old friends at dream chase farm

Old Friends is a very unique facility and the owner, Michael Blowen is a fabulous tour guide and story teller. Each horse on the farm has a compelling story and Silver Charm, the miniature horse, is a must see!! No fee but donations are accepted ...

The ONLY reason I have to give this location a low score is because we drove some distance to come and the only tour was at 11am that day, which we missed by many hours. Simply CALL AHEAD to check seasonal times for the tours. You may NOT see the grounds without a tour guide.It looks well worth going to as other reviews boast. I doubt we'll be able to come back, we were visiting from Michigan. It sounds like a WONDERFUL place!!

My sister brought me here for a tour as we are both racing fans. What an excellent facility! They have retired thoroughbreds, including stallions, mares and geldings, that no longer race or breed and give them a place to live out the rest of their lives in s relaxed setting.You start out with a short narrative at the office about the farm, then they walk you past some of the horses in their paddocks. They had carrots and encourage you to feed the horses. Some of the horses will be familiar to racing fans (Silver Charm, Gulch, etc), and others you may not have heard of.The owner Michael Blowen may come by with his mini horse Little Silver Charm, as you tour and he may chat a little with the group.FYI - You need reservations head of time, and be prepared to walk some, possibly in the mud.

A must see for anyone traveling to Lexington (Georgetown). The best attraction I have ever been to. Fell in love with the place immediately. John Bradley, our guide ,was a walking, talking wealth of horse racing lore. It just went by too fast

I was looking for things to do that our Texas and NJ friends would enjoy. I read about this place just in passing on another Trip Advisor review. Once I arrived and was waiting in the gift shop, I was a tad concerned this would be a bust (that's not a negative about the gift shop...but there were only 3 other people other than us.) Nothing could be further from the truth. The tour at Old Friends was a memorable as the Bourbon Trail and a day of races on Millionaire's Row at Churchill Downs. Not to be missed!!

If you enjoy horses and storytelling, be sure and take a tour with Mike at the Old Friends Farm. A "retirement home" of sorts, every horse on the property, which includes winners of some of the sports' biggest races, has a history and Mike knows them all! After getting up close and personal with these thoroughbreds, you will walk away with an appreciation for their athleticism and the people who work with them.

My son and I loved visiting the horses and walking around the farm. He particularly loved the soccer playing pony as he plays soccer. It was a great stop in Georgetown.

We visited the farm for retired thoroughbreds and completely enjoyed the horses and the atmosphere. There were horses that had won millions in their careers only to have no place to retire prior to the opening of Old Friends Farm 11 years ago. It is a nonprofit organization We saw the last living male off spring of Seabiscuit and Secretary. You walk outside and visit many of the horses feeding them carrots as the volunteer guide tells you a little about each horse and their career. Would highly recommended a visit if you are in the Lexington area.

I'm such a sucker for animals, especially those that are past their primes and need some extra love. The volunteers here clearly love these animals and enjoy feeding them, talking to them and taking care of them each and every day. There is about a 1-1/2 hr tour where you learn many of the horses' stories and you get to feed them if you want. It is a good cause, and people should donate to this cause as well as the SPCA. This is basically assisted living for retired racehorses.

Old Friends is just a bit a heaven for anyone that likes horses. They ask nothing of those in their care and let them live as a horse should live. Michael Blowen (owner) gives everything he has to provide for the horses care. Volunteers on the farm have many wonderful stories to tell about the horses you visit and feed!

I heard from word of mouth about the Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Ky and decided to visit since I was in the area. I am so glad I did because it was a feel good experience, something which doesn't happen too often in your life. I have been a horse racing fan for over 30 years. Definitely aware of the bad stories around the horse racing business. So it was a truly amazing experience for me to get to see the truly good side of the racing business. The people running this farm are taking care of thoroughbred horses whose racing and breeding careers have long passed. I don't think a lot of people, especially those who bet on horses ever think about what happens to the horses they have bet on once they get too old to race or breed. I always assumed their owners continued to take care of them until they died. Unfortunately that is not always the case. This is why the fact Old Friends Equine exists and why what they are doing truly matters. They are willing to take care of racing horses whose owners don't have the means or the ability to take care of them.They see the opportunity of taking care of one of these great athletes as a honor. I thought it was a such a honor to get to see some of the horses I remember seeing in person at the racetracks in NY.So if you are planning a trip to Kentucky or are in the area for something else I strongly suggest taking a little time and visiting the Old Friends Equine. You won't regret it and you should walk away with a new appreciation for these great animals. It is definitely a must see for any horse lover or racing fan.

It is an amazing man who turned his land into a place were retired race horses could live out their remaining years. They let you feed and pet the horses and give you amazing history of the horses they have on the farm.

The work these people do to care for these older horses is outstanding. They give them all the care they need with nothing but love in return. I highly recommend taking a tour. The fee is only a donation of your choice to the farm. You will see some high $$ racehorses, some old retirees and even a miniature horse.......all up close...you get to pet and feed them treats. Well worth the trip!

If you have any respect for the Thoroughbred horse, or even if you don't understand this breed and the racing industry, you MUST visit this retirement farm. You will touch, pet and feed lots of carrots and horse cookies to the famous, and sometimes forgotten, Thoroughbreds that were money-makers in their prime, but now are old men living their last few years in comfort and care. Your tour guide will tell you stories that are funny, strange, fascinating, touching, and even a couple that may make you cry when a few people forget animals need to be treated in a decent manor in their old age. The cost is worth every cent for this non-profit farm tour. Although there is lots of walking on uneven ground, I'd recommend to add this to any family trip.

Tour of farm where horses are brought when no longer able to run or sire. Great to see the horses have some where to go later on.