“In 1985, I was made Chairman of the newly established Kentucky Horse Park Commission by then Governor Martha Layne Collins. It was immediately apparent that the state appropriations for the Park were not sufficient to maintain and grow the park. One of the Commission’s first acts was to establish the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3, whose sole mission was, and continues to be, to improve and enhance the Park. Our vision was to create a public-private partnership – two horses pulling the same carriage! So far the Foundation has donated over 30 million dollars to KHP that have helped to fund competition rings, barns, museum exhibits, and a dedicated horse path, as well as youth programs such as the Mustang Troop and the Field Trip Fund.
I continue to support the Foundation because I know how much private funding can accomplish! For the past several years, I have been supporting the Endowment that was established quite a few years ago, which funds maintenance and improvements of Park facilities. Now is an especially important time for all of us to support the Park, whether by joining the Man o’ War Society, giving a restricted gift, or supporting the Endowment. Although the state has been generous with financial support in the past, it has serious statewide budget problems and has had to significantly reduce its allocations to the park. The KHP is a crown jewel for all of us that love horses, compete horses, enjoy visiting the park, and know how important the Park is to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for tourism and economic impact.”
– Nina Bonnie, Founder -Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Prospect, KY