By Nancy Brannon, Ph.D.
Secluded off Veterans Parkway in Murfeesboro, Tennessee is a premier private equestrian estate. Even though it’s only a mile or so off I-840, exit 50, the quiet setting filters out highway and city noise for a quiet, bucolic setting. Owner Derek Alexander is proud to show the stable and grounds, which is also his residence.
Derek’s family bought the property in 2011, and the facility formally opened in August 2014. A lot of planning went into the structure – a year of architectural design and two years of construction with about 145 subcontractors. The architect was CMW Architecture of Lexington, Kentucky, and the builder was Sun Company Builders in Murfreesboro.
This private stable includes 32 stalls, tack rooms, storage rooms, wash and grooming stalls, a comfortable lounge and office, with the residence upstairs. The stable takes advantage of natural breezes to create a comfortable environment for the horses and users. The spacious and well lit indoor arena is directly connected to the stable to allow for direct access regardless of the weather. The farm also includes an outdoor riding ring, a round pen, paddocks, a pond, and a guest house.
All this is sited on 55 acres of lush pastures, and Derek says the property has some of the best soil in the area. The turnout paddocks are an acre to an acre and a half in size, which they keep seeded, limed and fertilized so that the horses can enjoy green grass. “We grow all our own hay on site, too,” he said. “Timothy and Orchard grass mix.”
All acreage on the south side of the property is in row crop and they only have one side with residential neighbors, all of whom he knows. There is a one-mile, tree-lined, perimeter trail for riding around the entire property, with gorgeous views of the Tennessee landscape. So Derek feels assured the property will maintain its scenic assets for a long time to come.
The stable has the benefit of good well water, but public water is also available. The gutters and downspouts are set up to collect and store all the rain water into a nearby pond.
Each of the 12 x 12-foot stalls is equipped with personal lighting and fan ventilation, front center-sliding stall doors with closeable yokes, and full-glass rear doors with removable yokes. The shed-row type overhang on the outside shades the stalls from direct sunlight, all allowing for good ventilation and lighting. The stalls all have Nelson waterers, with a gauge on the outside of each stall where the amount of water a horse consumes can be measured. The stalls are Lucas Equine stalls, and partitions can be removed to create 12 x 24 stalls. The two ample sized tack rooms have uniquely designed saddle racks that accommodate well either western or English style saddles.
The connecting indoor arena is 110 x 220 feet and has 17 full-glass garage doors that open or close with the touch of a button. Derek says the arena footing is his own custom mix of GGT and silica sand, making a nearly dustless and bright riding area. To maintain maximum comfort in hot or cold weather, there are two Big Ass brand fans and six radiant heaters, plus high intensity fluorescent light fixtures. There is also a viewing room by the tack area for customers to enjoy watching their horse.
The outdoor arena is 120 x 290 feet, large enough for a jump course or a dressage arena. It has a drainage system that allows it to be used year-round. Footing in the round pen is river sand with French drains underground. A lounge and formal entertainment area overlook the outdoor ring.
The entire property is fenced, with a secure front gate operated by pass code, so even if a horse escapes a paddock, the horse will still be maintained within the property.
Derek lives on the property and there are cameras throughout the barn, which are linked to his phone, so he can monitor the horse activity from all locations.
The current 12 equine residents in the stable are Alexander’s own pleasure and trail Tennessee Walking horses. When I visited, I got to see the latest addition – a two-day-old TWH foal born October 17, 2016.
He would like to attract boarders for the other 16 or so stalls and, perhaps, a trainer who could fit with their program – maybe a Dressage or Hunter/Jumper trainer. Hunter’s Court Stable is nearby and the stable is only 15 minutes from the MTSU Horse Science Center and Miller Coliseum.
Visitors will be impressed with the beauty of this block stable with stunning architectural styling and the best stall amenities for a horse’s ultimate comfort. See more information about the stable on Facebook and Pinterest at Meadowood Farm. Find architectural information at: http://www.suncompanybuilders.com/meadowood-farms and at: http://www.jmmarchitecture.com/projects/meadowood-farm-stables-arena/
Secluded off Veterans Parkway in Murfeesboro, Tennessee is a premier private equestrian estate. Even though it’s only a mile or so off I-840, exit 50, the quiet setting filters out highway and city noise for a quiet, bucolic setting. Owner Derek Alexander is proud to show the stable and grounds, which is also his residence.
