Possibly, it is the same reason they want their dog to live in their house, not in a distant pen. For some, horses become a part of the family. Of course, there can be other reasons for this close accommodation as are described below, but, at the very least, an emotional bond is frequently the reason for the attractiveness of a barn with living quarters.

 

On numerous occasions, I have designed barn homes and barn apartments for couples who both ride. She rides a horse and he rides a Harley. And yet, the chemistry works because he loves her and she loves him and her horses. In this scenario, a side by side might be preferable to an over/under design.

 

Here are some other reasons for building a barn with living quarters.

 

1. Long range planning as a second home with intentions of permanent residence upon retirement. People who travel seasonally with their horses will often purchase land in the area they intend to be their retirement location, then build a barn apartment that accommodates their immediate needs with the intention of building the big house just prior to retirement. The bonus for this arrangement is the apartment can be later used as a guest house, rental, or grooms quarters. The latter scenario is especially attractive to those who intend to travel upon retirement.

 

2. Limited Finances. Hardly need to explain this issue. A barn apartment is less expensive than building a house and barn. But as with the above reason, people anticipate that their livelihood will improve as the years go by and set aside a portion of their land for where a house can be built at some later date.

 

3. Limited Space. For those who have more horses than land, the smaller footprint of a barn with living quarters maybe the best case scenario. This situation also applies to land that has limited areas for construction or limited access to building areas regardless of the overall size of the property.

 

4. Business Enterprise. There are designs here at HorseBarnHomes.com that demonstrate two apartments over multiple horse stalls plus tack rooms, grain rooms and wash stalls. Some are of relatively equal in size, and others with one apartment much larger than the other. The latter might have the owner's family in the larger, with the other a rental or employee's home. This style of barn has proven to be very attractive to equestrian professionals who breed, train and rent stalls.