Horses go on parade in Zelie
ZELIENOPLE — The second day of Horse Trading Days featured a horse parade on Main Street on Friday evening.
Though the community festival is in its 51st year, the Horse Roundup Parade was started six years ago, said organizer Mary Ann Kristophel.
Since its inception, the parade has grown each year.
“People love seeing the horses and people love riding in it,” Kristophel said.
Fourteen groups of riders and two horse-drawn wagons, more than 50 horses total, participated.
The parade is open to any horse owners or riders from the region. They ride from Beaver Street to Main Street to Grandview Avenue where the majority of the festival's food and draft vendors set up.
Kristophel also was the master of ceremonies, standing on the bed of a pickup truck at the intersection of Main Street and New Castle Street and announcing the breeds of horses and their riders.
“Hopefully, it will encourage all of you to get your own horses so you can ride in the parade next year,” she said to the crowd.
The parade started with the Butler County Sheriff's group who carried the American flag, and Emma Lou Sciullo, 10, of Ellwood City, who sang the national anthem.
Groups of riders included owners of stables, residents who own horses as well as horse riding groups the Cowboys for Christ and the National Horse Lovers Association. In addition to horses, there were ponies, miniature horses and a donkey.
The horse parade is unique and charming to Kathy Lucci of Center Township, Beaver County.
“They don't have this anywhere else. It makes you feel wholesome; it makes you think about your roots,” Lucci said.
Julie Frazier, also of Center Township, said the horses and the atmosphere in Zelienople reminded her of her childhood.
“I like Zelienople. It's a horse town, and it's a homey town,” Frazier said.
After visiting Horse Trading Days for the first time last year, Bob and Chris Gossen of Harmony said they enjoyed the event and came back this year.
“It's a good community event, and we enjoyed seeing the horses,” Bob said.
Horse Trading Days continues Saturday with children's games, live entertainment throughout the day and at 7:30 p.m. a concert by the Corbin/Hanner Band in Zelienople Community Park.
