The Horses and Hope Trail Ride is being hosted on September 18, 2011 by Kentucky's First Lady, Jane Beshear.

Tolley Graves, American Saddlebred Museum
859-259-2746 ext 304
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WGC CHWILD-EYED & WICKED
 BRONZE AND COURTYARD DEDICATED

LEXINGTON, KY - At 11:30 a.m. on July 16, 2011, Sally and Joe Jackson hosted the unveiling and dedication of the WGC CHWild-Eyed & Wicked bronze and courtyard seating area at the American Saddlebred Museum. 

The ½-life size bronze portrays the two-time World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited horse at the rack and was sculpted by his owner Sally McClure Jackson. A noted artist, Jackson’s works are in the collections of the United States Equestrian Federation, the Kentucky Horse Park, and Lord Westmorland of London, England, among others.

A crowd gathered to hear Museum Executive Director Tolley Graves give a brief explanation of the origin of the Museum’s sculpture Garden and thank the Jacksons for their generous donation of not only the magnificent sculpture but also the beautifully designed courtyard seating area. Located to the left of the main entrance to the Showplace For Saddlebreds, the bronze serves as a focal point, drawing visitors from within the Horse Park to the Museum. Signage affixed to the base of the bronze gives a brief Saddlebred history along with an explanation of the breed’s gaits. The multi world’s champion gelding was also a two-time winner of the American Saddlebred Triple Crown among other awards throughout his stellar show career. CHWild-Eyed & Wicked is buried outside the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions.

The museum is open daily from 9-6. For more information contact museum curator Kim Skipton at 859/259-2746 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Photo (top) by Kentucky Images.  Photo (bottom) sculptor Sally McClure Jackson with her sculpture courtesy of American Saddlebred Museum..

This weekend, come out for the Chris Cox Horsemanship Clinic, Jul 23-24, 9am to 5pm both days, 7:30 Cowboy Church on Sunday. Free admission! For more information call 888-814-6773 or www.chris-cox.com,  www.ridethejourney.com

From the moment the 7/8 Arabian pinto colt, TS Black Tie Affair, was born in 1990, it was clear he would be something special. "Tie" as he is called, is by Tardar out of EVG Lady Di.

Tie’s phenomenal career has included winning 22 Pinto World and Reserve World Championships, two Pinto All-Around Pleasure High Point titles, multiple halter, dressage, English and Western pleasure titles, competitive trail championships including 2000 Pinto Trail Horse of the Year, the Pinto Horse Association’s Open Supreme Championship and, in 2010, the Arabian Horse Association Ambassador Award.

Tie will be appearing at the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend, July 15-17, 2011 for BreyerFest.  He also has his own Breyer model horse.  Watch a video that we shot today, July 15, at the park, then come out and meet him in person!

The ground shakes with the sound of thundering hooves before you even glimpse the impressive six-horse hitch. As the dust clears, the award-winning Priefert Percherons charge into the arena driven by the talented Jason Goodman. Performing for more than six million people a year at expos and fairs across the country, the Priefert Hitch presents a show that is remembered long after the dust settles.

From a simulated “docking” of the freight wagon to the team’s signature “spin the top” with the horses emerging from the spin at the “stagecoach run,” impressive maneuvers are their specialty. While the hitch must work as a team to complete a maneuver, each horse has a distinct position and role to ensure success.

The mighty Kong has a unique responsibility as a wheel horse. Wheelers, as they are sometimes called, are always the largest horses in the hitch and are positioned closest to the wagon. They are also the only horses that have a special piece of harness called breeching, a wide strap that wraps around the horse’s rump and acts as a breaking system. This means that the wheel horses are the only horses in the hitch that have the ability to stop and/or back-up the wagon and because of this, wheel horses need to be big and strong.

Standing 19 hands tall, Kong is certainly big and strong. According to his handlers, he has a “Kong-sized” appetite and will eat just about anything! He is the leader of the pack, no matter how many other horses are with him or who is sharing his paddock.

True celebrities of the equine world, Kong and the Priefert Percherons have appeared at the National Finals Rodeo, the San Antonio Stock Show, the Calgary Stampede, the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Bishop Mule Days and dozens of other PRCA rodeos.

Watch a video that we shot of Kong on July 15, then meet him in person at BreyerFest this weekend, July 15-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park!

Mighty, magnificent and an outstanding athlete, Andalusian stallion Kripton-Seni II embodies all the stellar characteristics of his breed and then some!

Since he was imported from Spain in 2004 by Californians Joe and Nancy Latta, Kripton- Seni II has won 12 national championships and eight national reserve championships. He has also won 14 regional championships and four regional reserve championships. In 2009, he was a United States Equestrian Federation Horse of Honor and was one of five USEF finalists for Horse of the Year. In 2008, the show committee of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association named him Horse of the Year. Those honors reflect the versatility of this 16.3-hand bay.

Kripton has been victorious in Halter, Hunt Seat Pleasure, Western Pleasure and in Dressage Suitability and Hack with the Latta family members as well as their trainer Sandy Shields. Kripton also performs out of the show ring.He’s participated in California’s Fiesta of the Spanish Horse and has joined the marchers in the Tournament of the Roses parade where he carried Shields with grace and aplomb.

Meet Krypton this weekend at BreyerFest, July 15-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park!

This weekend, July 15-17, you can meet Sato, a Thoroughbred who is an extremely rare palomino pinto sabino.

This 16-hand stallion is registered with The Jockey Club and the American Paint Horse Association.

He has the flashy coloration of a Paint and the sleek, elegant conformation of a Thoroughbred, making him one show-stopping piece of equine eye candy. Sato will be appearing courtesy of BreyerFest so come out and see him!

Watch a video of him, shot at the Kentucky Horse Park on July 14, 2011:

Meet the Kentucky Equine Humane Center's adoptable horse of the week: Derby! 

Derby is a 4-year-old Thoroughbred mare, 15.3 hands, who is busy absorbing all kinds of new experiences at KyEHC.  She is cautious yet curious when introduced to new objects and obstacles but is learning to explore her new world more confidently.

Derby gets along in a herd with both mares and geldings. She is sound for any discipline, a quick learner, and ready for a new home and career. 

For more information about her or any of the other adoptable horses at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.kyehc.org

Help Us Plant FREE TREES in Kentucky!

The Kentucky State Parks have an opportunity to acquire funding to plant trees through the "Odwalla Plant a Tree" program. 

Please click on the link below to vote for Kentucky, then forward this to your friends.  It will only take a few seconds and won't cost a penny.  You can plant one for each of your email addresses.  You can also plant one additional tree per email by using the code ODWSPR. 

Your votes can help us reforest our state parks, which will be a benefit to everyone!

Thank you! 

Just click here:  Plant trees in Kentucky!