Listings for horse property use a vocabulary of their own. Here are terms that come up often, starting with the ones that get mixed up most.
Stable. The building where horses are housed, also called a barn. A stable holds stalls; it is not a stall itself. “Stable” can also mean a boarding business, as in a boarding stable.
Stall. One horse’s individual space inside the stable, where it eats, rests and sleeps. A “six-stall barn” is one building with room for six horses.
Stall with a run. A stall with a door that opens straight out to a small fenced outdoor pen, called a run. The horse can walk in and out on its own, which means fresh air and more movement for the horse and less stall cleaning for you.
Dry lot. A fenced area with no grass, used for turnout when pastures need rest. On the semi-arid Front Range, most horse properties rely on one.
Sacrifice area. Similar to a dry lot: a well-drained area set aside so horses can be out without damaging pasture.
Run-in shed. A three-sided shelter in a pasture or paddock that horses can walk into on their own.
Turnout. Time a horse spends outside the stall, or the area where it happens.
Footing. The surface of an arena or round pen. Good footing is consistent, drains well and is not too deep or too hard.
Frost-free hydrant. An outdoor water hydrant designed so it won’t freeze in winter.
Well permit. The state record that says what a well’s water may be used for. On horse property, it matters whether livestock watering is allowed.
Ditch share. A share in an irrigation company that delivers surface water. In Colorado, water rights are separate property and must be conveyed specifically.
ILC. Improvement location certificate. A drawing showing where improvements such as the house and barn sit on the lot. It is not a full survey.
35-acre parcel. Colorado exempts divisions of land into parcels of 35 acres or more from county subdivision review, which is why many rural properties are about that size.
Have a term you’d add? Send it my way.
