CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The barn and indoor arena at Locust Run Stables collapsed under the weight of layered ice and snow last week, leaving the longtime Oak Plains Road facility without stalls for their horses during one of the coldest stretches of winter.

The collapse happened around 1 p.m. Jan. 26 at Locust Run Stables, 1100 Oak Plains Road. Owner Rebecca said the barn suffered a “catastrophic structural failure.”

Brown said she had already taken their 10 horses out for the day, and no one was in the barn when it collapsed, so no horses or people were injured. She said this was the first time they had ever sustained this level of weather-related damage.

Caring for horses without stalls

The collapse created immediate challenges for caring for horses, including the loss of hay stored inside the barn. “Our hay is trapped under the building,” she said.

Without access to stalls, Brown said caring for the horses requires significantly more work in cold conditions. The horses are being kept on site and rotated during feeding times, blanketed and moved into outdoor shelters as needed. “They require a lot more care whenever it’s this cold,” she said.

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Operations impacted as community support begins

The damage also forced Locust Run Stables to halt operations. Brown said all lessons have been canceled through the end of February. While the property has an outdoor arena, winter weather typically requires use of the indoor arena that was damaged in the collapse. “Not being able to give lessons and do training is going to be a big issue moving forward, at least for the next couple of months,” she said, noting that outdoor use depends on weather improving.

Community support has begun to arrive. The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association has donated some hay rolls, and the horse rescue organization Fleet of Angels has pledged to match donations raised through a GoFundMe campaign to help purchase additional hay. Those interested can donate here.

County encourages residents to report damage

Brown said the storm serves as a reminder of how quickly winter weather can become dangerous. “The weight of all the snow and ice adds up when it gets layered,” she said, encouraging people to check on animals and structures during severe weather.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is asking residents who experienced damage during the winter storm to fill out this brief online survey. County officials say the information helps state and local officials better understand the scope of storm-related damage and recovery needs. Submitting the survey does not guarantee financial assistance, but plays a key role in damage assessment.

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