‘Neigh-I:’ You Can Now Let A Horse Build Your Travel Itinerary For A Good Time In This Kentucky City

Lexington, Kentucky, has a quirky new initiative that’s a testament to its equine history while drawing in visitors with personalized travel itineraries straight from the horse’s mouth. The new initiative is called “Neigh-I,” cleverly referencing artificial intelligence (AI) travel planners that some travelers rely on for city recommendations and itineraries. Instead of letting those latter options automate your next itinerary, Lexington has tapped on Oliver, a 17-year-old local horse, to curate your trip for you.

Oliver bases his itineraries on an “evolving” recommendation database created by VisitLex, the city’s tourism authority. A guide directs the four-legged travel planner to different walls that correspond with various elements of the visitors’ trip, including accommodations, restaurants, and experiences, as well as where to get drinks. Each wall features a variety of Lexington-based establishments to choose from, along with snacks listed in front of each listing. Then, based on where Oliver grabs his snack, your itinerary is set. Travelers can get a three-day itinerary by providing some basic information on VisitLex’s website.

And if you’re wondering more about the horse that’ll plan your next 72 hours in Lexington, know that he’s a seasoned local. The Paint/Shire Cross lives at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park, a “1,200-acre international equestrian competition venue and educational theme park dedicated to the horse.” He also works as a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Police, and VisitLex mentioned that he “enjoys peppermints, neck scratches, and marching in parades.”

What Else Is There To Know About Lexington, Kentucky’s Horse-Powered Travel Planner?

According to a video on Neigh-I’s promotional site, “Horses are smarter than we think and have the ability to plan ahead.”

Lexington, Kentucky; Woodford County, Kentucky; and Ocala/Marion County, Florida, all individually claim to be the “Horse Capital of the World.” Lexington has a deep history of breeding Thoroughbreds. It is also home to the Jockey Club, an organization that approves names for registered racehorses and is “dedicated to the integrity of Thoroughbred breeding and racing.” Lexington is also home to Keeneland, a world-renowned Thoroughbred sales and racing facility.

Besides all the horse hype, there are many other reasons to plan a trip to Lexington. On VisitLex’s website, the city of Kentucky also refers to itself as “The Birthplace of Bourbon,” “The Heart of Bluegrass,” “The Home of the Kentucky Wildcats,” and “The Athens of the West.”

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