William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
5841 Second Line, Schomberg, Ont.
Asking Price: $4,999,999
Taxes: $4,943.77 (2022)
Land Size: 48 acres
Agent: Gemma Leggett, ReMax York Group Realty
The backstory
The 8,020-square-foot barn of steel construction was originally built as a machine shop. Today it has 22 wood-framed stalls for horses, a heated feed room and a loft for storage.William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
In 2007, Penny Paul and Thad Griffin could not envision a day when they would own a 48-acre farm and equestrian facility.
The couple had never spent time around horses, so they left things to the experts when their six-year-old daughter asked if she could attend a summer camp for budding equestrians near their home in Aurora, Ont.
“We dropped her off and left,” Ms. Paul recalls.
Camp was followed by a series of lessons, where Ms. Paul stood on the sidelines and watched. Occasionally she would coax an obstinate pony into allowing her daughter to tack him up.
“I often intervened in the stalls, keeping them calm. I seemed to have a decent way with the horses,” she says.
Within a few months, Ms. Paul was on horseback for her first lesson.
“That was the downfall,” Mr. Griffin says wryly.
Ms. Paul and her daughter spent more and more time at equestrian facilities, learning skills from riding and first-aid to maintaining stalls and building paddocks.
Then a three-year-old Egyptian Arabian which had suffered abuse was brought to the farm where Ms. Paul was riding and helping out.
“He was terrified of everything,” she says. “You couldn’t touch his ears, you couldn’t bridle him.”
Ms. Paul was the one person who was able to win his trust.
“It was still just a lot of instinct and a natural intuition about the horses,” she says.
When the opportunity arose, she purchased the rescued horse. The couple also bought a horse for their daughter, and later added a third.
As Ms. Paul became more integrated into the riding, boarding and training community, she joined with some like-minded friends to create Tanglewood Equestrian on a rented property.
In the summer of 2018, Ms. Paul learned of a property with a barn, arena and paddocks for sale near Schomberg, Ont.
After paying boarding fees for their horses for several years, she persuaded Mr. Griffin to have a look.
The large expanse of land appealed to Mr. Griffin, but looking after the horses and buildings did not.
“I said I would arrange the financing, but I would not really be involved in the farm at all,” he says.
The couple purchased the property in the fall of that year.
The farm today
The three-bedroom bungalow offers 2,900 square feet of living space on two levels.William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
Mr. Griffin estimates 5841 Second Line has been accommodating horses for the past 40 years or so. A previous owner kept standardbreds, he adds.
The three-bedroom bungalow was built in 1976 and offers 2,900 square feet of living space on two levels.
The lower level, which is partially above-ground, provides two additional bedrooms.
The main floor has a family room with a wood-burning fireplace and views of the backyard.
There’s an eat-in kitchen, a dining room, a sunroom and a main floor office with views of the paddocks.
The main floor has a family room with a wood-burning fireplace.William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
The primary bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, a sitting area and a large window overlooking the grounds.
Outside, the 8,020-square-foot barn of steel construction was originally built as a machine shop. Today it has 22 wood-framed stalls for horses, a heated feed room and a loft for storage.
“That’s a big barn by any standard,” Mr. Griffin says.
Nearby, there are 11 paddocks on 20 acres where the horses are pastured and exercised.
Ms. Paul says that having paddocks of various sizes provides flexibility and allows regeneration in the areas when that are not in use.
With 22 horses at times, a lot depends on “who gets along with who”, she adds.
The riding arena provides space for indoor activities.William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
There’s also an outdoor track and a jumping area where riders can work on their riding and jumping skills.
“The horses can be in the front paddock, watching and being safe.”
A portion of the property is rented to a local farmer who plants soybeans and other crops. In turn, the owners qualify for a property tax reduction.
While Ms. Paul and the couple’s daughter spent time with the horses, Mr. Griffin decided to pursue his own goal of learning to fly a glider.
He found a gliding club about 10 minutes away from the farm.
The couple enjoys dining in Schomberg and nearby Tottenham. Big box stores are about 20 minutes away, and it’s a quick drive to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mr. Griffin says.
The best feature
Next to the riding arena is a heated viewing room.William Vandewater/William Vandewater/WV Media
The riding arena provides space for indoor activities.
Ms. Paul has made many improvements, including adding 25 tonnes of sand and LED lights.
Next to the main area is a heated viewing room that Ms. Paul calls the clubhouse.
While young students are taking lessons in dressage and other disciplines, parents can hang out and watch the action with coffee and snacks on hand.
A lovely mare named Kaya is the school horse who takes many young children on their first lessons, says Ms. Paul.
“She’s full of personality but she knows her job and she’s quite serious about it.”