If you’re building a property from scratch, the exact location of the barn and the house will be up to you. It may seem like a dream to have your house right next to the barn, but is it really ideal? While you decide on just how to lay out your property, keep these points in mind.

Consider Existing Topographical Features

Your property’s existing topography will have a say in just where you can locate buildings. Think about drainage, water runoff, wind, accessibility during all seasons, and the overall features of your property when planning its layout. If you’re working with a particularly hilly area, or an area that involves ponds or rivers, the positioning of your buildings may be more restricted. Either way, as you plan out your property be sure to choose locations that will work with the property’s topography.

Decide Whether You Want a Yard

If you’ve dreamed about your horses being able to walk right up to your kitchen window, it may be tempting to keep your barn close to your house and even include fenced pasture running up through your backyard. Think about this carefully, though – by bringing your horses close to your house, you will be sacrificing much of the traditional backyard that so many people desire.

Even if you don’t mind the sacrifice, think of the future. If you plan to have children, a backyard can come in handy. And, when it comes time to sell the property, a property that includes even a small backyard may be easier to sell than a property where the backyard is a horse barn or pasture.

Think About Safety Issues

Situating your horses in close quarters with your house can result in new safety issues that you must consider. For instance, if horses are allowed to run up alongside your house, then you need to take measures to prevent them from breaking windows, tangling with a porch, or getting into other dangerous situations. Remember that lawn fertilizers can be toxic for horses. Carefully consider how well your horses and your house may mesh.

Opt for a Middle Distance

Often it’s simplest to situate your barn near your house, but far enough away so that the barn and the house each have their own separate areas. Doing so will mean that trips out to the barn are quick and easy, but you will also still have a yard and your own space to enjoy.

Every situation is different, and a major part of any successful barn building project is good planning. Think about not only what you want today, but what you might want down the road as you plan out where to locate your house and barn.

Photo source: http://www.classic-equine.com/posts/custom-barns/

Original source: Is Your Barn Too Close to Your House?