Stable home

I thought my horseback days were done when I took my last pony ride at the age of 8. But my friend, Patti Nickell, a devotee of all things equine, had other ideas. A few years ago her enthusiasm trumped my fears and I found myself back in the saddle. So I can’t think of anyone better to write the Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky, a loving tour of the Bluegrass country where the horse is king. She focuses on the breeding and racing operations in Lexington and the thoroughbred racing culture in Louisville, but also covers horse shows, horse-related museums, horse-oriented gift shops, and even equine cemeteries. Patti may have coaxed me into riding, but we’ve always shared a love of good food. Her “Where to Eat” chapter hits the high points of horse country dining and drinking—the best spots for pecan-fried chicken, the best bourbon bars, and the snazziest steakhouses serving nothing but USDA Prime. Tuck the Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky in your luggage if you’re heading to Lexington next year for the World Equestrian Games.

Posted by Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent

Photo by Patricia Harris for the Boston Globe