Kentucky Horse Park

The office here at the campground sells tickets for the The Kentucky Horse Park. The ticket for the American Saddlebred Museum is included in with the price for the Kentucky Horse Park.

The American Saddlebred Museum is located inside the Kentucky Horse Park (they share the same parking lot). At the American Saddlebred Museum we learned about this special breed of horse. They were ridden by the frontiersmen & farmers in the cavalry in the American Revolution. They accompanied the pioneers west into Kentucky & into the Western Frontier. They served in all the wars & battles up to the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee's Traveller, General Grant's Cincinnati, General Sherman's Lexington, & General Stonewall Jackson's Little Sorrell, were all American Saddle horses. The American Saddle Horse also served on the Confederate side in the commands of Generals John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest.

From Lexington, KY

After entering through the Main Gate of the Kentucky Horse Park complex, you pass by the statue of Secretariat.

From Lexington, KY

A pathway to our left lead to the Man O' War Memorial. Along the pathway we came upon a blue post marked "Start" & farther on down 3 more posts. These posts show the various length of strides of past racing champions. The left orange pole shows Secretariats 24 ft. stride. The center orange pole shows John Henry's 25½ ft. stride. The orange pole on the right shows Man O' War's 28 ft. stride.

From Lexington, KY

In the International Museum of the Horse we learned about the evolution of the horse through the ages. There were displays of various saddles, bridles, wagons, transportation vehicles through history.

We attended the Parade of Breeds show that highlights some of the different breeds at the Kentucky Horse Park. Among the breeds we saw during the show, were the Nokota (descended from North Dakota wild horses), Marwari (India), Spanish Mustang, Arabian, & the Friesian (Friesland in northern Finland).

From Lexington, KY

From Lexington, KY

We then visited the draft horses in their barn, viewed horse farm equipment & various horse-drawn carriages. We really enjoyed our visit to the museums - the horses were beautiful & the displays were great.

I have more photos from both museums in our Lexington, KY album.