Holiday Area: Fun Horse-Related Places to Go in Kentucky

If you're a horse-lover and haven't been to the Bluegrass state -- go. If you don't care for horses -- go anyway. If the only horse you ever rode was a herky-jerky, brain-shaking, plastic hulk at the mall that ignored “Giddy-up!” until Mom fed it quarters, by all means you're due for a trip to Kentucky. There's a world of up-close and real equine encounters waiting -- from spectator events to in-the-saddle excitement. No matter where you've traveled, a visit to the "Horse Capital of the World" is sure to become an odds-on favorite.

Go to Horse Heaven

There are farms, and then there are Lexington horse farms – idyllic expanses of rolling bluegrass and long stretches of crisp white fence holding fillies, foals and all their friends for you to visit. Of the nearly 450 working horse farms in the Bluegrass Region, roughly a third welcome visitors. Guided group tours are the most popular way to go and are usually offered year-round. Make reservations in advance, especially during peak breeding or Derby season. For a more leisurely, in-depth visit, book a customized tour or call a farm of your choice and ask for a personal look-around. They won't charge admission, but the groom or employee is customarily tipped. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be aware that you can't feed, pet, ride or sit on the horses.

A Very Spectacular Park

Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park is an equine wonderland with tourist attractions, competition facilities, restaurants, gift shops and a 260-site campground. Hit the interactive Kids Barn, the Big Barn housing draft horses and the Hall of Champions. If it's summer, see the Horses of the World show featuring riders in authentic costume showcasing each breed. The park's International Museum of the Horse, affiliated with the Smithsonian, exhibits horse-related fine art, photography, horse-drawn vehicles and the stunning Calumet Farm trophy collection. Attend a horse competition or go on your own pony and horseback rides. Don't forget to pay respects to Man o' War, the greatest thoroughbred of them all, buried on the grounds. The park is open year-round.
Stop Horsing Around and Ride

You can horseback ride to your heart's content in Kentucky, but if you don't have your own mount in tow or need lessons first, head to a stable. Whispering Woods Trails, north of Lexington, offers instruction for beginners and trails suitable for all experience levels. Riders must be 8 years old and know how to rein a horse before setting off. Horses are rented by the hour, and must be reserved in advance. Sunburst Horsemanship School in Nicholasville, just outside Lexington, offers instruction tailored to those visiting the area who wish to ride, including tidbits about horse psychology.

Coming Down the Homestretch!

You may not be able to do the Derby, but you can still do the Downs. Louisville's Churchill Downs, with its iconic twin spires, hosts thoroughbred races from late April through late June, all through the month of September and again from late October through late November. Get tickets through their website. Make time for the Kentucky Derby Museum on the grounds where a “time machine” shows race footage and jockey interviews dating to 1918. There is also a soundproof booth where you can try your hand at calling a race, and the world's first 360-degree, high-def film presentation brings each year's Derby to life.

Sleep, Eat and Saddle Up

Create a memorable Bluegrass getaway at a bed and breakfast where you can also saddle up. At First Farm Inn's elegant 1870s farmhouse in Petersburg, Kentucky -- 20 minutes from Cincinnati -- you can take advantage of horsemanship lessons before going out for a two-hour ride around the hills. Homemade breakfasts, friendly pets, a rowing pond and porch swings create a comfortable getaway.