July 15, 2006: Lexington

Lexingtonians have an obsession with horses that far transcends the Seattleite mania for boats. It’s not a hobby; it’s a way of life. More thoroughbreds are bred in this area than anywhere else in the world. According to Meryl, this is partly a result of the underlying limestone, which gives the bluegrass plenty of calcium, strengthening the horses’ bones. Glancing at a Kentucky map is instructive: Louisville merits only a small inset, while Lexington requires much greater detail in order to indicate the location of every horse farm and breeder in the area – hundreds in all.

To get a taste of this fascination with all things equine and equestrian, we spent the afternoon at Kentucky Horse Park, where we learned more than we ever thought we needed to know about horses and their role in history, warfare, transportation, farming, art, and above all, sport – not just thoroughbred racing, though that is the focus, but also harness racing, steeplechase, dressage, hunting, rodeo, polo, and much more. The fine International Museum of the Horse introduced us to these and other topics, including evolution, breeding, grooming, training, saddling, riding, Gypsy horses, Buffalo soldiers, and even the samurai and racing traditions of Japan. Its collection also encompasses hundreds of racing trophies and horse-drawn vehicles.

The park presents several interesting shows featuring a variety of horse breeds and costumed riders (that’s an appaloosa on the left and a paso fino on the right).

We watched a mare and foal show in the Big Barn

and a saddlebred and thoroughbred show in the Hall of Champions, which paraded such champions as John Henry and Cigar. These names will not mean much to most readers of this blog, but they are instantly recognizable to lovers of horse racing, having been voted horses of the decade in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.

At the Breeds Barn, we saw both a Western show of quarterhorse tricks hosted by a singing cowboy

and a parade of breeds.

Here's a Gypsy breed

and a Spanish breed. They are magnificent animals.

Tommy went for his first horseback ride with his Aunt Meryl,

and Danny rode not a pony but a minature horse. As you would expect, one really has to watch one’s step at this park. Adult horses eat about 20 pounds of hay and grain a day and drink up to 10 gallons of water, and it all needs to go somewhere!

Secretariat, one of the greatest horses in racing history, is buried at Kentucky Horse Park.

Meryl, ever the handywoman, changed our car's oil this evening along with her own car's oil. Thanks for the help and hospitality!