A Culture Of Sculpture

Written by Kathy Witt

Sergeant Reckless. The Cerebral Dancer. The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors.
 
Sculptural art abounds in Georgetown—from graceful, calming elements in Yuko-en on the Elkhorn to pieces highlighting the beauty and elegance of horses to contemporary works that spark curiosity and underscore the importance of visual arts . . . each one a meaning, a message, a memorial—all magnificent works that enhance the aesthetic beauty of the environments within which they are set.
 At Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, beloved racing legend, Medina Spirit—who died in 2021 during a track workout—is remembered in a moving tribute carved by Kenya artist Kiptoo Tarus. Known for his large-scale wood sculptures, Tarus sculpted the likeness of the dark bay colt from a century-old Sycamore tree that had died on the grounds of the aftercare facility. Founder Michael Blowen described the sculpture of the dark bay colt as “kind of like the Old Friends’ Mount Rushmore” during its unveiling.
 
Medina Spirit finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (but was later disqualified due to a drug violation), came in second in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and third in the Preakness Stakes. He was laid to rest at Old Friends, alongside Kentucky Deby winners Charismatic and War Emblem.
 
More famous horses are celebrated in statuary at Kentucky Horse Park. Sergeant Reckless, a bronze created by Jocelyn Russell, recalls the Mongolian mare who braved the front lines with her fellow U.S. Marines during the Korean War. Reckless rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded two Purple Hearts for her service. She died in 1968 and was buried with full military honors.

The Man ‘O War statue, sculpted in bronze by Herbert Haseltine, remembers the chestnut horse with a white star and stripe on his forehead, who is considered the greatest thoroughbred of the 20th century. Man o’ War won 20 of 21 races—his only loss coming at the hands of a horse named, curiously enough, Upset.
 
Secretariat, also regarded as one of the great racehorses of all time, is captured in bronze not once, but twice at Kentucky Horse Park. Both pieces—one by Edwin Bogucki and one by Jim Reno—capture the spirit of Big Red, who in 1973 became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.
 
The three equestrian sculptures are among nearly 20 that may be seen at the park.

Among the collection of sculptures at Georgetown College are a memorial anchored by a weeping cherry tree, “In Memory of the Lives Lost on September 11, 2001;” a tribute to the friend of the Tiger Bands, “Mr. Georgetown Tiger;” and the reflective piece, “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors.”
The sculptures are scattered about the grounds of the college, collectively providing visual vibrancy to the campus and an opportunity for students and visitors to learn about art. The outdoor setting is an ideal gallery space for the variously sized works, created in bronze, limestone, granite and other materials.
 
As described in Chair of Georgetown College Art Department Dr. Juilee Decker’s comments, “This collection of sculpture activates the campus by offering contemporary perspectives that supplement the history of the campus since the founding of the College in 1829.”
 
Download the Georgetown College Public Sculpture Brochure.pdf to learn more about each piece in the collection.
 
At Yuko-en on the Elkhorn, the Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden, the sculptural elements are harmoniously integrated into the landscape of this four-season, five-acre garden, where native plants and Japanese garden principles create a calming oasis for contemplation and meditation.
 
“The sculptures enhance the quiet—Zen—effect of the garden,” said Judy Littleton, event manager. “And the garden gives visitors a quiet place to walk and reflect.”
 
A self-guided tour brings visitors through the Tokugawa Gates, built by local craftsmen, carpenters and metal workers and intended to mark the place where worldly stresses are left behind; to Mark Wallis’ playful metal sculpture, the Cerebral Dancer; and to Judy’s own favorite, the Shizedourou lantern, located near the Upper Waterfall and Mountain.
 
“To me, it is the most organic of the sculptures, providing that calm, quiet feel the garden strives to give,” she said.
 
Spring, summer and fall are ideal seasons to explore the sculptures at each of these Georgetown landmarks. The sculptures can be part of a self-guided tour during visits to Yuko-en, Georgetown College and Kentucky Horse Park and, in the case of Old Friends, as part of a guided tour. Visit individual websites for more information.

Author: Kathy Witt

Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.

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Horse 101: Breeds of Kentucky

Written by Kathy Witt

"Horses sleep standing up. They’re colorblind. They communicate through neighing and nickering, laughing and smiling."

For those of us not blessed with horse sense, these are more myth than truth. Horses do in fact lie down for the occasional deep slumber. They are able to distinguish certain colors, like blue and yellow. It’s true horses communicate through neighing and nickering, but that’s not all they do to express themselves; they also “speak” with their eyes, ears and tails. And while we wish they were laughing with and smiling at us, horses are really just smelling us to ID who we are.

