The Kentucky Horse Park, located on over 1,200 acres in the heart of Kentucky, is a competition facility, working horse farm, and tourist destination. The Park brings nearly a million guests to Central Kentucky annually including tourists, competitors, owners, and spectators.
For more information about the Kentucky Horse Park, please visit kyhorsepark.com or call 859-259-4200
The American Saddlebred Museum is the Kentucky Horse Park’s “Showplace for Saddlebreds.” A recent, extensive renovation of both the museum and the gift shop allows you to experience Kentucky’s oldest native breed of horse at its finest.
The Kentucky Horse Park Main Gate welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year.
Start your day at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Visitor Center where you can purchase tickets and ask questions. Be sure to check out the Kentucky Horse Park’s Gift Shop at the end of your visit.
The Kentucky Horse Park is proud to showcase green space at the Park. Planted by dedicated Kentucky Horse Park volunteers, one of the gardens just behind the Visitor Center, near The Iron Works Cafe, serves as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. Filled with milkweed and nectar plants, the garden is available for Monarchs to make a permanent home, as well as a “summer home” while on their migration journey.
The IMH is the largest and most comprehensive museum in the world dedicated to exploring the important history of all horses and their impact on human civilization. Through its ever-growing library and archives, it also serves as a resource for scholars and researchers throughout the world.
Enjoy a quiet respite and delicious meal at this equine themed, Iron Works Café.
The Kentucky Horse Park Playground and Pavilion are open for all ages to enjoy and take a break.
Explore the Park’s beautiful countryside on horseback. Horseback and pony rides are available April through October.
With music, narration, and audience interaction, humankind’s six-thousand-year partnership with the horse is brought to life. From the rare Marwari to the iconic American Quarter Horse, breed representatives perform in hand and under saddle. During the summer season, breed representatives perform in colorful attire that evokes the culture, time period, and customs of their native land. During the spring and fall seasons, the demonstration is more casual in nature.
The Farrier Shop displays a variety of tools used to trim and shoe horses.
The Tack Shop is an interactive exhibit of how tack is made and maintained.
The excitement of the racetrack is brought to life by the elite group of champion horses that reside at the park’s Hall of Champions. Here, Thoroughbred legends Da Hoss, Funny Cide, and Go for Gin, as well as American Quarter Horse Be A Bono, Standardbred Trotter Mr. Muscleman, and Standardbred Pacers Western Dreamer and Won The West are shown in daily presentations.
The Big Barn is utilized to house our beautiful draft horses and special weekend equine guests, as well as various horses from other equine departments on the Park. Visitors are encouraged to visit this historic barn throughout the day to see the various breeds being groomed and harnessed in preparation for pulling the trolleys. Visitors can also view the amazing carriages on display.
The Kids Barn is an interactive facility with hands-on educational activities that are guaranteed to capture every guest’s attention. Kids have the opportunity to help our friendly staff groom horses, go on scavenger hunts, and jump their own course of fences, on foot, in the “Champion’s Arena” located in the grassy area right beside the barn. Both children and adults can learn about the basics of horses and how to care for them. Included with park admission, the Kids Barn activities are sure to keep the young and young-at-heart engaged and entertained.
The Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Police Stables are located in the center of the Park where officers provide daily barn tours and perform their patrol duties either by horseback, motor vehicle, on foot or golf cart. Mounted Patrols are effective for crowd control in many ways. They are the first responders in emergency situations and play an important role in helping the park both daily and during special events.
Visitors may tour the scenic Kentucky Horse Park grounds in a trolley pulled by two of our beautiful draft horses daily throughout the summer season (weather permitting). This informative 8-10 minute tour provides a chance to learn more about the features, history, and current events of the Kentucky Horse Park.
The National Horse Center is headquarters for more than 30 national, regional, and state equine organizations and associations.
Headquarters for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.
The Alltech arena boasts a 135’ x 300 championship-size show ring with 5,290 general stadium seats and 222 VIP box seats. Many prestigious competitions are held at the Alltech Arena, including the National Horse Show.
The Covered Arena hosts a 130 x 300 championship-size show ring and accommodates 1,174 spectators. Many local and national equine competitions are held in the Covered Arena.
The Dressage Complex is home to many local and national Dressage competitions.
Man o’ War was unquestionably the most famous Thoroughbred who ever lived. The Kentucky Horse Park pays tribute to this truly legendary horse with a majestic bronze sculpture and memorial at his grave-site.
