Search Results for: blog kentucky horse park a horse lovers dream vacation

Save on the Souvenir Experience

When budgeting for a dream vacation, don’t forget to include the cost of souvenirs.  After all, you want to take home at least one tangible memory of your ultimate getaway… and hopefully, it’s not just the toiletries from your hotel. These days several properties are making it easier and more affordable for guests to leave their favorite vacation destinations with souvenirs that will last longer than a plastic dashboard hula dancer.  The select hotels are offering guests a chance to make their own souvenirs via classes, workshops, and other creative hands-on programs. Some of the most popular include: The Viceroy … Continue reading →

Raced to Death: Is the Kentucky Derby Cursed?

I wonder if that’s what the horses whisper amongst themselves in their stables. “Who’s it going to be next?” they might whinny to each other. If I was a racehorse being groomed to run the Kentucky Derby next year I might wonder such a thing. Especially after the bad luck that befell Barbaro a couple of years ago and then Eight Bells this year. (Although Barbaro didn’t sustain his career-ending injuries at the Kentucky Derby. That happened two weeks later at the Preakness.) Or maybe the track at Churchill Downs isn’t cursed. Maybe racehorses die every day, and not necessarily … Continue reading →

Where to Spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Other Vacation Options

In three days the United States will honor Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been the civil rights leader’s 79th birthday. Festivities marking the occasion are planned throughout the country with larger celebrations taking place at major civil rights landmarks. Organizers of this weekend’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations expect an attendance boost because of the presidential primaries and the way his legacy has played a role in the campaign. In addition, this year marks the 40th anniversary of King’s death. “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off,” is this year’s theme for various … Continue reading →

If the Shoe Fits: Celebrating National Farriers Week

We’re smack dab in the middle of National Farriers Week, which this year runs from July 9 through July 15. I don’t own a horse myself, although when I was about five I had a horse called Saberjolt. (I say he was mine because that’s how my mom and dad referred to him, but really he belonged to our entire family.) I have no idea what kind of horse he was. I just remember he was brown with a diamond-shaped patch of white on his forehead and he was very gentle. We didn’t own him long because apparently he aggravated … Continue reading →

Southern Travel Attractions

Growing up in Hawaii you don’t hear very many people say they are “headed south” for vacation. Now that I live in the northern portion of one of the nation’s most northern states—-Wisconsin–I consider a jaunt to Chicago a trip “down south.” If you are fortunate enough to live south of Illinois, or plan to spend part of your summer vacation touring the south, I have a couple of noteworthy new attractions you should consider checking out. KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE If you enjoy a good party then head over to Knoxville, Tennessee this July. The city is planning a massive 4th … Continue reading →

Horsing Around in Kentucky

My toddler daughter’s fascination with all things scaly is fading. However, her interest in animals remains steadfast, though we’re seeing a softer side to her fixation. She now happily embraces all things hairy—-mainly horses. To be honest she’s really into ponies and their “houses” (a.k.a. stables). This, of course, means we’ve been doing a ton of research about horses, which usually begets the question: “Mommy, when are we going to visit them?” I told my daughter I may not know exactly when we will be meeting our four-legged friends, but I do know where we will be going when the … Continue reading →

Attention Fledgling Fashion Designers—This Could Be Your Big Break

The Kentucky Derby may still be a few months away (it takes place on May 5th), but for the men and women who design those infamous race day hats the heat is on. Are you familiar with the tradition that surrounds Derby Day hats? Women don’t just wear hats at the Kentucky Derby. Rather, the head hiding, feather-festooned, flowery creations are flaunted like wedding cakes perched proudly on a female’s noggin. When it comes to Kentucky Derby headgear, high style is the only way to go. The hats are artistic masterpieces—haute couture for heads. They are big, bold… and expensive … Continue reading →

Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro Dies

Sad news from Pennsylvania—the horse that won the world over after shattering his leg at last year’s Preakness has died. According to news sources, Barbaro was euthanized today after complications made it impossible for the thoroughbred to live comfortably. Yesterday I read that Barbaro had suffered another setback, but frankly, I was shocked to hear that less than 24 hours later his owners decided to put him down. In a previous blog I detailed Barbaro’s incredible recovery, and like many of you I figured he was going to beat the odds and live the remainder of his life on a … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Thighmaster: Horseback Riding

I remember the Suzanne Sommers commercials advertising the Thighmaster, the ultimate home workout for women to tighten up their thighs and buttocks. The Thighmaster was a focusing tool, designed to help you concentrate on isolating those muscles and using them against specific tension or resistance. The ultimate Thighmaster, however, is not a piece of equipment but rather an equine. I am an admitted equestrian with a particular fondness for horses in general and Saddlebreds in particular along with Mustangs and Tennessee Walkers. Anyway, the point is, humans have been riding horses since around 4000 B.C. that we know of. The … Continue reading →