By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

HAMILTON, Ohio — Saint Francis is considered the patron saint of animals. His feast day is in October and each year around that time, Old Stone Riding Center holds a “Blessing of the Beasts.”
“This is such an honor as a man of God, to bless God’s animal kingdom in His name,” said Pastor Michael Neal, who conducted the service.

God created the animal kingdom for His glory and it is our duty to be good stewards over them, he explained.

“This is one of my favorite services,” said Julie Bath-Primack, manager of Old Stone. “Saint Francis has a reputation of having been really wonderful with the animals. We would like to live in that way with our animals.

“They’re horses; they don’t need to be put in a bed with sheets and blankets, but they do need to have clean water and good food and to be loved. I think animals should be treated like animals. They shouldn’t be put in bubble wrap. I think in general, they need to be able to act in the way they were meant to act.”

At the blessing people clustered around, some on horseback, some with dogs, to take part in the ceremony, which included hymns, invocations and an individual blessing for each animal.

Lauren Niebel wanted her horse, B.C., blessed because she liked him, she said. Her mom, Carma, wanted the blessing because “(Lauren) is a jumper and it will give him the extra strength and the wisdom he needs to keep her safe.”

Tammy Sterwerf brought her cocker spaniel, Whisper, who had just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

“She is sick, so she needs to be blessed,” she said.

Alison Holland had trailered her Thoroughbred, Boss, in for the blessing “because he needs it,” she said.

“The animals are so important. They are in the Bible. I believe in God and this is a nice opportunity to do something for our critters. It is just fun. I’ve been coming up here (to Old Stone) for years. It is a wonderful family place.”

Roxann Sommers said her horse was injured and “needs all of the blessing he can get. I do this every year, good health or bad health; the horses need blessed as we all need blessed.”

Richard House and Kim Thompson were there with dogs Kiko and Cosmo. “It is a beautiful day and it is a beautiful thing to do,” House said.

Added Thompson, “This is a wonderful way that we can all get together and have our beasts, whom we love as our children, blessed, and share fellowship and enjoy the beautiful earth.”

Primack-Bath summed it up like this: “The blessing is as much for the people as it is for the animals. I think it makes us all feel better and it gives us an occasion to come together and celebrate that we are able to have these beautiful creatures in our lives, and if it makes us feel a little better to bless them, I’m all for it.”

Old Stone Riding Center offers full care boarding and year-round instruction in equitation principles for novice through advanced riders. For information phone 513-868-3042 or visit www.oldstoneridingcenter.com