©2009 NPT PHOTO SUBMITTED


Cocke County youth in front of the statue of Secretariat at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The
young people toured the Park as part of the Lost Creek Farm Summer Riding Camp program. From left are
Noelle Parks, Luke Hopkins, Ariel Parks, Emily Costner, Lily Hopkins, Amelia Hurst, Sarah Hopkins and Cole
Hopkins.

NEWPORT-Young equestrians from Cocke County traveled to Mays Lick, Kentucky on June 13 and joined up with Kentucky youth to participate in a summer horseback riding camp at Lost Creek Farm Kentucky, owned by Boyd and Karen Hopkins, formerly of Cosby.

Campers stayed in Kentucky for six days, riding for up to seven hours per day in an effort to perfect their riding skills in the arena. The campers also did a lot of trail riding on hundreds of acres of open fields, and played creative games on horseback.

Two highlights from the camp were a fun relay race and games during an evening with local Amish youth, who ride at the farm, and a trip to the famous Kentucky Horse Park for a national hunter/jumper competition.

The camp ended with the riders performing a new drill team performance to Taylor Swift's hit, 'Love Story,' and a horse show where all participants received ribbons.

Next up for Lost Creek Farm Kentucky is organizing drill team performances at Kentucky Horse Park in 2010 with several Cocke County young people participating as team members along side Kentucky drill riders for the summer riding extravaganza over the last several weeks next summer.

For more information about Lost Creek Farm Kentucky, contact coach and instructor Karen Hopkins at (423) 237-5120.