Kentucky Horse Park Highlights
One of the best things about the USPC Festival is the location. The Kentucky Horse Park is not only an amazing world-class competition facility, it’s also full of horsey things to see and do. If you love horses, coming to the Kentucky Horse Park just might be better than Disneyland.
Be sure to see all that the Kentucky Horse Park has to offer while you are attending the USPC Festival 2021 Presented by SSG Riding Gloves, Sponsored by State Line Tack. Each registered Festival participant receives a free admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, which can be picked up at the Main Show Office on Nina Bonnie Blvd. or the Information Booth in the Covered Arena. Admission includes the horse-drawn trolley tour and access to the museums and daily shows. Check here for the daily schedule and visitor information, and see below for some of the Kentucky Horse Park’s top attractions to put on your Festival bucket list.
Hall of Champions
The Kentucky Horse Park is home to living legends from the horse world. Kentucky Derby winners Funny Cide and Go for Gin reside in the Hall of Champions, along with a lineup of outstanding Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. Visit these elite equines in the barn and be sure the catch one of the daily presentations to hear about their accomplishments. Many other famous horses are honored in the Memorial Walk of Champions nearby.
Meet the Breeds
If you want to meet a Morgan or a Marwari, the Breed Barn at the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to do it! The Breed Barn is home to 20 different horse breeds from the exotic Akhal-Teke to all-American favorites like the Appaloosa and Quarter Horse. The Kentucky Horse Park is one of the few places where you can see so many horse breeds in one setting. Visitors can enjoy the Parade of Breeds for a daily live demonstration that showcases the characteristics and culture of the different breeds, bringing horse history to life.
Belgians, Percherons, and Clydesdales, oh my! Draft horses live in the Big Barn and also work around the Horse Park. Visit the big guys up close for one of the daily Stall Side Chats, and learn all about these gentle giants. Afterwards, enjoy a photo op— selfie with a Shire or Suffolk Punch, anyone? You’ll also see them on the job around the park giving trolley tours to Horse Park guests. There’s no better way for horse lovers to tour the grounds!
Spot the Statues
How many famous horse statues you can spot at the Kentucky Horse Park? You’ll be greeted by Man O’ War as you drive in the main entrance, and you can find Secretariat over by the Visitor Center. The statue of eventer Bruce Davidson riding Eagle Lion outside of the Rolex Stadium is a popular place to pose for photos. One of the newest sculptures to visit is Sergeant Reckless, the brave war horse who served the US. Click here for the full list of statues on display and the stories behind them.
Indoor Attractions
Take a walk through horse history with a visit to the International Museum of the Horse, featuring 60,000 square feet of exhibitions dedicated to the unique relationship between horses and humans through time. Other museums to explore on site include the Al-Marah Arabian Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum. In addition to the trade fair shopping in the covered arena, you can search for the perfect souvenir in the Kentucky Horse Park gift shop at the visitor center, as well as the American Saddlebred Museum gift shop.
Guided Trail Rides
Even if you didn’t bring your horse to Festival, you can still see the Kentucky Horse Park from the saddle on one of the guided trail rides around the park. Rides are $25, and same-day reservations can be made at the Visitor Center.
Find more Kentucky tourism tips here on the blog:
https://blog.ponyclub.org/2021/05/21/uspc-festival-2021-bluegrass-tour-guide/
