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The 6 Best Horse Farm Tours in Lexington, Kentucky

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Lexington, Kentucky, is known for two things: whiskey and horses. Often referred to as the Horse Capital of the World, the city is home to more than 400 horse farms and the famous Keeneland Race Course (featured in several movies). It has bred more Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winners than anywhere else in the world. Race fans and equestrians alike flock to Lexington to see how these horses live and train. With so many venues to interact with these horses, it can be hard to decide where to start. Here is your go-to roundup of Lexington, Kentucky's best horse farm tours.

Jonabell Farm

Courtesy of Jonabell Farm

Jonabell Farm, home to HH Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, is one of the most successful breeding sites globally, producing more than 200 stakes-winning racehorses. This tour takes guests through the history and current-day practices of Jonabell, as well as an up-close viewing of their current stallions. A shuttle tour is also available, featuring a scenic drive over Jonabells’ 800 acres of paddocks to see the mares and foals on the farm.

Three Chimneys Farm

Three Chimneys is one of the most respected stud farms in the business. This tour takes guests through the palatial stables and allows for some facetime with their current horses. The tour continues on to walk visitors through the breeding process and all safety measures that Three Chimneys takes to ensure the health and safety of these prestigious horses. It concludes with a walk around the green paddocks where the horses enjoy acres of land. This scenic farm is an excellent stop for newbies or lifelong fans of the sport. 

Claiborne Farm

Courtesy of Claiborne Farm

This 109-year-old farm is often cited as the "Horse Capital of the World." Claiborne Farm boasts 3,000 acres for its prized stallions to run and has been home to 300 sires of champions, 10 Kentucky Derby, and six Triple Crown winners. This tour lets guests view the breeding shed and current horses that call Claiborne home and ends with viewing the famous Secretariat's gravesite. This is a can't-miss for any horse racing fan—in fact, the Queen of England has visited twice!  

Denali Stud

Courtesy of Denali Stud Farm

Denali Stud is a world-renowned horse farm that has trained a litany of winning horses and has sold more than $475 million worth of horses since 1990. A Denali tour will take guests through their impressive history and current breeding and training practices. In the spring, guests can get up close and personal with the mares and foals, and on lucky days guests have been able to watch foals be born!

New Vocations

Courtesy of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

Get a unique view of what happens after the racing stops. New Vocations is the oldest and largest racehorse adoption program in the United States. Focusing on rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming, this organization saves retired racehorses from an otherwise uncertain future and promotes their use as riding horses, sport horses, or simply great companions. Working with more than 500 horses a year, New Vocations has managed to rehome more than 7,500 horses since its inception in 1992.

While not a farm tour, Keeneland is an absolute must for any equestrian fan visiting Lexington. The famous racetrack is also the largest thoroughbred sale site globally and offers several different tours that take guests behind the scenes of both the racing and sales sides. The horses' morning workouts are free and open to the public, and guests interested in betting during a race can talk to the newly instituted “bet-ologists” who walk newcomers through the wagering process.

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Lexington, Kentucky

Horse Farm Tours

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Explore the Horse Capital of the World

There’s simply no better place to get up close and personal with horses, thanks to Lexington’s abundance of farms and by extension, horse farm tours. Each tour is different, with some being working farms, others medical centers to teach you how horses are cared for, and some even allow you to meet racing legends of past and present.

Plan A Tour

There are about 450 horse farms in the Bluegrass region—150 in Fayette County alone—each with something unique to offer. Plan a horse farm experience that fits your style!

Book Directly With A Farm

If you’re more of an independent traveler, booking tours yourself is still a possibility! These farms, which range from Thoroughbred showplaces to smaller farms with different breeds of horses, gladly welcome individual visitors.

Claiborne Farm

Megson farms, old friends at dream chase farm, our mims retirement haven.

Visit Horse Country is the region’s top agency for connecting guests with the right farm and immersive experience for them.

Customize With Tour Providers

With a private tour, you can customize based on what you want to experience! Companies can chauffeur your small group around or can provide a step-on for a larger group—either way, you’ll get a VIP experience on world-class horse farms.

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Take a closer look at what each of these farms has to offer.

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Check out our Horse Pocket Guide for even more detailed information on all things equine!

A Horse is a Horse

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Lexington’s Hometown Hero

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Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Farm Tours

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Half-Day Thoroughbred Horse Farm Tour in Kentucky

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Farm Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

1-859-213-6653 | [email protected]

Unique Horse Farm Tours

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Not Your Average Horse Farm Tour

The guides at Unique Horse Farm Tours have deep Lexington roots. What does this mean for you? Exclusive access to places other tours can't go and insider knowledge that only natives and those closely tied to the industry can share. See why our guests come back again and again for our truly Unique Horse Farm Tour.

