Bob
Mounted Police Horse
My name is Bob and I am a Mounted Police Horse. It is my job to patrol the grounds with my partner, Trooper Roy Foster. I'm sort of a big guy, which is what makes me a good cop. I can be a bit intimidating at first and that makes those humans take notice and behave. Don't tell anyone, but I'm really just a big old teddy bear who loves nothing more than nuzzling the shoulder of a small child. Oh, and traffic cones beware...it is my mission in life to grab them all with my teeth and fling them out of my way!
JR
Belgian Draft Horse
Hello everyone, my name is JR and I am a Belgian standing in at 17.1 hh. I got my start as a show horse on the Windmill Acres Champion Belgian Hitch, but a little over two years ago I got to come to the Horse Park. My job here is to show visitors around the park on the trolley tours and at 11 years old I still have many good working years left. Working is one of my favorite things because I get to prance around the park and show everyone what a great hitch horse looks like. My best friend is another Belgian named John who works along side me on the trolleys. My favorite hobby is to give the humans a hard time by lifting my head as high in the air as possible when they try to put my bridle on. Hey, everybody has to have a little fun!!
Thomas
Friesian
How do you do. I am Thomas the Friesian. Everyone calls me Tom but I prefer Thomas. I am 17 years old and I stand proud at 16 hands. Friesians are the oldest domesticated breed of horse in Europe. I came to the Kentucky Horse Park in October of 2000. I love carrots, apples, and grain. My favorite person in the Breeds Barn is Kelli because she scratches my belly. I love to be hitched to a cart and driven because it makes me feel like I am in charge. I am the smartest (and most handsome) horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. While I'm not in favor of being ridden, I do like when Kelli rides me in the Medieval Ladies Side Saddle costume. After all, she needs the most handsome horse in the Breeds Barn to ride when she dresses up.
Dukke
Norwegian Fjord Horse
My name is Dukke (pronounced by people around here as dock-a) the Norwegian Fjord mare. My name is spelled funny because it's Norwegian for baby doll. I was born way back in 1987, so I'm 21 years old this year. Twenty-one may seem old, but fjord horses tend to be hardy and long-lived and with the great care I receive at the Horse Park I could still be doing light work at 30+ years old. I've spent many of my working years at the Horse Park, so you could say I've been there and done that. My favorite food is fresh, green grass, unfortunately I don't get to eat a lot of it. I'm one of those horses that just looks at green grass and gains 20 pounds (I know some of you out there can identify with me). My partner is another Norwegian Fjord mare named Gyllen Afton (aka Jill), we're like two peas in a pod and I hate to be separated from her. That's about the only thing that makes me nervous these days.
Soloman Grundy
Trakehner
Hello, my name is Solomon Grundy but you can call me Grundy. I am a noble Trakehner, and my ancestors were war horses in Prussia. I came to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1999 when I was only 6 years old. I am 18 hands tall and I weigh around 1500 lbs! My favorite thing to do is play in the paddock with all my horsy friends and roll in the mud. I love people but am a little scared of baby carriages. My favorite treats are big red apples. My favorite person on the park is Bret and he works in the Breeds Barn with me.
Corsair
American Sport Horse
Hello! I'm Corsair, a new type of warmblood (a cross between a 'hot-blood' and a 'cold-blood' type horse) called an American Sport Horse. My mom (dam) was a Belgian draft horse ('cold-blood' type) and my dad (sire) was a Quarter Horse ('hot-blood' type). By crossing these two horses you get the best of both breeds and end up with a horse like me! Because my mom was a big Belgian I have the size and strength to do well at my new job as a vaulting horse. Vaulting is essentially gymnastics and dance on horseback and I am the only horse trained for this discipline on the park. My favorite things are apples and a good scratch behind my ears. My greatest fear is flags. When flags flap in the wind you can bet I'm going to demonstrate the meaning of my name, which in French means 'one who gives chase.' You better have your running shoes on to catch me!!
Royal Ambassador King (with Albion)
English Shires
My name is King. I am one of the new English Shires in the Breeds Barn. Shires are the tallest breed of Draft horse. I am 17.2 hands tall and I weigh 2,100 lbs. My best horse friend in the Breeds Barn is Albion, who is also an English Shire. That's him on the left with Bret, and I'm on the right with Todd showing our colorful medievil knight costumes. I also love to show off in the Gentlemen's Cart with my shiny show harness because I always get my mane and tail braided with beautiful ribbons. We came to the Kentucky Horse Park in December of 2006 so we're considered the new kids on the block. Todd is my favorite person at the barn because he always sings to me when I get nervous. Sometimes when I get really nervous my bottom lip pops. My favorite treat is grain.
Charlie
Mustang
Hi, my name is Charlie and I am a 16 year-old mustang that resides and works in the Big Barn. I was born out west in the wilds of Wyoming. I came to the Kentucky Horse Park as a very young horse and was taught to be a gentle domestic horse by the nice folks that work here. I primarily serve as a trusty mount for the Mustang Troop, an inner city youth drill team that operates during the summer. I love to give those kids the opportunity to learn good horsemanship. I consider myself the most sensible of all the mustangs, so I prefer to be the leader. My least favorite things are to be bathed and clipped, but the humans insist we be clean and trimmed before a parade. However, I do love any kind of attention and the Mustang Troopers are my favorite people.
