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From Beaches and Golf Courses
to Greener Pastures
Press Release - January 30, 2008

Equestrian Communities on the Rise in Southeast
— Florida has long been thought of as a land of beaches and golf courses, but a growing community of greener minded homeowners are looking for something more, and horses are providing an answer. For many, if asked about wide-open green space at the beach, only one thing comes to mind - golf courses. For a long time this was true. Only recently have developers embracing "new urbanism" included significant green spaces in their master plans, but these areas commonly only provide a brief reprieve from shoulder-to-shoulder housed neighborhoods. If someone wanted a long, quiet stretch of green, living in a golf course community was the only option and usually only if you paid to play the game. But a new idea of lifestyle community is blossoming across the country, one based on natural green spaces, room to stretch... and horses. Not far south of Defuniak Springs, Florida and only fifteen minutes north of the white beaches, a community is being created that is embracing this new approach to living. Emerald Glenn, on Black Creek River, is bringing to Walton County a movement in development that is spreading across the country, the Equestrian Community. With its incredible natural beauty, flat topography and temperate climate, Northwest Florida has emerged as the ideal locale for equestrians. No longer only in Tennessee, Virginia and California, equestrian developments are becoming increasingly popular in areas of the Southeast. Equestrian Communities can now be found in the North Georgia Mountains, the Tampa area, Savannah and coastal Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, and soon the Panhandle of Florida.

Equestrian sports are growing strongly in popularity, everything from western riding to hunter-jumper to dressage are on the rise. And while often these communities offer state-of-the-art facilities for serious equestrians as well as casual riders, many people have discovered that there is more to living in an equestrian community than riding horses. In reality, only a percentage of homeowners in most equestrian communities actually ride - typically from 20 to 40%, about the same number of golfers in golf course communities. One fundamental difference between the two lies in usability. While both offer green space, a golf community's fairways, greens, and paved paths are designed for the needs of the active golfer. In comparison, a basic need for a community with horses is green space, and lots of it. Equestrian communities offer miles of natural trails that can be enjoyed by any of the residents for riding, walking, or biking. Whether a horse owner or not, the real draw is the equestrian facility. The barn is central to these communities - a place to gather, meet friends and their horses, hone equestrian skills, or simply a place to take the children or grandchildren to feed and admire the peaceful, gentle creatures. The popularity of Equestrian Communities coincides with an increasing national interest in communities that incorporate natural surroundings with a more active lifestyle and indoor-outdoor living spaces that every age group can enjoy.

Equestrian communities have also proven popular among the eco-minded. They move significantly less earth in regard to changing the terrain and leave more of the natural landscape intact than typical golf course communities, not to mention the chemicals and fertilizers used to maintain golf courses. Like Emerald Glenn, many Equestrian Communities are designed with multi-acre home sites that allow for a lower density than most developments. The low density encourages natural landscaping and further lessens impact on the environment, as well as offering homeowner privacy.

Perhaps the most resonating reason for the growth of the equestrian based lifestyle is the simple sight and sounds of magnificent horses running across pastoral settings. It has been proven that living in close association with animals reduces stress and leads to a healthier, active lifestyle. The Florida Panhandle's answer to the Equestrian Community combines the best of communing with nature as well as the amenities and benefits of popular South Walton beaches. What was once only the trappings of a blue-blood ancestry or dreams of outback excursions, the equestrian vision is now a possibility for everyone - and all without leaving behind the sophistication and convenience of a well designed community - parks, shops, gourmet restaurants... and a good latte.

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