The rural property market is experiencing particular enthusiasm for projects that combine quality of life and professional activity. Among these opportunities, acquiring an equestrian holiday cottage is a dream for many enthusiasts wishing to live as close as possible to their horses while developing a tourist accommodation business. On ma-propriete.fr, we list a wide variety of properties, ranging from small family-run structures to large-scale tourist complexes.
An equestrian holiday cottage is not limited to a beautiful home; it requires specific infrastructure to ensure animal welfare and user safety. For a property to be viable, it must have functional facilities. To help you identify the essential criteria, we recommend consulting our specialist buying guides. These usually include well-ventilated stables with several spacious boxes for housing the horses. For working the horse, a drained arena (an outdoor riding area) is essential, and an indoor manège is a major asset to ensure lessons or schooling whatever the weather.
Beyond the working areas, the animals’ living space is crucial. Buyers look for properties offering several hectares of adjoining land. These areas are divided into paddocks for daily turnout and pastures for grazing. To estimate the fair price of these specific agricultural areas, it is often necessary to carry out land valuation studies. The quality of the fencing (wood, electric tape, rails) is a key point to watch to avoid escapes and injuries. In addition, field shelters are often necessary to protect horses from bad weather when they live outdoors.
To complete this professional setup, other equipment adds value to the property: a secure tack room for equipment, a clubhouse for socialising, a round pen for groundwork, and a treatment area with a wash bay. Some estates, focused on breeding, also have laboratories or ultrasound stocks.
In terms of location, France offers an exceptional playground. Normandy, a land of horses par excellence, concentrates many listings, as do the Pays de la Loire. However, for an equestrian holiday cottage business, highly touristic regions such as Dordogne, Provence or Brittany are particularly sought after. The appeal of green tourism and nature strengthens demand in these areas, where trekking riders seek quality stopovers. The equestrian sector in France is dynamic, with more than 2 million active riders (including around 600,000 licensed riders), ensuring a potential customer base for accommodation structures.
Buying an equestrian property with a tourist purpose is a complex project that requires analysing two distinct aspects: the residential/tourism part and the equestrian part.
Regarding the buildings, the core of the project is often a main residential house for the owners, along with converted outbuildings. The charm of old buildings often works its magic: an authentic farm, a traditional stone longère or a renovated mas are particularly attractive to guests. To generate interesting rental income, the property must offer comfortable guest rooms or independent gîtes. The accommodation must meet current comfort standards (en-suite bathrooms, quality bedding, wifi). Leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, spa or large landscaped garden help increase the occupancy rate and profitability of the business by also attracting non-riding guests seeking peace and quiet and relaxation.
The second aspect concerns the equestrian activity itself. The buyer must define their business model: is it solely about welcoming passing riders (equestrian tourism), or is there a plan to develop year-round livery for owners’ horses? In the case of hosting treks, immediate proximity to marked trails and direct access to forest or beach are determining factors. The ground must be load-bearing and usable all year round.
The notion of grazing land is also central: you should allow for an average of one hectare per horse for grass feeding, or less if you operate with hay supplementation and turnout in paddocks. Being self-sufficient in hay and straw can be an advantage, then requiring larger agricultural areas and storage facilities (barns).
From a financial perspective, acquiring an equestrian holiday cottage often requires a substantial personal contribution. Banks will request a solid financing plan, sometimes distinguishing the residential real estate part from the professional agricultural or commercial part. It is crucial to accurately estimate maintenance costs (upkeep of facilities, fencing, arena footing) and operating expenses to ensure the project’s viability. Tourist hospitality and horse boarding are two demanding professions which, combined, require a high level of availability.
Ma-propriete.fr has developed specific tools to make searching for your future equestrian property easier. Our multi-criteria search engine is the most comprehensive on the rural market. It allows you to filter listings not only by location (region, département, canton) and budget, but also by precise technical criteria such as hectares of land.
We have segmented our listings into relevant sub-categories. You can directly target properties with equestrian facilities, gîtes or agricultural land. To miss no opportunity, we invite you to create customised email alerts. As soon as a property matching your criteria (for example: “Property with stables and gîtes in Nouvelle-Aquitaine”) goes online, you are notified immediately.
Our platform brings together listings from both property professionals (specialist agencies, notaries) and private individuals. This gives you an exhaustive view of the market. In addition, each listing has a direct contact form, enabling you to communicate without intermediaries with the seller or the agent in charge of the sale. Finally, the geolocation of listings (depending on the seller’s choice) helps you place the property in relation to main roads, nearby towns or forested areas, which is crucial for a tourist activity.
If you own an equestrian property and wish to sell it, ma-propriete.fr is the ideal partner to showcase your asset. Our portal benefits from exceptional visibility and optimal search engine ranking, attracting a large number of highly qualified visitors every month. By publishing your listing with us, you reach a community of passionate buyers directly, whether they are equestrian professionals or people planning a career change project.
We have in-depth knowledge of the specific features of the rural market. That is why we offer great flexibility in the presentation of your property. You can choose the level of geolocation of your listing: precise (exact address) to maximise local viewings, or approximate (area) to preserve the confidentiality of your business and your current residents.
The strength of ma-propriete.fr also lies in its multi-channel distribution. An equestrian property with gîtes can appeal to several profiles: a tourism investor, a farmer or a riding family. Your listing can therefore be displayed simultaneously in several categories (Equestrian property, Tourist property, Character property), multiplying your chances of selling. In addition, we actively share listings on our social networks and specialist Facebook groups, further increasing your reach. Our listing submission interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, enabling you to showcase your facilities and the charm of your property in just a few clicks.
Beyond simply publishing listings, ma-propriete.fr positions itself as a true partner for your rural projects thanks to a range of additional services:
Whether you are a seller wishing to pass on the result of a lifetime’s work, or a buyer ready to launch an activity combining passion and hospitality, ma-propriete.fr provides you with the keys to complete your transaction with complete peace of mind.
