We have lived in Central Kentucky for just over 20 years. The Lexington area is known as the Horse Capital of the World, and for good reason, the area is noted for its limestone enriched fertile soil, its excellent pastureland and the perfect place for bluegrass to grow. The area is known for its scenic beauty and manicured landscapes. Sometimes one needs only go into their own backyard to enjoy the ride.. Following are a few “Horse Photos” that I have taken around Central Kentucky, some scenic, but mainly horse art that I come across.
HORSE FARMS AND HORSES OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY
With hundreds of horse farms in the area supporting it, Thoroughbred Racing is a huge industry in Central Kentucky. But there are many other events that occur here as well, especially with the world famous Kentucky Horse Park.
Along with the horse activities are the expansive horse farms with their signature black plank fences and their massive horse barns.
HORSE ART IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY
With so much involved around horses in Central Kentucky, it is no wonder that there is an abundance of horse art to be found in the area. There are numerous paintings and murals and dozens of horse statues dotting the region. Here is just a smattering of what I have come across in my travels around Lexington and the surrounding area.
As a side note on the above two photos of Morgan and Castleman. These are both on the National Register of Historic Places and are the only two Civil War Monuments in Kentucky with equestrians.
THOROUGHBRED PARK – LEXINGTON
Perhaps the shining monument of horse art in Lexington (and Central Kentucky) is Thoroughbred Park. This 2.5 acre park, with its fountains and benches and walking paths offers a splendid retreat. It also provides a unique history of the thoroughbred. The park contains 42 plaques honoring historic figures in the thoroughbred industry, and has 13 life-sized horse sculptures, including the seven horses storming down a track towards the finish line of a race. All of the horse art in this park was done by Lexington artist Gwen Reardon. Following are a few scenes from the park.
ARTSY HORSES – HORSE MANIA 2010 AND MORE
In July 2010, LexArts, a community organization dedicated to the promotion of art in Lexington, created a fund raising project called Horse Mania 2010, which featured 82 painted fiberglass horses that dotted the streets of Lexington. Since that time, many of these were purchased and added to private collections in Kentucky and elsewhere, but some are still visible on the streets of the city. The complete set can be seen HERE and all are clickable to see the whole story behind each one. Following are a few that I have captured over the past three years.
Obviously, there is much more art to be found. The Kentucky Horse Park has a dozen or more outdoor sculptures, photos of which can be seen here. There are also more to be found in surrounding towns such as Paris, Versailles, Cynthiana, Richmond, Danville and more. Its a great place to visit and an even better place to live!!