Staff photo by Fritz Busch Veleda Cordes, left, and “Spitfire,” her Mustang Pony of the Americas horse prepare for a parade of horses with Christmas lights at Ridgeway on German Saturday. Cordes and a number of other area horse enthusiasts rode horses with Christmas lights around nursing homes and assisted living facilities Saturday.

NEW ULM — A number of local and area horse-back riding enthusiasts voluntarily spread some Christmas cheer Saturday night riding with Christmas lights adorning their horses as they paraded past nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

“We wanted to do this for people who we thought needed it the most. Since there was no Parade of Lights in New Ulm this year, we felt it was the thing to do,” said Veleda Cordes, who keeps horses in rural Courtland with her husband Wade.

Cordes rode “Spitfire,” her Pony of the Americas horse.

Jane Knaak of New Ulm came up with the lighted horse parade idea and discussed it with people she knows who enjoy riding horses.

A number or horse-back riding lovers hauled their horses to New Ulm, meeting near the dog park near South German Park and Ridgeway on German as the sun set late Saturday afternoon.

The horses appeared to be fine with the idea of being ridden with Christmas lights adorning their flanks.

After riding past Ridgeway on German, the group rode past Oak Hills Living Center, Realife Cooperative, Ridgeway on 23rd, Woodstone and Orchard Hills Senior Living. Residents watched the entourage through windows.