HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE
Fall Ride - October 2, 3 & 4, 2009
(2010 Rides - May 7-9 and October 1-3)
See below for access to photos of ride and concerts.
The Fall 2009 Knott County Trail Ride attracted over 10,000 people and 7,000 horses! This event has grown into one of the largest equestrian events in the state.
The Trail Ride started out as a 3-day event. But this year, campers and trailers started pouring in the Sunday before and stayed all week. Riders came from 17 different states to check out the heart of Elk Country. Those states represented were: South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Connecticut, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky.
The event has grown so much that the campsite has been relocated to a large coal reclamation site on a portion of land owned by Western Pocahontas Land Company and International Coal Group. There are over 50,000 acres available to camp and develop trails. Judge Randy Thompson says, "there is always room for more!"
The crowds also really enjoyed the bands, Goose Creek Symphony and Halfway to Hazard who performed on Friday and Saturday nights as well as the great food, traders and vendors. Of course, everyone was enthralled with the sounds of the elk bugling!
From Lexington: Take I-75 to I-64 east, exit onto the Mountain Parkway and follow to Highway 15 exit at Campton. Follow Highway 15 to Highway 80 east. Follow Hwy 80 east to the Highway 1098 intersection at Soft Shell. Follow Hwy 1098 to Elk View Drive. Follow Elk View Drive to Sutton Memorial Drive. This will lead you directly to the Trail Ride.
From London: Take the Daniel Boone Parkway east (this turns into Hwy 80 east at Hazard); follow Hwy 80 to the Highway 1098 intersection at Soft Shell; follow Hwy 1098 north to Elk View Drive; follow Elk View Drive to Sutton Memorial Drive to the Trail Ride.
