Sheila Troxel Snyder got tears in her eyes Sunday as 26 vibrantly painted life-size fiberglass horses were unveiled at the Central States Fair.

"When you see something like this that took two years in the making actually taking place, it's just amazing," Troxel Snyder, executive director of the 7th Circuit Court Appointed Child Advocates (CASA) program, said.

The Stop Horsing Around program is designed to raise money for the 7th Circuit CASA program, which gives abused and neglected children in the Black Hills area a voice in court.

Troxel Snyder said she got the idea for Stop Horsing Around when she visited Chicago several years ago and saw the "Cows on Parade," brightly painted fiberglass cows on display in the city.

The horses are each sponsored by a community organization, business or individual and each has been painted by a different artist.

The artists are from the Black Hills area as well as other places throughout South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.

They volunteered their time and creativity to paint the horses.

Troxel Snyder said acrylic paint was used on most of the horses but some artists used oil paints and even decoupage.

"This is hundreds of hours of work," she said, looking at the horses displayed on the fairgrounds Sunday afternoon.

Troxel Snyder said she originally hoped to have the horses on display throughout the fair but feared for their security.

Until the 2008 Black Hills Stock Show, when the horses will be auctioned off to raise money, they will be on display at the organizations and businesses that sponsored them.

Some of those places are Rapid Care Medical Center, Bangs McCullen law firm, Casey Peterson and Associates, RCC Western Store and Prairie Edge Trading Co.

A catalog will be printed in the next few months that will feature photos of each horse along with information about the artist and the meaning behind how each horse is painted.

Troxel Snyder said she hopes the Stop Horsing Around program will not only raise money for CASA but will also raise awareness and cause more people to volunteer as advocates.

"We are always in need of more volunteers," she said. "Without them, we don't have a program."

Some of the horses still need sponsors. Those interested in more information about sponsorship can contact CASA at 394-2203.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com