11/05/2025
I have been thinking about the changes our property has experienced, and wondering what other farms have dealt with over the years. Originally Windswept was a fruit and vegetable farm. The owners sold off sections and created a property with no frontage. They elected to remain in the workers house, selling off the main farm house. The workers house where we live has evolved from a one story shack to a two story three bedroom house. When we purchased in 1997 there was no heat upstairs, plaster and lathe was falling off walls, and there were few closets. Some unique features existed as these were completed by the owner.
The stables and indoor were built by the owner with help from a neighbor. The owner regraded the property, created the easement and leveled the area for the arena. The plan was to support 36 horses on a 17.83 tract of land which was approved by the township. At that time you could fence the perimeter of your property and be approved for horses at 2 per acre.
When we purchased, 29 horses were on the property, four strands of high tensile wire surrounded the property and cut through various areas of the woods as well as subdividing the main 6 acres of pasture. Neighbors' land was used for pasture. Pasture was eaten substantially. About 9 horses were stalled all the time, so the remaining horses were pastured in 4 areas.
We bought the property because we loved the property, the ability to have horses was a bonus, the business we thought would be a nice side gig and we jumped in. It has been 28 years. We have replaced the arena because the first fell in a snowstorm in 2007. We learned it had not been supported correctly. We were asked to give up a large pasture within a month of moving in and eventually decided to give up a second pasture owned by the same neighbor, as we could not control people being in the pasture. We installed a waterline and created smaller pasture areas, thanks to my father sitting on a backhoe for two weeks within the first year. We found better bedding, what had been used was like flour. We increased the amount of hay, and found better providers. We learned horses were only being fed 3 flakes a day. We pulled up what felt like miles of high tensile and replaced it with non- kick through. Our fencing sits on property lines and the township strongly urged us to not use electric. The township had 39 restrictions most easily met that accompanied the approval as the property was changed to rural residential prior to our purchase.
The early days we could trail ride and we covered adjoining properties on our insurance. Gradually properties were sold and developed so those opportunities have significantly decreased.
Ppl purchased an easement through the property and across all adjoining properties (ppl does not own that property) and in 2015 replaced all the wooden poles with metal. Nutrient Management restrictions and Water Run Off laws have changed the number of horses permitted on the property to 14. We have begun developing wildlife areas on the property and have a conservation plan that addresses water management and conservation of native species.
This property seems to have been our life focus given the time and finances we have used to improve it.. It is a beautiful property and well worth the effort. The pastures have required constant work, and from time to time need fewer horses grazing to allow for improved grazing. Time for horses was way less than anticipated; however, now that most of the hard work has been done I am enjoying my horses and the changes we have made. I hope to research more of the properties history in the future. If anyone has any specific memories of Windswept prior to it being a stables I would love to hear them. Thank you.
