Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Lexington, Kentucky
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Kentucky Horse Park is a must-see for horse lovers! The famous equestrian park is a working horse farm and the site of many national competitions. It is also an educational facility, and a place where you can get up close and personal with 50 breeds of horses. See them compete in shows, tour the stables and learn about the noble animals that have called the Kentucky Horse Park home. Walking around the beautiful, expansive park grounds is usually free, and to see more, guided tours and overnight accommodations are available.
At the park entrance, visitors are welcomed by the majestic Man o' War Memorial. One of the greatest race horses that ever lived, Man o' War symbolizes the courage, strength, and magnificence of the species. Once inside, try to catch the Parade of Breeds, showcasing both common and rare horses from across the globe. The half-hour, twice a day presentation highlights the unique characteristics of selected breeds, while authentically costumed handlers put the horses through their paces. After the show you can meet, photograph and pet your favorite horses and talk with riders.
Kentucky Horse Park's stables are open to the public from April-October. Your host will guide you through the Draft Horse barn to see feeding, grooming, harnessing and general care of the horses. At the Draft Horse barn you will also see a short parade of some of the draft horses that pull the park's horse-drawn tour trolleys. The teams include Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, English Shires, Halflingers, Suffolks and Mammoth Mules.
If you want to learn more, take a behind-the-scenes van tour of other equine-related facilities in the area, including Kentucky Horse Parks' world renowned Bluegrass horse farms. The 2 1/2-hour tour will take you to the grounds of historic estates of the Bluegrass region as well as new, multi-million dollar farms. You will meet famous thoroughbred horses and hear stories about individuals and horses that make Lexington, Kentucky the self-proclaimed Horse Capital of the World. If you prefer a shorter visit, a narrated trolley tour of the scenic park grounds is available in the summer and an informative walk through the grounds in the winter.
The park grounds are a lovely place to take a peaceful walk or have a picnic. The immaculate, lush and green fields are surrounded with miles of white fencing, old trees, and a brook. The restored barns and buildings remind you of days gone by, and there are horses grazing peacefully everywhere you look. Beautiful sculptures and statues can be found throughout the park.
The racetrack and show ring are the most exciting parts of the park, brought to life by the elite group of champion horses that reside at the Hall of Champions. Here Thoroughbred legends Cigar and John Henry, champion American Saddlebred CH Gypsy Supreme, and Standardbred pacers Western Dreamer and Staying Together are shown in daily presentations from March 15-October 31st. Visit the Memorial Walk of Champions, the final resting place of some of the finest horses of the past three decades. Eight-time Eclipse Award winner Forego, 1976 Kentucky Derby winner Bold Forbes, American Saddlebred champions CH Imperator and CH Sky Watch as well as Standardbred stars Rambling Willlie and Cam Fella all are buried among the beautifully manicured lane behind the Hall of Champions.
If you have time, stop in at the theater to see "Thou Shalt Fly Without Wings," a movie that focuses on man's relationship with the horse, or visit the International Museum of the Horse, the largest of its kind in the world. Learn about what some believe to be the 55-million-year history of this incredible animal. Exhibits include a collection of 19th-century horse-drawn carriages and racing vehicles. The Horse in Sport Gallery displays contemporary uses of the horse in competition.
Each year the Kentucky Horse Park is host to a number of special events and horse shows in addition to the many competitions and educational events held throughout the year. If you're here at the right time, attend one of these races, shows or exhibitions. Also, changing exhibits of equine art are displayed in the museum's Special Exhibitions Galleries. Several other museums in the park, the W. Paul Little Cultural and Learning Center, the American Saddlebred Museum, help visitors learn more about horses. The Kentucky Horse Park Education Department offers classes and programs for both adults and kids where everyone can learn more about horseback riding and equine care. Horse and pony rides are also available. A 45-minute guided-trail ride brings you on horseback through the countryside around the park. In the Farrier Shop, the blacksmith exhibits his iron-pounding craft and provides visitors the opportunity to watch the age-old art of horse shoeing.
The park's cafeteria-style Clubhouse Restaurant is located behind the visitor center. In addition, a snack bar is located under the trees near the park's historic Big Barn, home to mares and foals. The Grill on the Hill, beside the main show office, also offers light fare.
The park has its own campground, so visitors willing to sleep under the stars can make themselves at home. The campground has 260 paved campsites nestled amid the park's 1,200 acres of Bluegrass countryside. A grocery and gift shop, two bathhouses with modern conveniences and a laundromat are available. You can also play tennis and basketball on lighted courts. Afterward, cool off in the junior Olympic-size swimming pool, or try your hand at pitching horse shoes, croquet, or even square dancing in the recreation pavilion. In addition to planned activities and games led by a Kentucky Horse Park recreational leader, your children will enjoy swimming or playing in the playground.
The drive out to the park is part of the fun of getting there. The beautiful ride takes you through deep green grasslands of Kentucky's countryside, past barns and horse farms. It is located off of KY 1973 (Iron Works Pike) and Interstate 75 in northern Fayette County, Kentucky.