Herschel at the KY Horse Park

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Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby BirdbyBird » Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:52 pm

Well before I walked around the Horse Park......Saturday morning I drove into Lexington to cruise past my Alma Mater. There are new buildings on campus but since it is right in the middle of the city much of the shape and feel of the campus remains the same. I attended that other school in Lexington that wasn't BLUE.

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So I walked around singing "Hail, Transylvania, thy sons are we, our hearts in loyal love we pledge to thee...." to the tune of the 1812 Overture....quite regal really..... :?

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And yes those big trees may be 40 years older but they are still there.

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This hall dates back to before the Civil War. As a freshman I got to walk across the original wooden floors that had been soaked on the blood of wounded service men as it served as a hospital during the Civil War. Unfortunately the next fall there was a great fire and the structure was completely gutted and when rebuilt it was all modern and shiny inside. It made nicer offices and a pretty chapel for campus weddings, but I remember the creaking floor and sense of history still....

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What I always appreciated were the older homes in the neighborhoods in Lexington. Back before dorm rooms had televisions and entertainment centers, when I got stir crazy I would just take off walking around the neighborhood blocks and imagine the family histories and stories if the houses could talk.

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Back at the horse park.....there were memories brought to life from the statues. Okay, Man a War was before my time but this one was from my prime,

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There were the educational signs that Liz is so good at sharing.

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ANd the examples of the walls.

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Walnut Farms was one of the few horse farms that you could just drive through 40 years ago. We used to escape the campus and since few of us on scholarships had cars (I had an old clunker passed on to me from my brother) we would all pile in buy an ice cream cone and hangout under some of the lush trees and green grasses. Walnut Farm is the area that was developed into the Horse Park.

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TOday I got to watch some folks that looked as if they were taking lessons or some sort of western horsemanship workshop.

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And for other riders outside.

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And those working on their dressage over in another part of the park.

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I have always wondered if more people fall off riding English or just that the western riders are too cool to wear helmets. Head injuries don't pick and choose whose head hits the fence.

And as you might expect there are many many horse trailers here in the campground. Folks drop there horses over at the barn and camp here in their trailers. The "hanging around the barn" scene looks familiar.

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Horses heading ever which way, each to their events.

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Many a young woman had their mother in waiting there to support their hobby. Aren't mother's wonderful.

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Some short critters....

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Walking around part of the cross country course, Herschel noticed that this jump didn't have any boards to knock off if the horse and rider misjudged the leap. :o :?

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This table top looks interesting. Probably left over from the World Equestrian Events last year....

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And by the afternoon the polo trailers started to pull in next to the polo field for the afternoon's/evening's fun. I would take pictures later but that means I would have to walk back over. :roll:

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Tomorrow we head east and hope to find someplace to stop in WV.
Tina and the furry companions...Lark, Audrey and Jane
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Forestgal » Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:04 pm

Great pics, Tina. That whole horse culture is fascinating to me. The people riding look so elegant -- and clean -- but behind the scenes they roll up their sleeves and get just as dirty as a stablehand. Lots of fun!

Thanks for taking us along.

Laura -- and Jed
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby mtngal » Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:26 pm

Great stories Tina! The Horse Park is very
near the TOP of my list. Thanks for sharing!
Diana
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Liz » Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:34 pm

Thanks for the wonderful tour and another fence lesson too!
Liz
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby bluepinecones » Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:44 pm

Spent a lot of time in Ky when I was growing up - my mother's home state (I went to Western KYU, a bit to the south). I love the whole area. Thanks for the tour in and around horse country.
The only major handicap in life is a bad attitude!
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Acadianmom » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:09 pm

Enjoyed your tour and pictures. Your college reminds me of where I went in Natchitoches, LA. It is one of the oldest cities in Louisiana so a lot of history there. I showed horses in high school and it was a lot of work. It was a real trick to get your horse clean and ready and then change clothes in the trailer and try to stay clean. There wasn't anything like a horse trailer with living quarters like today and I was doing good to have a horse and get a ride to the show. My mother didn't have a clue how dangerous some of the things I was doing was and my dad never went to anything we did. I was exercising 2 stallions for a neighbor every day to pay for my horse's keep. I wouldn't have let my kids do that at all.

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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby snowball » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:27 pm

very interesting...and the pictures where just great thanks for showing us westerners that part of the country
sounds like the building would be ripe for.........ghosts :lol:
I'm like you it would be great to hear the tales a house or a tree could tell
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Rufflesgurl » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:45 pm

Tiny - thank you so much for sharing these lovely pictures. I can tell this whole thing has a soft place in your heart!!

Linda
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby VickieP » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:51 pm

BirdbyBird wrote:Image



Tina, I'm assuming your name MUST be on the other side! :P
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby avalen » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:16 pm

thank you for those wonderful pictures, those riders must be in competition as they have numbers on. Reminds me of the days I used to drag my daughter and neighbor to the shows so they could show the horse. We had 7 at one time but there was only one that
the kids used to do their little fun stuff with.
Somewhere with Ava and Maggie
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Bethers » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:17 pm

Great tour. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Beth
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Nasoosie » Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:15 am

Wonderful picture tour, Tina and Herschel! My back aches and my fingers are sanded down to the last layer of skin thinking about building one of those dry rock walls! What an incredible lot of work that must have been!

Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Life is about learning to dance in the rain
Happy travels!
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby retiredhappy » Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:07 am

Wow, took me back - my daughter was horse crazy and showed Western, English and Dressage. As for the Western riders not wearing helmets, remember originated from the cowboys and "real men don't wear helmets". A helmet didn't help Chris Reeves much. Thanks for the great pics.
Karen West
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby Redetotry » Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:18 am

Loved the pictures thank you. I want to go there too! So glad to see they are teaching the art of building stone fences.
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Re: Herschel at the KY Horse Park

Postby OutandAbout » Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:11 pm

Thanks for the tour and pics. What beautiful country. Linda
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