Are You Ready to Learn and Explore?

When you travel with Unique Horse Farm Tours Lexington, you get a complete immersive experience with well known Kentucky Tour Guide, Shaun Washington , and his staff.

You'll love the humor, celebrity stories, and sprinkle of sass that brings each tour group together like a friendly Southern family.

The staff's deep experience inside the horse farm scene will provide you with a rich and interactive guide to both well known and hidden gem tour spots.

Whether it's visiting a horse hospital, touring a farm, or watching the horses swim, you'll love the time you spend with Shaun as he makes you feel like a Kentucky native.

Horse Farm Tours typically last 2.5 - 3 hours and start at 8:30 AM and 12 Noon.

Tour Rates: $49/adult and $20/child age 12 & under *All Sales are Final

Tour In Comfort

Don't spend your day climbing over strangers and falling asleep on a cramped bus listening to boring farm facts..

Our luxury tour buses feature a walking aisle you can stand up in and plenty of leg room. We disembark at several stops during our tours and we want to make the process as easy for you as possible.

Relax in our spacious, temperature controlled tour buses between spots. You're in for a highly interactive and robust tour experience in style and comfort!

Unique Horse Farm Tours is proud to offer this fun and unique excursion into the heart of Kentucky horse farm country. If you’re interested in learning more about our tours feel free to contact us . Start your adventure and visit some of the most amazing horse farms Kentucky has to offer!

Description

Horse Farm Tours typically last 2.5 – 3 hours and feature approximately 3 attractions such as Katierich Farm and other prestigious farms, see horses swim, or visit a horse hospital. Tours disembark the tour bus at various locations for activities such as feeding horses peppermints and seeing the babies such as the nicest American Pharoah foals.

Tours pick up / leave from: Embassy Suites Lexington 1801 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511

We also pickup from other nearby hotels and locations. Call for more details (859) 213-6653.

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Experience a Part of History

Visit claiborne.

Come see and learn for yourself why Claiborne is known as one of the most iconic Thoroughbred breeding farms in Kentucky’s Horse Country! Your tour will include a fascinating overview of Claiborne’s storied history, including its involvement with Triple Crown winner Secretariat. See where the legend is buried, and walk the grounds where many other famous racehorses called home. Thousands of guests have had the opportunity to view our traditional breeding shed, which has produced more than 80 champions. Book your tour today and prepare to take home a piece of history!

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THE FARM POST

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We offer guided tours 7 days* a week. On our traditional walking stallion tour, visitors will see our stallions, the breeding shed, and the cemetery. On our seasonal shuttle tour (April - October), visitors will see our broodmare and foaling division. During the months of January and February, we offer tours 5 days a week (no tours on Tuesdays or Wednesdays). We also offer private tours at noon. Since Claiborne Farm is a private working farm, tours are by appointment only and your promptness is greatly appreciated. Please plan to check in at our Visitor Center AT LEAST 5 minutes before your tour time.

Tours are Closed the Following Dates this Year:

EVERY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY  

NEW YEAR   Mon, 1/1/24 through Wed, 1/3/24

EASTER   Sun, 3/31/24

MEMORIAL DAY   Mon, 5/27/24

JULY 4TH   Thu, 7/4/24

LABOR DAY   Mon, 9/2/24

KEENELAND SEPT SALE   Mon, 9/9/24 through Sun, 9/15/24

KEENELAND NOV SALE   Mon, 11/4/24 through Sun, 11/10/24

THANKSGIVING   Thurs, 11/28/24

CHRISTMAS - NEW YEAR   Sun, 12/22/24 through Thu, 1/2/25

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How much does it cost, can children come, when do you have tours, is there a gift shop, can i request to see certain stallions, i’m driving by and just want to see the cemetery, do the grooms expect a tip, are there places to sit down along the tour, what is your cancellation policy (visit claiborne farm & all-farm shuttle tour), how long does the tour last, how far in advance do you need a reservation, can i see more of the farm, is the tour handicap friendly, how do i make a reservation, where do i go once i get to the farm, your times don’t work for me. can i come..., do you all accept special groups, is there a public restroom, do you offer any private tours of the farm, what is your cancellation policy (private stallion tour).

703 Winchester Road Paris, KY 40361

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Explore the Heart of the Bluegrass

Off to the races, woodford reserve distillery, thoroughbred park, keeneland race course grandstand, picture-perfect scenery, welcome to lexington private tours, tour details.

