Kentucky Horse Culture
Kentucky, USA is the horse capital of the world! Almost every business has a statue of a horse, front and center. There are countless farms, with many horses of different breeds. Every May, the city of Louisville has a festival that lasts for weeks, in celebration of the Kentucky Derby. There is a marathon and 5K race, boat race, hot air balloon show, fair, parade, and air show! Local grocery stores/supermarkets sell "Pegasus Pins", which are small pins that have the Kentucky Derby Festival logo and year on them, as an annual collectible for people. People can register their pins to win the annual sweepstakes. Jockeys are local celebrities, and some even have days named after them in the towns where they live! The winning jockey and horse pair get their own life sized statue that is featured in the Kentucky Derby Museum for one year, until the next winner is announced. The famous garland of roses that is draped around the winning horse is made at a local grocery store/supermarket. Members of the public can actually view the professional florists crafting the garland the day before Derby! The day before the Derby is called Oaks Day, and all local public school students get the day off to celebrate. Derby Day is always during the weekend, and families host parties with relatives and friends. It is expected for people to dress up in bold, colorful clothing. Women typically wear broad rimmed, feathery hats, and men wear colorful ties. Some common dishes to make during Derby Day are Derby Pies (sweet baked pie with chocolate and pecans), Southern BBQ dishes such as pulled pork, brisket, steaks, greens, and mac n cheese), as well as many other dishes! Horses are extremely respected in Kentucky, and are treated with quality care.
|