For The Love of a Horse: Children and Saddlebreds
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
For The Love Of A Horse:
Children & Saddlebreds
(Photos by Museum Staff.)
On Friday night of ASHA’s Annual Meeting the American Saddlebred Museum hosted over 225 guests at the grand opening of its 2008 exhibit For the Love of a Horse: Children and Saddlebreds. Guests enjoyed an open bar and dined at various food stations scattered throughout the Museum. Both convention attendees and local residents enjoyed the plethora of photographs depicting children interacting with Saddlebreds in every way imaginable. Several sections were devoted to historic photos and memorabilia while others focused on the youth of today. For the first time in many years all of the permanent display panels detailing the history and versatility of the breed were in evidence.
Don Trunk & Michele Macfarlane
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Nicole Dreher & Walt Bullard
Jane Simmons, daughter of legendary horseman Arthur Simmons, was on hand to sign copies of her “hot off the press” book, Arthur Simmons: American Icon of the Horse World – A Daughter’s Memories. Simmons enjoyed sharing memories of her father and his illustrious career with many of his old friends throughout the evening.
 
Jane Simmons signing her new book,
“Arthur Simmons: American Icon of the Horse World”
Due to a last minute scheduling change the ASHA Youth Convention made an unexpected stop at the Museum on Saturday. Over 200 children, along with their chaperones, had a chance to tour the new exhibit. The youth especially enjoyed identifying their friends and horses in the photographs and, of course, shopping in the Museum’s Gift Shop. For many it was their first visit to the Museum and they were thrilled to test out the World Champion Scrapbook touch screen and ride the Saddlebred rocking horses in the Saddle up a Saddlebred Exhibit.
ASHA Youth groups shop at
the Museum on Saturday.
Geared towards portraying the Saddlebred as not only the “peacock of the show ring” but also a trustworthy “gentle giant” with children, For The Love of a Horse is sure to be a hit with the thousands of Horse Park visitors that come through the Museum.
The American Saddlebred Museum, located on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park, is open daily 9-5 from March 15 - October 31 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays November 1 - March 14). Tickets purchased for the Museum also include admission to the entire Horse Park. For more information, contact Museum curator Kim Skipton at 859/259-2746 ext. 312 or Kim@asbmuseum.org.
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