meet the owners and manager

Always available with a smile, a laugh and a listening ear, Jennifer took her education at Ole Miss and her early career as a rehab therapist and poured all that knowledge and energy into her family and friends.  Soon after having her first child, Jennifer was unsatisfied with what has become the traditional course of educating children. Jennifer began reading books by, turn of the 20th century British educator, Charlotte Mason. Mason dismissed the factory approach to education. Mason believed that children should be feed upon the best ideas, which she called “mind food” through “living books” and by actively experiencing God’s gift of the natural world . The canon of great classic literature (Keeper of the Bees, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Cricket in Time Square, The Bridge to Terabithia- just to name a few favorites)  that sparks the soil of the imagination and makes life long learners and lovers of truth, beauty and goodness. The canon of animals (lizards, chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, mice, fancy rats, frogs, cats, dogs and yes, horses too) that spark the awareness of the cosmic order of the creation. Apparently, all with success, as her children have grown to become incredibly creative and talented lovers of God’s good creation.

Jennifer has now taken that same energy and knowledge and put it into the ecosystem. To say it succulently, Jennifer loves “dirt”. Not just any dirt though, the “living dirt” full of archaea, actinomycetes, fungi, algae, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms, rolley polleys, ants and insects. Just like the good soil of great literature brings forth the fruits of imagination, the good soil of the earth brings forth the good food and fruits of bodily nourishment. The name Royal Grounds comes from Jennifers passion for the dirt and her precious Red Wiggler worms (eisenia fetida). The worms Jennifer calls her Princess’s. Where should princess’s live but Royal Ground Farms. 

In most circles known as Jennifer’s husband but in some circles known as the architect of high end homes all over the US. David grew up on the farmlands of central Illinois. The fertility of the Illinois soil also producing the wealth that gave us the great architecture of Chicago and St. Louis.  David was captivated by those cities and the rich architectural tradition from an early age. Living in the small town of Jacksonville, IL, David would visit the beautiful, classically inspired, Carnegie Library of his hometown to comb through their limited collection of books on architecture from all over the world. David traveled in his imagination through the pictures in those books and setting his course to one day become an architect.  David soon attended the University of Arkansas and became an honor student and received numerous awards for his academic accomplishments.  Upon graduation David decided to make Texas his home. 

David still carries that love of the land into his architectural work. Seeing that the cosmic order that makes plants grow is also discoverable in the patterns and orders that make people thrive in their cities, towns and homes. David chose to concentrate on residential architecture as the building type with the greatest personal meaning to all of humanity. David founded SHM Architects and the firm has flourished in designing high end residences all over the United States. David likes to call it the “art of the home”. The one area we all can share human creative skill and imagination and produce works appreciated for their beauty and emotional power. David brings these skills to Royal Grounds Equestrian Farm working to bring the beauty of place, architecture and the equestrian life together.

While not born on a horse, Margaret got to one as soon as possible. Inspired by the stories her mother read and their shared love of animals, Margaret started regularly riding at the age of four. At first, just appreciating the beauty and majesty of the horse, Margaret was soon introduced to the equestrian sport of eventing and the skill and passion of all the trainers (Becky Brown (Prix St. George), Rebecca Brown (FEI 5* USA), Kadi Eykamp (FEI 5* AUS/USA)) building a great foundation. At the age of fourteen, Margaret acquired a talented off the track thoroughbred named “Second Hand Rose”. With her talented horse, Margaret began expanding her training (Mike Huber (FEI 5* USA) former Olympic rider, Heather Morris (FEI 5* USA), Tamie Smith (FEI 5* USA)) wintering in Florida and California. Margaret was very accomplished and was chosen to be a Young Rider for her area in 2015 and 2016. Earning a team silver medal and an individual top 10. Margaret was soon selected to the U18 Olympic Development Team and relocated to Florida to receive advanced training (Leslie Law (FEI 5* UK) rider and individual gold medalist, Sinead Halpin (FEI 5* USA) rider and WEG team member/ short listed for US Olympic team, Tik Maynard (FEI 4* CAN) Pan Am Games team member, James Burtwell, a international Grand Prix dressage rider ) as a working student. 

Margaret’s passion doesn’t end at horses. She used her athleticism and balance to become an accomplished snow skier. For three years Margaret took a break from the equestrian world and became a ski instructor for Vail resorts. Being trained by Vail Resorts as an instructor of youth was an invaluable experience. Her love for horses and the mountains allowed Margaret to have both worlds for a time by running a barn and starting a training operation in Colorado. Margaret’s mentors in the industry soon convinced her though that her skills needed to have a career in Florida. Royal Ground Equestrian Farm is lucky to have such a accomplished up and coming rider and trainer to manage both the property and the horse operation..