Clockwise from top left , Horsepower at 210 22nd Avenue , C . C . Rider at 2601 Davis Street , Wildcat Sunrise at Meridian High School , Mr . Ed-ucation at Meridian Community College , Northeast Middle School ' s Trojan Spirit horse on Highway 39 North and Caretaker at Greater Meridian Health Clinic at 2701 Davis Street .
chure , between 70 and 90 have been sponsored over the years , Culpepper said . Unfortunately , not all are still on exhibit . Some of the horses were put in storage after businesses closed or organizations disbanded , and at least one was damaged from a car accident .
Hope Village plans to inventory all of the carousel horses still on exhibit and try to locate any original horses that were put in storage to see if they can be restored or repurposed and brought back out for the community to enjoy , Culpepper said .
New fiberglass horses continue to be added to the exhibit each year with Northeast Middle School and BWI Companies Inc . unveiling ponies during 2023 . Mugshots is expected to have its horse completed this year , Culpepper said .
Businesses , schools and organizations can still sponsor a horse at their location for a cost of $ 3,000 , she said , with much of the expense going to purchase the fiberglass sculpture . Any- one interested in a horse outside their business can contact Hope Village or fill out an application on the “ Getting a Horse ” link under the Carousels Abound heading on the Hope Village website at hopevillagems . org . Sponsors are responsible for commissioning the sculpture to be designed and painted by an artist , she said . Hope Village will work with Charlie Beddingfield ’ s Perfection Collision Center to add a clear coat to the horse at no cost to the organization .
The original Around Town horses are now more than 20 years old , and the elaborate designs and radiant colors on many of them have faded and the paint has chipped and peeled . But , the horses still bring a smile to the faces of visitors , children and residents for their art and beauty .
Anyone interested in the downtown Around Town walking tour , can view the map and brochure under the Attractions link under the Plan Your Visit tab at visitmeridian . com . M www . meridianstar . com
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