Horse Breeding Center and Architectural Monument

One of the unique and interesting objects of cultural heritage of the Ryazan region is the old-Lived stud farm as part of the industrial estate complex of the von Derviz family.

The stud farm is located in a picturesque place of the Ryazan region, in the center of the working village Starozhilovo, 56 kilometers from Ryazan.

This is the only large farm engaged in breeding and raising horses of the Russian riding breed.

Here, in the Russian hinterland, everything literally breathes history. For 123 years, high-class breeding horses were bred here, which were called the “black diamond” of domestic horse breeding.

In the 1860s, several kilometers from the village of Starozhilovo, construction of one of the sections of the Ryazan-Kozlovskaya railway was going on. The construction was run by the richest entrepreneurs — concessionaires von Meck and von Derviz. Pavel von Derviz liked the picturesque places along the banks of the river Istya, and he acquired more than 3 thousand acres of land. After the death of Pavel Grigorievich von Derviz in 1881, Starozhilovo was inherited by his younger son Pavel Pavlovich von Derviz, a lieutenant of the Life Guards Grodno Hussars. He moved from the capital to the Ryazan province, and soon local nobles elected him as a district leader and honorary justice of the peace.

In 1891, the construction of the Horse Plant began. The complex was designed by one of the most prominent representatives of Russian culture of the second half of the 19th century, Fedor Shekhtel. He is considered the creator of the Russian modernity, who changed the face of Moscow. Among the famous buildings Fedor Shekhtel — Moscow Art Theater, Yaroslavsky Station, the mansions Ryabushinsky and Morozova. The estate of Baron von Derviz became one of the first bright projects of the architect.

1893 is considered the year of foundation of the Horse Plant, but in fact construction took several years and lasted until 1897. On the high Bank of the river Istya was built a number of horse-breeding, residential and commercial buildings. The entire complex, which occupied an area of over 15 hectares, was made in the Gothic-Byzantine style, the facades of the buildings are made of red brick with white inserts. A total of 12 large structures were built: central stable with playpen, residential buildings, barn, dairy, summer theater. The estate was created heating and sewage systems.

In fact, immediately the von Derviz Stud Farm became one of the best in Russia, the glory of his horses was spread throughout the country. In 1890–1913, there was a trotting prize named after von Derviz on the Ryazan hippodrome. Pavel von Derviz was vice-president of the Ryazan Society for the Promotion of Horse Breeding.

In 1903 there were 2,722 horses. The whole plant was divided into three sections: in Starozhilovo — riding and trotting, in Sokh and Romodanov — heavyweight. Each branch had its own manager and caretaker. In winter, up to 90 people took care of the horses.

After the revolution, the plant was nationalized, and the horses of the Red Army units were housed in it. In 1920, the courses of the red commanders were translated in Starozhilovo, one of the listeners of which was the future famous commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union and Minister of Defense of the USSR in 1955–1957 Georgy Zhukov. Repeatedly one of the first Soviet marshals and the commander of the First Cavalry Army of the Red Army during the Civil War Semyon Budyonny came to Starozhilovo.

Up to the Great Patriotic War, the plant was engaged in breeding horses of the Russian trotter breed. During this period, significant success was achieved: in 1926, the geranium mare raised in Starozhilovo won the Grand All-Union Prize (Derby).

During the war Starozhilovo was surrounded: cities Mikhailov and Skopin were captured by the Nazis, advanced intelligence posts reached the village Gulynki. However, not a single bomb fell on the stud building. The livestock of the stud farm tried to evacuate, but all the horses died while crossing the Oka.

In the postwar years in Starozhilovsky horse factory began to develop the upstream direction. The producing train began to be completed with trakenensky horses, bought in Poland and transferred by the Sergey Kirov stud farm.

In the late 1970s, initiated by the Moscow Agricultural Academy named after Clement . Timiryazev and in accordance with the order of the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic “On measures to recreate the Russian riding horse breed” work began to restore the breed. The basis for this work was determined Starozhilovsky stud.

Many of the buildings of the Starozhilovsky Equestrian Plant have survived in our time. Some of them even lived a hundred years later. In 2010 years began building homes, which relocated the former tenants federwisch buildings. In the manor house there is a library and a department of culture.

The main building of the equestrian yard has always worked on the profile — and today horses are bred here. It is this building that most resembles a palace, and it is now that tourists are actively visiting it.

In terms of architectural advantages, planning and landscaping, the equestrian part of the Starozhilovsky plant can compete with the best examples of horse-breeding architecture, such as the buildings of Khrenovsky, Pochinkovsky, Derkulsky enterprises.

By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated February 20, 1995, the industrial-estate complex of the von Derviz family in the village of Starozhilovo was included in the List of Historical and Cultural Heritage Objects of Federal Value.

Following the results of the multimedia project-contest “Russia 10” held in 2013 in order to maintain a steady interest in the sights of our country, Starozhilovsky stud farm became one of the leaders in the Ryazan region, having received 13,715 Internet votes in its support.

The object is included in the Ryazan part of the route of the federal project “Russian estates”, initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Rarely there are people who would not be impressed by a visit to the stud farm in Starozhilovo. But to a greater degree the object attracts those whose interests are connected with architecture and design, that is, representatives of the professional community, horse breeding specialists.

Today, for the restoration and restoration of a unique architectural complex, considerable funds are required, while it is necessary to preserve the historical appearance and ensure the functioning of the Horse Plant for the maintenance of breeding horses of the Russian riding breed. After all, horses born at the Starozhilovsky factory were champions of the USSR and Russia, participated in the Olympics and were supplied to the Presidential Equestrian Regiment.

Ibrahim Ibrahimov, Press Service of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Ryazan Region