Horses & Hospitality - The Smokey Valley Story

It all started with a horse…of course! Way back in the 1700’s Dr. Bob Coleman’s ancestor, The Reverend James Coleman was in need of an exceptional traveling horse to carry him throughout New England as he established the Methodist Church in America. Speed, a smooth gait, and rugged endurance are the qualities that inspired what is now

a new breed…The Smokey Valley Horse.

Flash forward to today, and you’ll find Bob and his wife Jane the custodians of a legacy that lives on in Carter County Kentucky.

Their 650 acre “Smokey Valley Farm” has been in the Coleman family for five generations and it’s where Bob continues to breed and perfect the ideal traveling horse.

Horse breeding isn’t the only enterprise keeping Smokey Valley Farm a whirlwind of activity. Jane’s gift for making people feel welcome has grown into a unique Airbnb hospitality venue for adventurers worldwide. Whether you like traveling with your horses, or just enjoy being in an idyllic country setting, Jane provides everything from an entire farmhouse (original kit ordered from Sears Catalog…take that Amazon!)

to a cozy barn apartment where guests can relax among the nickers & neighs of their equine neighbors in the stalls next door.

Born and raised as a “City Girl,” Jane fell in love with Bob and took on the challenge of becoming a “Country Girl” channeling Lisa Douglas (Ava Gabor) from Green Acres. You can read about Jane’s delightful tales of transformation in her book Life is All About Range, available on Amazon.

There is definitely a romantic atmosphere at the farm, which makes it the perfect setting for a wedding. Couples looking for anything from a rustic elegance theme to a “down-home” atmosphere can ride horses, or arrive in a carriage at the charming chapel nestled in the hills.

There’s plenty of room for the wedding party and guests to stay, and a variety of options for festive receptions.

I had the pleasure of spending Kentucky Derby weekend with the Coleman’s at Smokey Valley Farm. Upon arrival I was greeted by VP Max Hammond who informed me that I was in for a special treat above and beyond my expectations. Executives from Hollywood were scouting locations for production sites for their new film. Smokey Valley would provide the perfect backdrop for the story. They were especially excited to have the horses play a role, and even tweaked the script to give them “neighing” parts.

After Jane’s delicious lasagna dinner, we sipped Sangria and made plans for an exciting trail ride the next day. The weather forecast was soggy, but Bob, ever the optimist, reassured us that we “wouldn’t melt.”

The next morning we were paired up with our mounts and embarked on a six hour trail ride over the mountains, streams, and meadows. I was matched with “Hombre,”

a beautiful black gelding who carried me with a smooth racking gait in a pace so fast it was almost like a canter. Bob informed me that these horses can do up to 20 miles per hour…which is as fast as some horses can run!

I have to admit that I was unfamiliar with some of the tack, especially the Kentucky Quilted Saddle that is handcrafted by Danny Grim in his shop nearby. The workmanship is beautiful, and I was grateful for the comfort after six hours, even on the smoothest of horses!

Never a dull moment at Smokey Valley Farm, we hustled back to the house to change for the Kentucky Derby party getting underway. I didn’t have a chance to study the field, but it really didn’t matter since I never pick the winner anyway! After cheering Justify over the finish line, we gathered in the spacious sun room to be entertained by Shelby Lore & The Soul Shakers, a fabulous band with an amazing playlist. It wouldn’t surprise me if they made their movie debut in a certain film soon to be shot on site.