by Mandi Cool, for SPHO of Ohio

Greenville, OH — For the third year, a local group of retired Standardbred owners from SPHO of Ohio will be participating in Greenville, Ohio’s Hometown Holiday Horse Parade on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

SPHO of Ohiio photo

From the 2011 parade: Haylie Harshbarger (left) riding Coalford Admiral and Mandi Cool (right) riding Brickyard Dan.

The local parade has 50-plus group entries this year and brings an estimated 8,000 spectators to the downtown area. Mainstreet Greenville is a non-profit organization and has been coordinating the parade since 2004.

This year’s SPHO participants include more than six Standardbreds, all retired and enjoying life with their new owners.

Haylie Harshbarger will be riding Lookslike Jet. Harshbarger transitions off the track Standardbreds for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and adopted Lookslike Jet several months ago from a private owner.

Mandi Cool will be riding Brickyard Dan, a 12-year-old pacing gelding with earnings of more than $125,000 that she adopted with the help of Standardbred Retirement Foundation last November.

Our featured horse of the group will be 4-year-old Crimson Viking, who will be pulling an antique sleigh. Crimson Viking is owned by Colette Warner and was adopted from New Vocations in 2011.

Other Standardbreds participating include Inspector Hall, adopted by Mandi Cool from New Vocations; Majors Lucky Day, raced and retired by Tiffany Sivils; and V-Mart Bill, adopted by Lisa Nadasi from New Vocations.

The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Ohio is a group of Standardbred enthusiasts in the Buckeye state who get together to enjoy our Standardbreds. SPHO promotes the breed off the track and strives to educate people about the versatility of the Standardbred off the track. SPHO participates in breed demonstrations and parades at locations such as Equine Affaire and the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information on SPHO of Ohio, visit www.sphooh.org. If you would like more information on participating in the parade, contact Mandi Cool at spho.ohio@gmail.com.