The Kentucky Horse Park

And they're off...on yet another adventure, this time fulfilling one of the girls' bucket list items!

Our sweet relatives in Kentucky live about an hour from Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park, and it was evident from the earliest stages of our KY planning that an equine escapade was going to HAVE to be included. So bright and early Friday morning, we sent the dads off to golf, got the boys settled at home, loaded the girls up in the van, and set out for the Kentucky Horse Park!

 The park has memorials to some of the greatest racehorses of our time, such as Secretariat...

...and still houses some of the most amazing competitive horses in America, like Da Hoss (two-time Belmont winner)...

...and Mr. Muscleman, a record-breaking Standardbred trotter, who's also retired here! 

AHHHHH!!! We had to hurry by and didn't get a good look at this big guy, but still...wow!

One of the performances was this "Horses of the World"; it was fun to see a lot of different breeds in the same place.

This little Quarter Horse was cute...

And this little Chincoteague Pony! Childhood Marguerite Henry moment...

The Kentucky Horse Park has a mounted police force that patrols 24/7 over its extensive acreage. It seems very fitting to have equestrian officers! The police force primarily use draft crosses for size with athleticism. 

Cute horse!!!

And the horse girls' favorite part (if a favorite can be chosen)...a huge hunter-jumper show taking place the Friday we were there! The Horse Park had about five different rings going simultaneously, plus warm-up arenas, and there are over 2,000 stalls available for events (which are usually not enough). Add that to some of the (very) wealthy competitors, with some very high-quality horses and equipment, and it's easy to see that there is SO much money invested in this. 

     

Photography lighting was poor in this indoor arena, but it was much cooler,
so we spent most of our time in here!

On our way back from watching the show, some of the girls happened to see part of this...

...and had to make a very immediate detour!!! Coming inside the stadium, we saw this...

...and we just about flipped. 

If you zoom in on this picture, you will see that this sign advertises
the $60,000 Grand Prix the coming Sunday. Winner takes home 60 grand.
And that is not by any stretch the priciest show that's been here!

We can't believe we're here!!!

As we came back from the Rolex Stadium, we passed by the steeplechase course (the one equine sport we're probably not willing to risk) and part of the cross-country course. Victoria was drooling.

Yes, that's a cross-country jump way out there. Those people are seriously brave. 

Which is why they have to have this on site.
There's someone in the driver's seat waiting, which is just slightly unnerving if you're an equestrian. 

Still a crazy awesome sport, though. 

To wrap everything up, we went through the horse museum on site. This is one racehorse's trophy room. Do you think he was an overachiever?

Thank you, Aunt Stephanie!!! This was amazing!!!