SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, April 27 2015 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Horse Capital of the World

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photos courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Lexington and The Kentucky Horse Park

By Lauren R. Giannini

The Kentucky Horse Park, dedicated to horses and their relationship with humans, is nestled north of Lexington. A veritable jewel, it comprises bluegrass, rolling pastures and paddocks behind white board fencing with tree-lined lanes that wind through its 1,224 acres. In 2010, the attention of the global horse world focused on the Kentucky Horse Park when it served as the venue for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, contested by 800 competitors from 57 countries.

Kentucky 1

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Described as an educational theme park and working horse farm, the Kentucky Horse Park offers a wonderland of equine-related attractions, including the International Museum of the Horse (a Smithsonian affiliate), Hall of Champions Presentation, Breeds Barn Show, educational programs, demonstrations and competitions. Visitors can take a walking barn tour that features famous horses retired at the park. Photographic opportunities abound, including the memorial to the great Man o’ War. More than 30 national, regional and state horse organizations, including the U.S. Equestrian Federation, are headquartered in the National Horse Center at Kentucky Horse Park.

Kentucky 4

The Kentucky Horse Park attracts 800,000 visitors each year.
(Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Kentucky 2

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park.
(Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

World Class Shows

In 1974, the U.S. Equestrian Team and Bruce Davidson won Team and Individual Gold at the World Three-Day Championships held at Burghley, England. This gave the U.S.A. the option of hosting the next World Championship and site choice was easy with the horse park already in the planning stages. The first horse trials took place at the new facility in 1976. Two years later, the Kentucky Horse Park welcomed the world — Bruce defended his Individual Gold medal and Canada won Team Gold, West Germany Team Silver and U.S.A. Team Bronze. This set the stage for the annual event, now known as Rolex Kentucky, to grow exponentially and, in 1991, became the one and only four-star international three-day competition in the Western Hemisphere.

Spectators watch as the horses round the first turn at historic Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY.

Keeneland racing (Photo by Jeff Rogers, VisitLex.com)

The Kentucky Horse Park’s calendar is filled year-round with competitions and shows from hunters and jumpers to dressage, reining, saddle seat and more. The park also hosts the annual USEF Pony Finals, North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, the High Hope Steeplechase and, for hobby enthusiasts, Breyerfest. In 2011, the National Horse Show, founded in 1883, moved to the Kentucky Horse Park. Even without an interest in equestrian competition, the park is a beautiful destination enjoyed every year by about 800,000 visitors from all over the world.

Kentucky 5

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Kentucky 6

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Roots in Americana

In 1777, Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty, or give me death.”) granted 9,000 acres of land located in the Kentucky territory to his brother-in-law. In 1792, the territory became the 15th state of the Union. That land passed through several hands, albeit always populated by horses, until 1972 when one vital parcel was sold to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It became the first park ever dedicated to the relationship between horses and humans and the rest, as they say, is history.

Kentucky 7

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

Kentucky 8

Scenes from The Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo courtesy of The Kentucky Horse Park)

The Kentucky Horse Park boasts a complex of buildings and amenities including a campground with RV parking pads and primitive sites which, combined with the equestrian improvements such as the Rolex Stadium (outdoor) and Alltech Arena (indoor), the original indoor arena and several outdoor rings, add up to a great place for equestrian competitions, garden shows, trade fairs and conventions. The Lexington area abounds with great restaurants, lodging and its own attractions, including museums, distilleries and breweries (think Kentucky bourbon and ale), visual and performing arts, and graceful carriage rides through historic Lexington.

Kentucky 10

A carriage in Gratz Park, Lexington, Kentucky.
(Photo by Jeff Rogers, VisitLex.com)

For more information visit kyhorsepark.com and www.visitlex.com.

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: Kentucky, lauren r. giannini, lexington, sidelines-magazine, The Kentucky Horse Park

What you can read next

Unbridled With Michael Britt-León
Peter Brant
Jumping Cross-Country – Part 2 with Boyd Martin

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • AMARE EQUUS MASSAGE
    Ortho-bionomy & Acupressure www.AmareEquus.com 561-251-5425

    [Read more]

  • Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation
    “Industry Leader for Domestic Flights” East Coast (352)497-6062 West Coast (626)482-2923 www.Texsutton.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Steffen Peters: Grateful to Pursue the American Dream 

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Lori Ovanessian ...
  • Taylor Land: A Positive Outlook on Show Jumping

    By Cheyenne Lord Portraits by Kristie Scholten ...
  • Unbridled With John Roper

    By Britney Grover     John Roper absolutel...
  • Unbridled with Bev Bedard

    By Britney Grover     Other than leaving f...
  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!