American Saddlebred Museum - Lexington, Kentucky

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Visiting the American Saddlebred Museum in Lexington, KY. The American Saddlebred Museum is located in Lexington, Kentucky on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds.  A recent exhibition at the museum in 2008 was titled “For the Love of a Horse: Children and Saddlebreds”.  This exhibit was intended to demonstrate the unique and sometimes magical connection that exists between children and Saddlebreds. 

The Saddlebred was originally developed for versatility and even temperament, and has often been called the “Peacock of the Show Ring”.  These and other traditions involving the history and current uses of the American Saddlebred are presented in the interesting museum displays.   Preservation of several artifacts and relative art, including written works, photography, painting, drawings and sculpture has been a valued passion of the museum for many years.  Long considered the ultimate show horse, the museum is considered the “Showplace for Saddlebreds”.  As a vacation destination or point of interest, the American Saddlebred Museum lends insight to the very important role that the Saddlebred played in early American history.  Breeding history and origins will educate travelers on how the Saddlebred was developed and evolved.  The artifacts on display in the museum include trophies, infamous saddles, bits and other tack from well-known Saddlebreds and their riders.  The largest collection in existence of George Ford Morris Saddlebred paintings is also housed in the museum.  A library provides visitors and local patrons with bloodline history and information for current or historical genealogical research.

An interesting component of the American Saddlebred Museum is a unique donation program that anyone can participate in.  If you are a horse owner, or know someone who is, the Saddlebred Sidewalk Bricks are a wonderful gift and memento.  These bricks are “purchased” with a donation, engraved with your special horse’s name and hometown, and inlaid in the brick walkway leading to the entrance of the museum.  Visitors will notice the homage paid to individual Saddlebreds who had a positive impact on the industry or owner’s life.  These bricks may be taken with you, or left as a walkway component.  The museum houses archives listing the locations, names and hometowns of each horse commemorated in the walkway.

The American Saddlebred Museum is a wonderful celebration of the breed that horse lovers and owners will appreciate each time they visit the displays.  As a part of the Kentucky Horse Park, the beautiful landscape and rich history of the grounds lend a wonderful education to any visitor interested in legendary destination origins.

Lexington has a wide variety of attractions available for horse lovers to explore. You can find excellent hotel rates on HotelsCombined.com.

4083 Iron Works Parkway
LEXINGTON, 40511