By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – As Pups in the Park drew scores of dog lovers to Highway 51 Park in LaPlace and the festival at Oak Alley Plantation attracted even more visitors to its grounds, another event was quietly taking place on the edge of LaPlace.

The Greater New Orleans Therapeutic Riding Center, which benefits mentally and physically disabled people through interaction with animals, held its eighth annual Plop Drop, and according to Executive Director Anita Hefler, the event was an unbridled success.

For the event, the riding field was sectioned off into squares, and two horses were set free to act as horses are wont to do. The two squares in which the horses answer the call of nature first are the winners.

The horses chosen for the task this year were Egyptian Mirage and Danny. The former did its business early in the day, but attendees had to wait until nearly 3 p.m. for Danny to “choose” a winner.

Hefler said this was only the second time in the event’s history that all squares were sold. This enabled the Riding Center to raise more than $7,600 for upkeep of the facilities and care for the animals.

Throughout the afternoon, those in attendance enjoyed various activities centered on the dirtier side of farm life, such as poo-poo putt-putt and the cow patty toss, as well as more conventional games like the egg toss.

The Riding Center’s next fundraiser will come on April 17, when regional motorcycle enthusiasts will gather for the annual Harley for Horses ride.

Registration for the event starts at 9 a.m., and riders will depart from the LaPlace Travel Center at 4325 U.S. Highway 51 in LaPlace at 11 a.m. The entry fee is $30 for a single rider and $45 for a rider with a passenger.

The fee includes lunch and free admission to the post-run celebration at Cadillac’s Rock ‘n’ Country Saloon in LaPlace.

Helfer said the ride’s namesake, a pig named Harley, died in October, so this year’s run will be held in Harley’s memory.

“We miss her. She was such a ham!” said Hefler.

For more information, call 504-466-9960 or visit www.gnotrc.com.