Horse heavens: indulge your equestrian fantasies at farms, museums, and racetracks from coast to coast
My fondness for horses began when I first saw a bad dude in a black hat galloping across a movie screen, pursued by the man who became forever my favorite cowboy, Roy Rogers. A look of fierce determination creasing his brow, Roy always rode headlong into the wind, astride his beautiful palomino pal, Trigger. The pair lassoed my heart. They cantered through my dreams at night, and I conjured up images of them every day as I wore my fringed leather jacket and practiced twirling my trusty six-gun. But my ensemble lacked one essential. So whenever my mother traveled and asked what she could bring me back, I’d reply: “A horse.” Living in the Bronx made the request a bit unrealistic, but she did buy me three tawny-toned equine statues of varying sizes that I named Trigger, Trigger, and Trigger.
I got to see my beloved duo in person once, when they made an appearance in New York City. I marveled at Trigger’s ability to “dance” and compute arithmetic problems by tapping out the answer with a hoof. Trigger so impressed me, he nosed himself into the No. 1 position in my world, with Roy running a close second. Alas, our trails never crossed again and eventually the twosome rode off into the sunset.
Rarely do I run into a singing cowboy, but sometimes I see a horse grazing in a green pasture, strutting smartly in a parade, or hurtling across a finish line. And once again, I remember with pleasure that gorgeous golden palomino. Judging by the number of people who ride, follow racing, or attend equestrian events, I know I’m not alone in my affection for horses.
Horsing Around
Here’s a sampling of “horsey” places where equine enthusiasts can pursue their passion:
CALIFORNIA
Twain Harte. If you ever wondered what it was like to be a pioneer, join the Historical Sonora Pass Wagon Train, a non-profit living history group. Ride in a covered wagon or on your own horse for a 10-day, 70-mile adventure, which won’t be quite as rough as your ancestors had it. A crew prepares meals, and most evenings include entertainment. (209) 586-5565; www.sonorapasswagontrain.com.
CONNECTICUT
Old Lyme. Visitors are welcome year-round to McCulloch Farm, Connecticut’s oldest private Morgan horse breeding farm. About 25 registered Morgans inhabit McCulloch’s, which hosts two annual events. Open Barn Days in spring and fall attract about 900 people who come to pet foals and watch them play. Every September, owners come with their horses and delight onlookers with displays of dressage, bareback riding, and more during Versatility Event, now in its 50th year. Call first, (860) 434-7355; www.neineternet.com/whippoorwill.
FLORIDA
Ocala. This is horse country, with more than 400 Thoroughbred farms and training centers located in its green rolling hills. Forty-four breeds inhabit Ocala, including Peso Finos, Arabians, and Miniatures. Many northern owners send their horses here to winter. Horses are bought and sold four times a year at the Ocala Breeders Sales, Horse fans can see the auction house and take self-guided tours of many of the farms or opt for an organized tour. Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, (352) 629-8051; www.ocalacc.com.
GEORGIA
Conyers. Polo matches, dressage shows, barrel racing, and just about everything else take place at Georgia International Horse Park, the state-of-the-art facility that hosted the equestrian events in the 1996 Olympic Games. The riding trails are actually the cross-country trails from the three-day event. (888) 860-4224; www.georgiahorsepark.com.
Cumberland Island National Seashore. If you prefer horses in herds who roam wild and free on a beach, hop a ferry from Kingsland/St. Mary’s to Cumberland Island. Pristine and undeveloped, Cumberland is Georgia’s largest barrier island. (912) 882-4000; www.stmaryswelcome.com.
Jekyll Island. Ride through maritime forest and along Driftwood Beach on one of Georgia’s Golden Isles. (877) 453-5955; www.jekyllisland.com.
KENTUCKY
Louisville. Churchill Downs is the country’s oldest continuously operated racetrack and a National Historic Landmark, but most of us know it as the site of the “greatest two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby. Tours of the track are part of a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum, where you can weigh in on an authentic jockey scale and learn all about Thoroughbred racing through hands-on displays, artifacts, audio-visuals, and a wealth of memorabilia. (800) 283-3729; www.churchilldowns.com.
Lexington. A majestic sculpture of Man o’ War welcomes visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park, which is dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. Housing the International Museum of the Horse, the park is a working horse farm with nearly 50 breeds and an educational theme park where Belgians, Clydesdales, and others pull trolley tours. Visitors can experience horse-related arts, including saddlery repair and horseshoeing, and enjoy horse shows, trail rides, and carriage rides (800) 678-8813; www.kyhorsepark.com.
MARYLAND
Baltimore. Maryland is a hotbed for horse lovers, offering steeplechase races fox hunts, rodeos, and the legendary wild ponies who roam Assateague Island. Best known is its hosting of the second jewel in the Triple Crown, the Preakness. Held at Pimlico Race Course, the sporting event is the centerpiece of an eight-day festival that draws a half million people. (800) 719-5900; www.mdweleome.org.