If you're planning a visit to the Lexington area, a private tour allows you to customize your tour, travel in your vehicle, travel at your pace, and ask all the questions you'd like, without feeling like you're intruding on someone else's time. The cost? Surprisingly reasonable versus a public tour - especially if you have 4 or more people in your group. I invite you to learn more...

I'm John Midbo, I will be your tour guide. I have over 30 years of tour-guiding experience - with both large groups and individuals. I'm proud to show guests the area that I've come to know and love. I'm registered as a private guide with the Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau and with the Kentucky Department of Tourism. Plan early... there's only one of me!

• Nov 23, 2019: “Kentucky Horse Farm Your”
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If you've seen any or all of these feature films, you've had a taste of the beauty of Kentucky's Bluegrass Region. Movies are great, but there's nothing like the real thing! Private horse farm tours give you the option of seeing the things that YOU want to see, in the privacy of just YOUR group, in YOUR vehicle. Yes, the Lexington area is known for its horse farms, but there's so much more to see and experience here - from historic distilleries to an ultra-modern automobile assembly plant. Some things are best done with a guide. Let me help you make the best of your time and budget.

If you haven't read my reviews on TripAdvisor, I invite you to do so.  Reading them can help you learn what's worked for other visitors.

There's only one of me, and farms limit the size of their tour groups, so I suggest that you make your plans early.

Book Your Tour

Browse our offerings by the specific experience you’re looking for, location, category, or check out real reviews to see what others recommend. Still not sure? Let us help.

CATEGORY EXPERIENCE LOCATION REVIEWS HELP

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What would you like to see and do on your Horse Country tour?

Upcoming Tours

Family friendly, interactive, sport horses, aftercare & adoption, training, track & sales, champion connections, mares & foals, veterinary care & feed, tours by experience.

Choose your preference and use the filters to narrow results even further.

Book your behind-the-scenes experience at one of our 20+ member locations.

Many locations offer unique, private for tours small groups on request, or we can help curate one!

Experiences built to your needs, for large groups. Weddings, client entertainment, and more!

Can’t make the trip? Many Horse Country farms offer online experiences.

Tours by Location

Browse the available tours by geographic location.

A peek into Horse Country

Just some of the sights you may see while on your behind the scenes experience…

What do our guests have to say about Horse Country?

Real reviews. Straight from the horse’s mouth.

Jonabell Farm

Very insightful tour and our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable...beautiful farm with magnificent horses. We learned a lot about racing and stallions beyond what we expected. Loved it!

John - Check out the tour they attended!

Coolmore at Ashford Stud

We had a great time on the tour visiting with the stallions! Our guide was plesant and provided the group with many interesting facts about the farm. A must see for racing fans to see the stallions up close.

Doreen - Check out the tour they attended!

Gainesway Farm

Absolutely fabulous horse farm. Beauty everywhere. Great guided tour. TAPIT—need I say anymore.

Blair - Check out the tour they attended!

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Well organized and knowledgeable staff. The tour was excellent and the technology is top notch. Very informative especially after a 30 year absence from the horse industry.

Shawn - Check out the tour they attended!

Hallway Feeds

Excellent tour! Very informative and up close. Guides/employees are very passionate about the horse food industry.

Richard - Check out the tour they attended!

Secretariat Center

This is a great facility doing great things in providing a soft place for racehorses to land and learn a new career!! The tour is wonderful and even hands on!!

Mary - Check out the tour they attended!

Spendthrift Farm

The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, and it was great to see the horses up close and learn the history of the farm. Loved seeing the breeding shed!

Autumn - Check out the tour they attended!

Spy Coast Farm

Lisa was a great guide. There was a lot of different things to see at Spy Coast, rehab, riders working horses, jumping, stallions, mares with foals, and even more.

Sandra - Check out the tour they attended!

New Vocations

It was wonderful to hear the “story” of New Vocations. The passion, mission and vision show a true dedication to these amazing horses.

Leslie - Check out the tour they attended!

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

The staff was so friendly! We learned a lot on the driving tour and enjoyed seeing where everything takes place. I would definitely come back!

Korrie - Check out the tour they attended!

Airdrie Stud

We got to see all the Stallions up close & personal, followed by a lovely tour of the property to see the foals & mares.

Michael - Check out the tour they attended!

Lane’s End Farm

The beauty of the farm, the fantastic tour, and of course seeing and petting the amazing animals. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. It was a true Kentucky only experience

Diane - Check out the tour they attended!

Still need help?

Here’s a few more resources to help you make the most of your time in Horse Country.