Derek’s family bought the property in 2011, and the facility formally opened in August 2014. A lot of planning went into the structure – a year of architectural design and two years of construction with about 145 subcontractors. The architect was CMW Architecture of Lexington, Kentucky, and the builder was Sun Company Builders in Murfreesboro.
This private stable includes 32 stalls, tack rooms, storage rooms, wash and grooming stalls, a comfortable lounge and office, with the residence upstairs. The stable takes advantage of natural breezes to create a comfortable environment for the horses and users. The spacious and well lit indoor arena is directly connected to the stable to allow for direct access regardless of the weather. The farm also includes an outdoor riding ring, a round pen, paddocks, a pond, and a guest house.
All this is sited on 55 acres of lush pastures, and Derek says the property has some of the best soil in the area. The turnout paddocks are an acre to an acre and a half in size, which they keep seeded, limed and fertilized so that the horses can enjoy green grass. “We grow all our own hay on site, too,” he said. “Timothy and Orchard grass mix.”
All acreage on the south side of the property is in row crop and they only have one side with residential neighbors, all of whom he knows. There is a one-mile, tree-lined, perimeter trail for riding around the entire property, with gorgeous views of the Tennessee landscape. So Derek feels assured the property will maintain its scenic assets for a long time to come.
The stable has the benefit of good well water, but public water is also available. The gutters and downspouts are set up to collect and store all the rain water into a nearby pond.
Each of the 12 x 12-foot stalls is equipped with personal lighting and fan ventilation, front center-sliding stall doors with closeable yokes, and full-glass rear doors with removable yokes. The shed-row type overhang on the outside shades the stalls from direct sunlight, all allowing for good ventilation and lighting. The stalls all have Nelson waterers, with a gauge on the outside of each stall where the amount of water a horse consumes can be measured. The stalls are Lucas Equine stalls, and partitions can be removed to create 12 x 24 stalls. The two ample sized tack rooms have uniquely designed saddle racks that accommodate well either western or English style saddles.
The connecting indoor arena is 110 x 220 feet and has 17 full-glass garage doors that open or close with the touch of a button. Derek says the arena footing is his own custom mix of GGT and silica sand, making a nearly dustless and bright riding area. To maintain maximum comfort in hot or cold weather, there are two Big Ass brand fans and six radiant heaters, plus high intensity fluorescent light fixtures. There is also a viewing room by the tack area for customers to enjoy watching their horse.
The outdoor arena is 120 x 290 feet, large enough for a jump course or a dressage arena. It has a drainage system that allows it to be used year-round. Footing in the round pen is river sand with French drains underground. A lounge and formal entertainment area overlook the outdoor ring.
The entire property is fenced, with a secure front gate operated by pass code, so even if a horse escapes a paddock, the horse will still be maintained within the property.
Derek lives on the property and there are cameras throughout the barn, which are linked to his phone, so he can monitor the horse activity from all locations.
The current 12 equine residents in the stable are Alexander’s own pleasure and trail Tennessee Walking horses. When I visited, I got to see the latest addition – a two-day-old TWH foal born October 17, 2016.
He would like to attract boarders for the other 16 or so stalls and, perhaps, a trainer who could fit with their program – maybe a Dressage or Hunter/Jumper trainer. Hunter’s Court Stable is nearby and the stable is only 15 minutes from the MTSU Horse Science Center and Miller Coliseum.
Visitors will be impressed with the beauty of this block stable with stunning architectural styling and the best stall amenities for a horse’s ultimate comfort. See more information about the stable on Facebook and Pinterest at Meadowood Farm. Find architectural information at: http://www.suncompanybuilders.com/meadowood-farms and at: http://www.jmmarchitecture.com/projects/meadowood-farm-stables-arena/