There is no better place to learn about horses—their history, mystery and even mythology—than the Kentucky Horse Park, which celebrates our history with the horse through education, exhibition, engagement and competition.

But you don’t have to know a thing about horses to have a fun and memorable experience—not even whether horses’ hooves are solid (they’re not) or if they all need shoes (they don’t). At the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hall of Champions, Breeds Barn and Big Barn offer daily shows that introduce guests to some of the horses in the barns. And one of the first things you’ll learn is there are many different breeds of horses, and each has its own characteristics

Hall of Champions

Four of the six horses in the Hall of Champions are standardbreds, an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing. Like Mr. Muscleman—or Muscles for short—a three-time divisional winner and two-time Trotter of the Year. And Won the West, winner of multiple stakes races, including the prestigious American-National Stakes.

Also making their home here are a couple of Thoroughbred racing champs: the “people’s horse,” 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Funny Cide, who earned the nickname, “Gutsy Gelding;” and Point Given, the 2001 American Horse of the Year known for his speed, strength and stamina—and the first Thoroughbred in history to win four consecutive million-dollar races.

Visitors get to meet retired racing legends at the Hall of Champions, hear about their glory days, watch their races and learn about the breeds and their life at this working horse farm, international equestrian competition venue and educational theme park—the only facility of its kind in the world.

Breeds Barn

Nearly three dozen horses make their home at the Breeds Barn, the place to learn about breeds like the Norwegian Fjord, one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds; Tennessee Walking Horse, famous for its “rocking chair” canter; Mountain Pleasure Horse, also known as Old Kentucky Saddler, and the oldest gaited breed of horse in the United States; and the Knabstrupper. Is it a Dalmatian? A leopard? Nope. Just a breed that is believed to trace back to the prehistoric spotted horses that were native to what is now Spain.

What makes a visit to the Breeds Barn such a unique and exciting experience is learning not only about the individual breed, but also about where each breed originated from, seeing its rider in a traditional costume representative of that place and then meeting both horse and rider after the show.

Big Barn

Talk about horsepower. Meet the true workhorses here, strong and muscular residents like Collin and Jace, a Clydesdale and a Belgian Warmblood, respectively. The former is immediately recognizable for its profusely feathered lower legs, among other unique markings, and the latter, initially bred as an agricultural riding horse and now bred for dressage, show-jumping and three-day eventing, is known for its uniformity of purpose.

Collin and Jace share the space with several Percheron horses—originally bred as a war horse and today typically seen pulling hayrides and carriages—as well as a Suffolk Punch named Laura. An English breed originally developed for farm work, it gets its name from the county located in the east of England and (no offense intended to Laura) the old English word “punch,” which meant a short, stout person.

Catch the demo in the Big Barn to learn all about draft horses (whose name, translated from the Old English “dragan”—to draw or haul—describes exactly what they do), plus how they put on all the tack needed to pull with and prepare for shows. These horses also pull the park’s horse-drawn trolley tours, narrated by a guide sharing information about the park, its history and the horses.

Mounted Police Barn

Go behind the scenes at the Mounted Police Barn to learn about the “Ten-Foot Cops” and their horse partners. Mounted patrols began in France in the early eighteenth century, traveled to England to become a ceremonial and official symbol of authority and then headed across the pond to America, arriving in Boston, MA in 1870 before spreading to cities throughout the country.

The barn is open to the public, but there are no scheduled shows. Still, it’s well worth a peek within to see the horses guests might spot in the park during a visit patrolling with their officers.

Barns, Stalls and All

Every aspect of Kentucky Horse Park has an educational component to it, including the Kids Barn. While there aren’t any horses inside, kids can go from stall to stall to learn about being an equine vet, safety around horses, grooming and other topics. But it’s not all work and no horseplay. There is always time at each of these barns for asking questions, petting the horses and taking photos

Author: Kathy Witt

Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.

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5 Best Ways To Experience The Horse In Georgetown, KY!

Written by Dylan Marson

A journey through the Bluegrass just isn’t complete without a stop in Horse Country and Georgetown has all kinds of horsey experiences just waiting to be discovered! Whether you are a longtime equestrian or a newbie horse-lover, your next horsey experience is waiting for you here. These are the 5 best ways to experience the horse in Georgetown, KY

1. Old Friends 

You can find many equestrian tours across Kentucky, but very few can offer an experience as personal and interactive as Old Friends Retirement Farm. For passers by, this patch of rolling pasture and fence lines might blend in with the surrounding horse country, but this unassuming farm brings visitors up close and personal with major stars of the track including the oldest living Kentucky Derby Winner, Silver Charm!

