Equestrian Landscapes

Our equestrian landscape designs strive to preserve, enhance, and/or restore the natural beauty of the landscape and combine the physical facilities in a manner which is pleasing to the eye year-round. We have many alternatives to achieve this objective with resulting client/user satisfaction.

Design services range from new construction to restoration of an existing site. Project scope can range from a small horse stable to a large commercial equestrian facility. We remain flexible to meet our clients needs.

The Landscape Design Process

Building or renovating an equestrian site can be a major expenditure in terms of money, land, and time. Therefore, it is important to do it right the first time. Sexton Ennett utilizes a systems approach to develop the master landscape design plan. This assures that clients will be provided a landscape design which best expresses their vision and desires and is functionally and aesthetically optimized.

Our systems approach addresses the many possible combinations of major planning elements: goals, facility components, and site characteristics. A large number of options and challenges result. This inspires imagination and a creative response from our firm.

Typical planning elements are:

Goals

• Client’s vision, goals, desires, style, schedule, budget.
• Functionality and aesthetics.
• Compatibility with the natural environment.
• Convenience (flow).
• Low maintenance.
• Safety
• Accessibility.
• Protection: sun, wind, insects.
• Flexibility (Expansion).

Site Characteristics

• Topography: Slopes, soil, natural and manmade structures.
• Water quality and volume.
• Views.
• Natural amenities, impediments.
• Climate.
• Sunlight, prevailing winds, wind breaks.
• Roads and accessibility.
• Zoning and legal issues.

Facility Components

• Residence.
• Barns.
• Runs: Paddock, pasture.
• Storage: Feed, bedding.
• Training: Arena(s), lunge ring, track, walker, tread mill, pool.
• Spectator facilities.
• Circulation.
• Vehicle flow and parking.

The resulting site plan brings together, in a creative synthesis, the results of the site analysis and the goals and requirements for use of the equestrian facility. Location of the elements and component facilities are planned in functional relationships and in a manner fully responsive to the site characteristics.

Various solutions, opportunities, and possible alternatives may result from the site plan. These, together with our recommendations, are reviewed with the client. A master landscape design plan with landscaping details is then developed. This allows the client to "look ahead and follow the plan". It could well be their best investment.

Implementation

Once the landscape design has been finalized an appropriate timetable can be developed to stage construction and planting to suit climate and budget. The selection of an appropriate time horizon for implementation of the landscape design will be developed with the client’s objectives in mind.

Clients have a number of contracting options for the landscaping. SED can also act as Project Coordinator.

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