If you're concerned you won't be able to find the perfect Halloween costume, imagine trying to find one for a 1,200 pound pet.

For close to 50 horse owners throughout Colorado, this challenge can take up to 100 hours, but the reward is well worth it.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Colorado Horse Park in Parker will welcome close to 15,000 visitors all hoping to get a glimpse at one of man's most trusted creatures dressed as a crayon box, dinosaur, or character from Star Wars.

"It's an amazing event," said Christine DeHerrera, the media coordinator for the ColoradoHorsePark. "The horse costume contest attracts all sorts of interesting people, and it is one of the most unique Halloween celebrations in the country."

Halloween with Horses will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and DeHerrera expects spectators will come from as far as Fort Collins to participate in the event that will also include the Salida Circus and The Westernaires, the Stable of Terror, a pumpkin patch and a petting zoo to name a few.

Quite possibly the biggest attraction, DeHerrera said, is the horse costume contest, which has become the largest, single event in DouglasCounty since its start nine years ago.

Owners and their horses will compete based on their age group for $100, $75, and $50 first thru third place prizes, and all winners will compete for the grand prize worth $1,000.

And the horses don't seem to mind dressing up for the day-and the availability of carrots and treats help.

"Most of them are good natured," DeHerrera said. "Flopping (from the costumes) can scare them a bit, but it's amazing how they tolerate the costumes. It probably comes from the hours of them dressing up as their owners prepare their costumes."

Though, dressing a horse for Halloween doesn't have to take hours, nor does it have to strain the pocketbook, DeHerrera said.

"The cost depends really on how complex the costume, and whether you have one horse or a whole group to dress," she said. "It just depends."

Tickets for spectators, however, cost $9 per person, but if you bring a can of food for the SECOR food bank, you can receive $1 off admission.

DeHerra said Halloween with Horses has been a year in the works, and that it really comes down to community effort.

"The community is why we are so successful," she said. "We've been able to grow pretty much every year because the community puts it on. We have literally hundreds of volunteers, and support from the Town of Parker, the Parker Library, and the Parker Arts Council."