Whilst Sims 5 has been unveiled with Project Rene, its release date is leaving its loyal playerbase in the dark. Because of this, the Sims 4 has continued to carry its legacy on with regular, consistent updates in the form of Expansion Packs. But what can be found in the Horse Ranch Expansion? From breeding, raising and training Horses inside your very own stables that accompany the great ranch that you built from scratch, players can indulge in the farming lifestyle in this pure fantasy with Horses at the forefront. If you are someone who has always wanted to have Horses of your own, be it for equestrian purposes or just as something to relax to, the Horse Ranch Expansion has everything you could possibly need. For those wanting to create a brand new Horse Ranch to do exactly what the Expansion title entails, this is Vincent’s guide on how to build a Horse Ranch in Sims 4.
Ranch Build Guide for Sims 4 Horse Ranch Expansion
Building a Horse Ranch from scratch starts out exactly the same as anyone trying to build in Sims 4. However, with the minimal choices for lot space in Sims 4 (depending on which Expansion Packs you own for the game), you will find that the perfect space for your Ranch may be in the brand new location of Chestnut Ridge. This is the prime spot to begin your Ranch journey and offers multiple locations to set up your new life. Although each lot is a different size based on square meters, you will also find that each location holds different types of grass which offer unique challenges. Due to having the ability to ride your Horse around Chestnut Ridges to find secrets of the Expansion, you may enjoy the 64×64 lot that the Ridge has to offer.
In the 64×64, players will also get an area designated around the lot which holds Horse Training Equipment. This means that you will not need to add any Horse Training Equipment when building your Ranch (unless you want this moved for aesthetic reasons). Regardless, with this amount of space, you can create any desired Ranch size you would like.
Related: Best Mods to Immerse Yourself in Sims 4 Horse Ranch.
Where to Start for Ranch Building
Firstly, we highly recommend googling for Ranches online for visual aid and inspiration when crafting a Horse Ranch from scratch. Whilst you do not need to directly copy from the source, treat it much like a tattoo artist coming up with a design, you will want to refer to the Ranch images for both inspiration, size, style and how specific parts of a Ranch looks. If you want to go old school or channel the farm in The Walking Dead Season 2, you can go for a Ranch Farm, with a wooden finish and fence surroundings to keep the Horses enclosed. This look will also give the Horses more freedom whilst having the open feel of the countryside to finish the Ranch off.
We recommend a 2-story Ranch in design, with adjacent roofing that shapes the Ranch into a shape that is not typically used for other housing. You will want to use letters such as ‘T’ or ‘H’ in your initial layout of the Ranch (from a birds-eye view) and perhaps using curves to create a horseshoe effect. This is all from looking at the Ranch from above. Keep in mind however that attempting to add any curved shapes to the walls and roofing is incredibly tough due to the default wall placements of sharp straight lines rather than being able to directly manipulate the shape of the wall you are placing down. This means that curves are not really possible and instead you need to emulate curvature.
You should also utilize Spandrels and Columns occasionally on the outside to create roofing that acts like a terrace that you can also use to create a lifted wooden platform for your Sim to walk up on which can feel more inviting than a standard entrance point that you see with other buildings. For exterior design choices, dark roofing with off-white wooden walls would look great. However for a more modern look, you can use brickwork instead. Finish the exterior of the land with foliage, plants and trees to bring your Ranch to life or go for a more countryside look of open land with Horses roaming freely throughout.
Interior Design of the Ranch
When designing the inside of your Ranch the Expansion offers a lot of Cottage designing options. We recommend using these furniture sets and doors that are offered in this Expansion Pack when designing the interior. The interior however, can look like whatever you wish for, be it a more modern take on a Ranch with Scandinavian design choices over the more Cottage feel that is typically seen in Ranches. Regardless of what you end up choosing, your Ranch needs to feel homely for your Sims. Of course, if you do not need much space, depending on how many Sims you are controlling, you may wish to drop down in size which can be done when selecting the different lots in Chestnut Ridge. Keep in mind however, that you will need to add Horse Training Equipment around the Stables or near the Ranch if you downsize from the 64×64 so that you can keep your Horses happy and exercised whilst raising them.
It may be a strange tip but as we recommended using Google for Ranch inspo, you can also use Pinterest for interior design inspo. Whether you are looking for Cottages, Tudor-style, Scandinavian Minimalism and so on, there are infinite options available at Pinterest. Alternatively, look at websites such as Wren, IKEA, HomeandGarden will also offer inspiration for living areas, bedrooms and kitchens.
Can you Make Stables?
Whilst there is no distinct method in place to craft Stables inside your Horse Ranch, it is indeed possible. Rather than having pre-set builds such as walls or fencing to use to resemble Stables in real life, you are able to experiment with the building system to craft your own version of Horse Stables. When getting started, you will want to place down four walls using the standard cube option in the Build Mode. Of course you can set this to whatever size you wish for however, it is best to keep in mind roughly how many Horses you want to have in the Stables as you will inevitably begin breeding with your starting Horses. After you have your 4 walls set in place, use a Spandrel which will open out the sides whilst leaving a flat roof intact.
From here you can attach pillars to the Stables via the Column options beside the Spandrel on the Horse icon in the bottom-left corner of the Build Mode screen. Spread the Columns out along the edge of the Stables, including one on each corner, two more added to the front and back of the Stables (one square away from the corner Columns) and another added to the centre of both Stable sides (adding a total of 10 Columns to create the Stable walls). Add Fencing to create a makeshift wall for the Stables where a Gate is needed to get in and out from the Stables. You will want to finish the Stables off with a neat Roof which can be designed and shaped with whichever style you prefer. We recommend lighter and earthier colors such as browns, beiges and greens to go against the surrounding greenery.
Other Building Opportunities for your Horse Ranch
Whilst the Horse Ranch may be enough to satisfy your needs, you may wish to use the Cottage Living Expansion Pack in order to fully dive into your agricultural lifestyle and become a true farmer. Although this is not for everyone, having the ability to own a full farm with Cows, Chickens, Sheep, Goats, and Horses would truly be an immersive experience and complete your Ranch for good.
We hope this Ranch Build Guide was useful to you. Thank you so much for reading this article. For more on the latest gaming guides, including but not exclusive to Sims 4, be sure to see all GJ related articles here.
