day tending the stock or in the saddle, the house itself provides a welcoming haven. Oak strip floors are a feature of the study and sitting room, the latter also having a fireplace with woodburning stove and a French door to the garden.

A limestone tiled floor sets the scene in the kitchen, which has painted bespoke units and mainly granite work surfaces. A double electric oven and four ring induction hob take care of day-to-day cooking needs but for those big occasions, or to keep up with country traditions, there’s also a four oven Aga. An island unit houses the sink and an integral dishwasher. Further working space comes courtesy of the laundry and boot room.

On the first floor there are three ample bedrooms, two of them en-suite, and a family bathroom next to the galleried landing, from which stairs rise to the second floor and its two further bedrooms. One has a large dressing room plus an en-suite while the other adjoins a study.

Adjacent to the south of the house is a terrace that looks out over the lawned gardens with mature trees. There’s a further terrace to the side, with another to the north overlooking fields and the property is approached over a gravelled drive with turning area.

Offers for Farfield Farm are being sought in excess of £1.6 million and it’s for sale through the Dreweatt Neate rural department in Chippenham. For more details, visit dnproperty.co.uk.