With its rolling bluegrass hills, miles of fenced pastures, and some of the most picturesque horse farms near Louisville and Lexington, Shelby County is the home of world-class horse breeders, training facilities, and more than 90 horse farms — many of whom welcome visitors to some of the best horse farm tours in Kentucky. Even better, some of the working horse farms in the Shelbyville area offer riding lessons and guided horseback rides with advance appointments.
If your travel plans include horse shows and equestrian events, the Shelby County Fair Grounds will play host to the Dogwood Classic Horseshow on April 20-23, 2023, and the Shelby County Classic Horseshow on June 20, 2023. Kentucky's largest Icelandic Horse Farm, Léttleiki Icelandics, will host the 2023 Triple Ice Championships May 26-28, 2023.
And ShelbyKY is only a short drive from famous horse race venues and shows in Louisville and Lexington, like Churchill Downs and Keeneland.
There are plenty of places to stay in Shelbyville and the surrounding Shelby County area, including your favorite national brand hotels, private vacation homes and charming bed and breakfast inns like the historic Cerulean Farm Bed and Breakfast and working horse farm, where you can even bring your own horse!
Your stay in Shelbyville will be convenient to the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Shelbyville is home to Bulleit Distilling Company and the award-winning Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, and Jeptha Creed Distillery, a heritage farm-based (and woman-owned-and-operated distiller!) favorite on the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Tour.
From fancy derby hats and dresses to tack and equestrian supply stores, riding apparel, footwear, saddles, and everything equestrian, the boutiques and specialty shops in downtown Shelbyville are charming and easy-to-shop destinations.
Read more about the exciting opportunities that await in ShelbyKY at the links below!
Shelby County, Kentucky, is known internationally as the American Saddlebred Capital of the World®, home of the “Horse that America Made.” Rich in heritage and an important part of Shelby County history, the American…
Shelbyville is the home of Bulleit Distilling Company and their award-winning Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. Distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition using a distinctive high rye recipe, the state-of-the-art distillery received…
