Laura Martin’s deep-rooted love for horses and wine blossomed from her upbringing on a 400-acre cattle ranch in California’s picturesque wine country. As a rancher’s daughter, she spent her childhood riding her ranch horses and embracing the life of a true cowgirl, managing cattle alongside her father. Growing up in wine country uniquely intertwined her passions for both horses and wine.
Four years ago, Laura and her husband made the bold decision to relocate to Nashville, Tennessee. Within their first month in Nashville they received unexpected news: Laura was pregnant. This joyous revelation set her on a new journey toward motherhood.
“I knew I wanted to stay home and raise my daughter,” Laura shared, reflecting on her transition to Nashville. They were in the process of building their horse farm, located in Goodlettsville, a northern adjacent community to Nashville. Shortly after their horse barn was completed, she found a quiet moment one evening, grabbed a bottle of wine and invited her husband to join her. “Come on, let’s go to the barn and celebrate,” she suggested. This moment marked a celebration of their move, their new family of three, and the completion of their farm in middle Tennessee.
As they savored their wine in the barn, surrounded by the horses that had traveled cross-country with them, Laura marveled at the experience. It was this pivotal moment that inspired her to create M|2 Equine Social Nashville, a private charcuterie and wine tasting experience among horses.
Seeing something special in their new barn, Laura reflected on her past experiences at various wine tasting events and recognized that none had captured the charm of her barn. In Nashville, where the western lifestyle is celebrated through country music and popular television shows like Yellowstone and Heartland, the idea of opening their farm to private events and sharing the love of horses with others felt within reach.
With her husband’s encouragement to try it out—after all, the worst that could happen was that it wouldn’t work—Laura launched her first private tasting three years ago. Since then, her schedule has rarely had openings for last-minute parties, a testament to her success.
M|2 Equine Social has not only allowed Laura to build a thriving private event business, but it also provided her with cherished moments alongside her daughter, savoring the fleeting joys of childhood. This fall, Laura’s daughter began pre-kindergarten granting Laura more time to focus on her unique equine event business.
“I don’t have a staff, and I want to keep it that way,” Laura explained. “I personally pick the wines for each tasting and craft the charcuterie boards. Hiring staff could compromise the quality of the experience, which I strive to deliver to my guests. I believe that handing over any part of this process would diminish the unique experience I can provide. I never want to sacrifice quality for revenue.”
Equine Social has attracted a diverse clientele, including bachelorette parties, couples seeking a memorable date night, and both local residents and out-of-town visitors enjoying weekends in Nashville. “About 50% of my guests are local, while the other 50% are from out of town,” Laura stated.
Laura believes the presence of the horses is what makes the experience truly special for her clients. “I once hosted a private tasting for a family celebrating their 74-year-old mother. She spent her life with horses. When we opened the barn doors and she saw the horses, she began to cry. She had given up horses in her later years, and just being around them rekindled precious memories. It was an emotional moment for all of us, and it felt incredibly special to create such a meaningful experience for her.”
M|2 Equine Social’s private wine tasting parties last an hour, during which Laura selects four wines for sampling. She prepares exquisite charcuterie boards for her guests, and even the horses enjoy their own charcuterie boards filled with horse treats, carrots, and biscuits, allowing guests to interact with her horses. Laura notes that each of her horses has a distinct personality. They eagerly runs to the barn when she begins setting up for events. Whether they anticipate a bounty of treats or affectionate pats, this interaction allows Laura to share her love of horses and her equine lifestyle with both the local community and visitors from afar.
Before the tasting begins, Laura warmly introduces her horses to her guests. She shares essential horse etiquette for everyone to practice and highlights key behaviors to observe, such as an eager nudge from one of her horses, that encourages guests to offer extra carrots. Laura prioritizes the well-being of her horses, ensuring that once treats are gone, they do not receive any more.
Her mission is to make Equine Social the highlight of a group’s trip or outing. “I love this life, and sharing horses and this lifestyle is such a blessing,” she says.
To learn more about M|2 Equine Social Nashville, visit www.equinesocialnash.com. If you’re in the Nashville area, consider reserving a private party to enjoy hand-picked wines, custom charcuterie boards, and a cowgirl chic, Nashville experience centered around horses.
