LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2012) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s 34th season is set to begin Thursday, March 15, when the park returns to its regular hours of 9am to 5pm daily through November 4. Visitors will be entertained and delighted as the park features special events and themed weekends throughout the season.
Highlights of this season will include the park’s newest attraction, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses in the Kids Barn each day.
Also new this season is a daily show called “Horses of the World,” which is an updated and energized version of the traditional Parade of Breeds show. It’s a perfect opportunity for park visitors to watch and learn about some of the horse breeds that may not be familiar and will include horses representing some of the park’s many different breeds from as far away as India, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Europe.
The park’s latest blockbuster, “The Horse,” will be in its final weeks of exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse. It can be viewed through April 6, at which time it will move to San Diego, CA.
Another museum exhibit, “Where were you in ’62? Saddlebreds, the Museum and the Sixties,” will be on view through the end of the year in the Showplace for Saddlebreds at the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop at the park.
In addition, the Kentucky Horse Park will host literally dozens of horse shows, dog shows, special breeds weekends, and other events, most of which are included with park admission.
Educational classes and youth riding programs will be offered once again through the park’s education department.
Daily equine presentations will also include the Hall of Champions, where visitors can meet Kentucky Derby winners Go for Gin and Funny Cide. The always-popular Mare and Foal Show will be offered Memorial Day through July 31.
Events are scheduled every weekend at the park, and a full listing of these events and their dates is available at www.KyHorsePark.com.
Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12. Children six and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate – and the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.
Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov