by Meg Pierce
The elite Rancho Santa Fe community in San Diego County is cherished by celebrities and CEOs alike for its tranquil rural-like setting conveniently located a short drive to Southern California’s best beaches and an easy commute to downtown and the airport. However, one of the main reasons people settle in the serene neighborhood of the RSF Covenant with its country club and golf club memberships is the opportunity to house not only their families but also their horses. The Rancho Santa Fe equestrian community is thriving with members of the riding community and opportunities to ride and train. For those looking for the perfect horse property for your family, look no further! Here are three must-see equestrian properties, you won’t want to miss!
1. Willow Creek Estancia
This amazing 77-acre luxury ranch is astounding in its beauty with its own private 15-acre bass-filled lake, a plethora of green pastures, hundreds of trees, colorful gardens, network of riding trails and 27-stall main barn. Home means adventure on this incredible equestrian property. Riders have a seemingly infinite amount of space to train in three riding rings, a grand prix field and access to more than 50 miles of groomed trails. Horses will live a life of luxury with amenities including a six-horse walker, multiple grooming areas, several tack rooms, a farrier workspace and an additional family barn with seven in-and-out stalls.
Human residents of all ages will also discover a breadth of non-equestrian entertainment opportunities with a meditation loggia, professional-size tennis court, and clubhouse, a pool for lap swimming and spa for relaxing, lake for fishing and a private bowling alley with accompanying video arcade. Adults will also enjoy winding down with a glass of wine at the bar in the game room, the wine cellar with tasting room, or on one of the balconies or verandas with scenic views of the property. This amazing estate has something for everybody and then some! Visit WillowCreekEstancia.com or call Patricia Kramer at 858.945.4595 or Cathy Gilchrist-Colmar at 858.775.6511 for pricing and more information.
2. The Scripps’ Estate
Custom-built for an iconic San Diego family, this 12,417 SF resort-style home is nestled onto 12.02 immaculately landscaped acres with a six-stall barn plus rider’s lounge, tennis court, sand volleyball court, pool, spa and pool house with bar and sauna. Designed with separate family and staff wings, the seven-bedroom home includes two offices, an exercise room, a media/game room and indoor/outdoor living spaces with disappearing walls for seamless dining and entertaining. This unique Rancho Santa Fe home features Lutron Home Lighting, Crestron Home Automation, and radiant-heated floors. With outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, a bar, a koi pond, and scenic property views, entertaining has never been so relaxing!
Equestrians will love this beautiful estate in the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant which includes a riding ring, direct access to trails, multiple pastures with covered areas, and the state-of-the-art barn. The beautiful wood-beamed stable with six in-and-out stalls is equipped with auto-fill troughs with electronic meters to measure each horse’s water intake, indoor and outdoor washing stations, two feed rooms, a tack room, a laundry room and a security system with motion sensors and cameras. After a day of riding, relax and entertain in the attached saloon with lift and slide doors opening to a covered patio with built-in barbecue and stone fireplace!
Whether you’re looking for the ranch life or resort life, this gorgeous equestrian estate is the perfect place to enjoy it. Now offered as a whole 12.02 acres at $13,950,000 or separately with the home parcel on 8.48 acres offered at $10,750,000 and the barn parcel with pastures and room to build on 3.54 acres offered at $3,200,000.
3. RSF Storybook Home
While Willow Creek Estancia and the Scripps’ Ranch offer the ultimate in luxury equestrian living, many residents are drawn to Rancho Santa Fe, California for a simpler, more affordable life and don’t need quite so much land. This storybook home on a quiet street on the westside of the Covenant close to trails offers basic horse facilities and plenty of space to build amenities of one’s own choosing. The beautiful home with four bedrooms and five baths features clean lines and a refreshing use of light and dark woods for an aesthetically pleasing contrast. Glass doors off the living room open to a large entertaining patio with barbecue, kitchenette, fire pit, and scenic views. The floor plan includes a master bedroom and office or guest suite with separate entrance on the main level, two downstairs bedrooms and a loft for a playroom or craft area.
Perfect for family horses, the 3.18 acres include a paddock with covered shelter, cross tie area with wash rack, tack room, turnouts, and a riding ring. Plenty of space is left over for building your own amenities whether you want to design a barn of your own or put in a swimming pool, tennis court or guest house. Listed at $2,895,000. For more information visit RSFStorybookHome.com.
Rancho Santa Fe, California is the perfect place for families and their horses. Encompassing 6,730 acres, the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant features beautiful rolling topography with 68 acres of open space areas. Offering a rural setting, top-notch schools, and a close-knit community, it is just a few miles to the beach, horse parks, golf courses, polo and soccer fields, and the famous Del Mar Racetrack. Call Cathy Gilchrist-Colmar and Patricia Kramer today for more information on equestrian living and finding the home that is right for you!