21 Mar Best Family Friendly Horse Farm Tours in Central Kentucky
Our family friendly horse farm tours are great experiences for guests of all ages. These are often hands-on, interactive tours that provide a unique opportunity to learn more about horses. We’ve compiled our family friendly tours in the following list, along with other attractions and activities close by to help you curate the perfect Kentucky excursion with your family!
Lexington
Lexington is considered the main hub of the Horse Capital of the World, and we’re proud members of this amazing community!
Some of our favorite family friendly activities in the Lexington area are of course, horse farms! Enjoy the outdoors, learn more about the equine industry and most importantly, get up close and personal to the horses, on one of these horse farm tours. These particular tours are best for guests who would like to pet, and maybe even feed a treat or two, to the horses you’ll meet.
Mill Ridge Farm, Stonestreet Farm, the Spendthrift Farm Shuttle Experience and Spy Coast Farm are nursery farms where you’ll meet momma mares and their foals! You’ll get to meet these broodmares and their babies and learn more about how they raise foals to be successful in their future careers as equine athletes. While visiting McPeek Racing at Magdalena Farm you’ll have the opportunity to meet mares, foals and even some racehorses in training! New Vocations and the Secretariat Center both specialize in training racehorses for second careers, and when you visit you’ll have ample time to love on the adoptable horses!
Along with horse farms, Lexington has a lot of great activities for the whole family. Downtown Lexington is home to the Lexington’s Children Museum and the Living Arts and Science Center, both great for kids to explore and learn. During your downtown visit, stop by the Lexington Visitors Center for more information on local attractions and a gift shop with the cutest Lexington-themed apparel and accessories.
Midway
Historic Midway, Kentucky has a little something for everyone, and thanks to its prime location right off of I-64, it makes for the perfect stop while traveling! Visit the next generation of champion racehorses at Airdrie Stud and Resolute Racing, where you’ll get up close and personal to the resident equines and learn more about the life cycle of a Thoroughbred racehorse.
While you’re in Midway, check out their lovely downtown area that is home to shops and eateries. We always love to check out Spotz Gelato or Railroad Drug and Old Time Soda Fountain after visiting horse farms on a warm day!
Nicholasville
Head just a few miles south of Lexington to Nicholasville, Kentucky, known for its outdoor adventures, historic sites and horse farms!
Visit the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center to meet horse breeds of all breeds and ages, all of whom are looking for new homes! You’ll have the chance to pet and love on the adoptable horses, while learning what it takes to provide horses with a great life. Travel across town to meet Thoroughbred stallions, mares and foals at Taylor Made Farm, a leading Thoroughbred sales and breeding operation. You’ll see a little bit of everything at Taylor Made, from the champion studs in the stallion division to the friendly faces of mares and foals in the nursery division.
Pair your horse farm tour with time exploring the natural wonders of Central Kentucky at the Jessamine Creek Gorge, a stunning nature preserve in Nicholasville, High Bridge Park in Wilmore, or one of the other outdoor recreation spaces in the area.
Paris
Take the scenic route to Paris, Kentucky and enjoy the charms of one of Kentucky’s most well-loved small towns! Paris is home to two farms perfect for families looking for a horse farm tour to enjoy with the kiddos.
BraveHearts Equine Center is Kentucky’s pre-eminent draft horse rescue, and is home to horses of all sizes, from donkeys and a miniature horse to clydesdales, belgians and more. You’ll meet the adoptable horses and learn more about how they are cared for. Denali Stud is one of Kentucky’s leading nursery farms, home to momma mares and their foals. During the spring and summer you’ll have the chance to feed peppermints to the mommas and meet the newest additions to the farm. These sweet foals and their moms love to meet new people!
While you’re in the area, be sure to take a stroll in downtown Paris. Stop in to the All About Kentucky Shop to pick up a souvenir of your time in the Bluegrass and enjoy an ice cream!
Prospect and Louisville
Located just a short drive from Downtown Louisville, Prospect, Kentucky is a beautiful spot to spend a day with the family. When visiting Prospect, be sure to check out the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at Chestnut Hall, where you’ll get to meet retired racehorses enjoying their time in the lush fields of the Bluegrass. Just next door to Chestnut Hall you’ll find Second Stride, which trains Thoroughbreds for careers as riding horses. Both spots are great for those who want to get hands on with horses and learn more about their daily care.
While in the area, be sure to check out the Frazier Museum and Louisville Slugger Museum in Downtown Louisville, then take a walk down main street for a sweet treat at Ehrler’s Ice Cream!
Versailles
Located between Lexington and Frankfort, Versailles, Kentucky is right in the heart of Horse Country. Versailles is home to four of our member farms that offer tours of their nursery division, Gainsborough Farm, Lane’s End Farm, Pin Oak Stud and WinStar Farm. Each of these tours are interactive and will introduce you to momma mares and their young foals. Gainsborough Farm, Lane’s End Farm and WinStar Farm utilize electric shuttles to travel around the farm while visiting their nursery division, making the tours ideal for those who prefer less walking! Plus, WinStar Farm recently released a Sunset Walking Tour for those who are interested in a leisurely walk through the stunning landscape of a Kentucky horse farm.
There’s a lot to do in Versailles, especially with the whole family! The Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum and Rail Explorers are another great way to enjoy the scenic views of Central Kentucky. Eckert’s Orchard grows a variety of fruits and veggies, from peaches and blackberries in the summer to pumpkins and apples each fall. Get some baked goods at Kristen’s Kreations, enjoy a gelato from Spotz, or check out the Gathered Play + Create Space at the Amsden, all located in Downtown Versailles!
About Horse Country, Inc.
Based in Lexington, Ky, Horse Country is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the equine industry through tours of member farms, veterinary clinics and other equine attractions in Kentucky. Check out Horse Country on social media: Instagram @visithorsecountry Facebook @visithorsecountry and Twitter @kyhorsecountry. For more information: www.visithorsecountry.com.