Ruidoso Horse and Ranch Properties

To be candid … Ruidoso proper has very limited property still available which is well suited for Horses. Some do exist as identified below and are scattered throughout the community. Most areas which are perfect for equestrian pursuits actually surround the Village of Ruidoso to the North, East and Southwest. Here’s a list of surrounding communities and regions which offer some of the best horse properties in the Southwest.

Eagle Creek - Ruidoso
Eagle Creek is a very exclusive subdivision within Ruidoso, approximately 3 miles from the center of town.  A variety of five acre tracts are still available in this very quiet and pastoral area. The tracts follow Eagle Creek eastward fro approximately one mile and most tracks are bordered by the Lincoln National Forest on almost all sides. These are beautiful estate parcels. 

shelley@buyruidoso.com • 575-973-2503

Ruidoso Horse Properties to the Southwest

Bent, New Mexico
Bent is a very small community approximately 20 miles southwest of the village limits of Ruidoso. It basically runs parallel to New Mexico State HWY 70 and is separated from Ruidoso by the Mescalero Apache Reservation … home to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino. Bent is spectacularly beautiful as it is mainly pine covered mesas cut deep by seasonal arroyos and sits at high enough altitude to provide views of the White Sands National Monument and memorable sunsets. A very picturesque and pastoral landscape, Bent possesses some stunning horse properties when they are available.

Tularosa, New Mexico
Down the road another ten miles or so is the Village of Tularosa. Tularosa is in the basin at approximately 4000 feet in altitude and offers much more affordable and flatter parcels then does bent. Tularosa is a small community as well but considerably larger then Bent. Tularosa is about a half hour ride back to Ruidoso to the north east or 15 minutes or so to Alamogordo, New Mexico … home to Holloman Air Force Base.

Ruidoso Horse Properties to the East

Hondo Valley
The Hondo Valley stretches out eastward from Ruidoso … following the Rio Ruidoso as heads off the mountains and down towards high plains on its way towards Roswell, New Mexico. The first 35 miles or so of the valley from Ruidoso contains a string of quaint valley communities including Glencoe, Hondo, San Patricio, Tinnie and Riverside and others. Horse properties abound in this area and some are very affordable. Those with water rights tend to be priced higher … but a green pasture fed by the river is a sight to behold in the high desert landscape.

Ruidoso Horse Properties to the North

Alto, New Mexico
Alto sits immediately adjacent Ruidoso to its North. Alto is many things … close proximity ... just minutes to Ruidoso ... several country club and planned golf communities … spectacular views of both the Capitan and Sacramento Mountain Ranges … and plenty of quality, if not a little pricier horse property. Truly Alto offers many beautiful options for the horse lover and when compared to prices of similar properties in Arizona and California … Alto, New Mexico is a bargain.    

Nogal, new Mexico
Approximately 12 miles or so to the northwest of Ruidoso sits the small Village of Nogal. A speck of a town that is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, pained green by summer rains, dotted with cedar, juniper and pinon pines. This is really nice country for our four legged friends. To get there from Ruidoso … head north out of town on HWY 48. Hwy 48 intersects HWY 37 right past the Rio Bonito. Head weat on HWY 37 about six 5 miles or so and you’ll be in the Nogal countryside which extends northward around ten or 12 miles to you see the Village of Nogal.

Carrizozo, New Mexico
Farther northwest of Ruidoso … approximately 35 miles sits Carrizozo. This upcoming artists’ community sits right at the crossroads of HWYs 380 and 54. It offers very similar topography as Tularosa … very flat but the distance from Ruidoso makes the land very affordable … relatively speaking. The town offers some stunning high desert vistas and awesome views of the Carrizozo range ... which seems to absolutely glow at sunset.

Capitan, New Mexico
This working class and ranching community sits approximately 18 miles directly north of Ruidoso along HWY 48. A mix of rolling hills and suitably flat land are its hallmarks. A small town with a main street is the economic center of the area … and the community ha sits own high school as well. Good values on land still exist and the surrounding countryside is very beautiful as well. Capitan sits just a few miles west of the historic town of Lincoln, New Mexico … home to Billy the Kid … a very cool place bathed in old west history and some very nice horse properties as well.