Savvy
Thoroughbred
Hi! My name is Savvy and I am a 4 yr. old Thoroughbred that recently moved here to the Kentucky Horse Park. I am the son of Thunder Gulch, the 1995 Kentucky Derby winner. Not to brag but I was an integral part of the recent KHP Media Day and enjoyed being a part of the live equine emergency cast demonstration (although I wasn't quite sure how one minute I was fine and the next I was broken). I also enjoy being a part of the North American Racing Academy, although I do have one complaint about my new home; I am a LITTLE fearful of the great big horses with the trolley. I won't have to do that will I?
Northland Cutter - "Cutter"
Thoroughbred
Hi! My name is Cutter. I’m a handsome 3 yr. old Thoroughbred who was rescued by the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) after a tragic accident on the racetrack. However, thank to a partnership between the Kentucky Horse Park and KyEHC I’m mending well with the help of the students of the North American Racing Academy. My hectic life on the track has been replaced with lazy days at the park and hand-walking and pats from the staff. My favorite thing in the world is peppermints, and I also love looking out my window as my friends go out to play. Although I can’t go out right now, I can’t wait until I can run and kick up my heels again.
Northland Cutter - "Cutter"
Thoroughbred
Hi! My name is Cutter. I’m a handsome 3 yr. old Thoroughbred who was rescued by the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) after a tragic accident on the racetrack. However, thanks to a partnership between the Kentucky Horse Park and KyEHC I’m mending well with the help of the students of the North American Racing Academy. My hectic life on the track has been replaced with lazy days at the park and hand-walking and pats from the staff. My favorite thing in the world is peppermints, and I also love looking out my window as my friends go out to play. Although I can’t go out right now, I can’t wait until I can run and kick up my heels again.
JuneBug
Appaloosa
Hello! I’m JuneBug, I’m 4 yrs old and I’m the most ADORABLE appaloosa ever. And I mean EVER! I just moved to the Kentucky Horse Park education department from the KyEHC so I can continue my education as a riding horse. Although I have my basics I’m pretty rusty, and in order to find my forever home I have to be PERFECT! So here I am enjoying my new home and horsey friends, and loving the chance to be very scholarly. Come and visit anytime!
Summer
Paint
Introducing. . . . . Summer! That’s me. I’m an American Paint Horse and have been at the park roughly four years. During that time I have had many jobs. My most recent, and definitely most fun is learning tricks. I’ve got a lot up my sleeves, but the best ones are my ability to bow and wave to the crowd. My favorite person at the park is Kelli Mardell. When visiting the park you can also come and see my son, Britches who is a resident of the education department. He looks a lot like me, but I don’t think he’s quite as handsome!
Dartagnan
Arabian
Once upon a time there was a little grey Arabian from California named Dartangnan. . . . That’s my story, but I prefer to be called Dart. I am a proud representative of my breed in the Parade of Breeds and you can usually find me strutting my stuff in costume during the shows. I’m one of the smaller horses in the department but I definitely make up for it in personality! I am loving my new home but I am just a teensy bit nervous about the upcoming Kentucky winter!
Ben
English Shire
I’m Ben the English Shire and I’ve made quite a name for myself. Not only am I a favorite in the Draft Barn but I have a large following at a local veterinary clinic where I was a resident for quite some time following a colic surgery. I missed my best buddy Burt so much while recovering that they made room for him in a stall right beside me! We became an instant hit at the clinic full of Thoroughbreds. Although I was very sick for many weeks I am now fully recovered and eager to start back as an integral part of the Horse Drawn Trolley team. I'm a 17.1h gentle giant weighing in at a little over 2000 pounds! Come and visit me anytime, I love to meet new people!
Ned
Suffolk Punch
So, I’m Ned the Suffolk, but I’ve earned the name knucklehead Ned because, well lets face it, I’m stubborn. I pride myself on being one of the strongest draft horse breeds even though I’m the smallest in stature. I am a representative of the only breed of draft horse that was specifically bred for farm work. However, at the park I have it pretty easy as a tour guide of sorts, pulling visitors on the Horse Drawn Tours. My full brother and trolley partner, Doc, is almost a spitting image of myself. Together I think we make a pretty schnazzy pair.
Roanie
Quarter Horse
My names Roanie, I’m an American Quarter Horse and at 24 yrs old I’m one of the old but wise folks at the horse park. I’m a been there, done that kind of guy. I got my start in life as a ranch horse out west, and was then used extensively on the trails in Colorado. Upon coming east, I became a staple officer in the Mounted Police string at the horse park and have worked all the major events here and at the state Capitol. I even got to be a part of Governor Beshear’s inaugural parade. I like my duty of serving the people of Kentucky and others that come to visit the park. I was definitely made for this job.