The entire operation, founded & run by longtime horseracing fan Michael Blowen, was conceived as a way to help ensure quality of living for equestrian athletes after their retirement. And through years of hard work and the generosity of others, it has grown into a living history museum of the racing industry. Visitors will come face to face with real equestrian athletes and get to hear about each of their individual stories, victories and defeats. You might even end up feeding a Kentucky Derby Winner some carrots!

2. Scenic Drives

No matter where you drive throughout Central Kentucky it's hard to avoid the many miles of stacked stone fences and scenic horse pastures. These two distinct features turn a leisurely drive through the country into a scenic adventure through the homes of some of Kentucky’s most majestic residents. Check it out by clicking here! 

3. Kentucky Horse Park

By far our most accessible horsey experience, the Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm that feels more like an equestrian theme park. Boasting an impressive collection of horse breeds and horse-related activities, this must-visit attraction straddles Georgetown and Lexington with over 1,200 acres of farmland. The serene walkable grounds will guide you to horse shows performed throughout the day, the daily parade of breeds, an educational meet and greet with the many different breeds on the farm, the International Museum of the Horse, horseback/pony rides, carriage tours and more! Whether you are a diehard horse-lover or a curious passerby, this Kentucky state-run attraction is sure to fill up your day.

4. Whispering Woods Riding Stable

For those who want to take a more adventurous approach to experiencing horse country, Whispering Woods Riding Stable provides 250 acres of scenic rugged trails that are perfect for both first time riders and experienced equestrians alike. (Click here for a 1st time rider’s experience!) Able to accommodate large & small groups, their roster of gaited horses are very personable and easy to ride. Combined with the helpful trail guides who accompany and teach you along the way, you simply get to saddle up and enjoy the experience of riding through the Bluegrass on horseback. For those with small children, pony rides are also available.

5. Festival of the Horse

Georgetown is known as Kentucky’s Horse Headquarters, and every year we like to show our appreciation to our equine friends with our largest event of the year: The Festival of the Horse. Three days of parades, craft vendors, food, live music and (of course) HORSES! All located in the beautiful streets of historic Downtown Georgetown, this palooza of activities returns September 9-11, 2022. Horse lovers especially won’t want to miss Toyota’s Grand Parade of Horses (Sept. 10th) as our favorite equine friends show off all of their costumes and carriages in Gtown style.  

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No spectators but the Kentucky Three-Day Event will go on

Written by Kathy Witt

It is the ultimate test of horse and rider, an equestrian triathlon consisting of three distinct elements – dressage, cross-county and show jumping – and one of the few sports where men and women compete alongside one another, even at the Olympic level. At its apex? The 5-star designation, the most advanced form of the competition.

There are only seven 5-star events in the world. Two are in the United States. One is the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 22-25, with First Horse Inspection taking place on April 21. Although there will be no in-person spectators this year due to COVID, the show will go on, with the event live-streamed on the USEF Network (United States Equestrian Federation) and then broadcast on NBC on Sunday, May 2, following the Kentucky Derby.

Eventing competitions were held originally to test the fitness, suitability and training level of cavalry mounts. It became an Olympic sport in 1912 at the Stockholm Games, at the time open only to amateur riders who were in the military. The winner is determined by the horse-and-rider combination with the fewest combined penalties from the three phases.

There are two governing bodies for the Three-Day Event: The Fédération Equestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation – FEI), the world’s governing body of equestrian sports, and the USEF, which serves as the national governing body for equestrian sports. EEI (Equestrian Events, Inc.), a 501c3 nonprofit, produces the world-class Kentucky Three-Day Event, with support from countless sponsors and partners, including the title sponsor, Land Rover, and the presenting sponsor, MARS Equestrian.

The Kentucky Three-Day Event by the Numbers

• 2 – the number of competition levels: CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S.
• 44* – the number of competitors at the CCI4*-S level. They will be riding 52 different horses.
• 45 – the number of obstacles riders jump during the cross-country test, which covers almost four miles of varying terrain.
• 54* – the number of competitors at the CCI5*-L level. They will be riding 75 different horses.
• 76 – the number of sponsors.
• 155,000 – the amount of the grand prize (less than usual prize due to COVID).
• 1976 – The year the first horse trials were held at the Kentucky Horse Park.
• 1978 – When the World Three-Day Event Championships were held for the very first time in the United States.
• 2020 – The first time in 42 years the Kentucky Three-Day Event was cancelled. The cause? The COVID-19 global pandemic.

*Note: The final number of competitors may change as some may elect not to compete.

See the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event schedule here. For more information, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com or call 859-233-2362. Find updates on the event’s Facebook page.

Author: Kathryn Witt

Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.

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