Journal-News.com

HANOVER TWP. — It may be hard to picture an animal that weighs between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds "dancing" with a rider on its back. But horses can and, for more than 25 years, have at the Old Stone Holiday Horse Show held in Hanover Twp.

The two-hour event includes musical riding, gymnastics on horseback and other horse displays.

"It's like a dance recital on horseback," said Julie Bath Primack, owner, operator and, according to some, the spirit of Old Stone. "The kids get a lot out of it, and they get to show off how well they are doing."

Fairfield resident Miranda Wulfhorst, 12, said her favorite part of the show is hanging out with "my horse and my friends and the jump-off."

A jump-off is an extra round held to break a tie for first place after the final round of competition.

Miranda was one of the riders who put their training on display at Saturday's show.

Musical riding was done in groups and by individuals.

Blue Ash resident Emily Walsh, 13, agreed that one of her favorite parts also is being together along with "jumping with the music."

Bath Primack's parents opened the Old Stone Riding Center almost 30 years ago, and she now continues the tradition of teaching basic equitation, dressage, stadium jumping, horse care and training and preparation for showing.

The holiday horse show is a "nice way to introduce people to things you can do with horses and to get our horses trained in an environment where it's a little stressful, and they get to see if they can handle that stress," she said.

"There's not a lot of times when we get this opportunity. In the winter, there are no shows to go to, so we just take advantage of this season when it is a little slower," she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.