Photo by Jody Isaackson Merle Jaacks of Flandreau, South Dakota, gives his 2-year-old grandson Hudson Krull a ride on Prince just prior to the Sunday morning trail ride at Hole-on-the-Mountain Park in Lake Benton. The ride was one of several horse-related events held during Lake Benton’s 72nd annual Saddle Horse Holiday over the past weekend.

LAKE BENTON — Riding horses at the 72nd annual Saddle Horse Holiday is a family affair for Rosemary and Merle Jaacks of South Dakota.

“We’ve been coming here for over 50 years,” Rosemary Jaacks said Saturday before mounting her horse for the trail ride. “We’ve been coming so long that when I called to reserve a camping spot, the manager said he already had us penciled in. My husband has mowed this place for over 50 years.”

Their children and grandchildren gathered around Rosemary Jaacks for a little prayer before mounting the dozen or so horses they brought to Lake Benton over the weekend.

Merle Jaacks rode his brown quarter horse gelding, Prince to pick up his 2-year-old grandson, Hudson Krull, for a quick ride before the major trail ride started. Hudson had been waiting for a ride all morning, ever since his dad, Justin Krull, made breakfast for everyone.

“Justin is the fire chief in Flandreau,” Rosemary Jaacks said proudly. “So, he’s had a lot of experience cooking for pancake fundraisers.”

The Jaacks had raised eight children with horses and participation in the Saddle Horse Holiday roundup of events.

Their daughter, Dani Jaacks, was spraying her horse against flies while her daughter, Ivy, 8, sat atop the Arabian horse, Desire, that Dani Jaacks had had since she was 8years old.

Also prior to riding on Prince, Krull had been following around the family pony, Brown Bullet, who was giving Krull’s siblings and cousins rides around the campground at Horse Hill, which is located at Hole in the Mountain Park near Lake Benton.

Horse Hill was also the site of the horse show that followed the city festival’s parade on Sunday.

More than 30 riders and their mounts road through the parade, bringing up the tail end and showing off their colorful steeds. There were Paints, quarter horses, Arabians and other assorted breeds that were as excited to be there as their owners, nickering, whinnying and prancing about.

The riders were able to show off what their horses could do as they ran in races like Egg & Spoon, Keyhole Race (for 13 and under, and 14 and up), Kids Boot Races, Jump Figure 8, Junior Figure 8, Mystery Game for Kids (6 and under), Junior Barrel Race, Senior Barrel Race, Junior Pole Bending, Senior Pole Bending, Rescue Race, Monkey on a Barrel (13 and under), Four In A Line and Hangman’s Race.

They also had an event for horseless children, the Kids Stick Horse Race (6 and under, 7-10).

There were prizes in each event for three placings, committee members said.