First I just want to say thanks. I know when I have a question about a cake design I am presented with, I can ask my fello cakers' opinion, and yall are so helpful with your replies. <3

I have been asked to make this carousel cake. If it were you, how would you make this one? (The top part). And after it is made, how would you make it steady? What could I make the top from so it isn't too heavy? I will enclose a picture in the comments.

I think I would start by making a sample with card stock paper; just to get the sizing.  I would make the "top" out of very thinly rolled gum paste attached to a piece of styrofoam from the craft store (if I could find the styrofoam.)  If I couldn't, I would probably cut styrofoam to what I needed it to be.  I would want the stability so nothing went crashing.  I would then put a dowel rod all the way through the cake to the bottom to support the top.  I would use a dowel that I could get a striped straw over so the I would have that cool pole.  Just what I would do.

Could you make something strong like this? Maybe even a tube where you can insert a thinner tube (I realize the canopy goes on a thinner one).

http://jessicaharriscakedesign.com/2010/02/a-princess-dress-form-cake/

http://jessicaharriscakedesign.com/2009/09/3-year-old-garden-party-cake/

http://www.craftsy.com/class/clean-and-simple-birthday-cakes/3908?ext=Harris_3908_H&utm_source=Jessica%20Harris&utm_medium=Instructor&utm_campaign=General-Course%20Activity&initialPage=true

http://www.notquitenigella.com/2010/11/04/how-to-make-a-two-tier-wedding-cake-with-faye-cahill/

Great ideas! How would I attach the horse to the straw? 

I would use candy coating to make a strong hold.

By the way, in Jessica's craftsy class, she makes the top of the carrousel with rice krispies so it's light. 

It's a fondant base with a straw over a doweling rod and a dressed cocktail umbrella on the top followed by a toothpick and more fondant... :) The horse is pink candy melt used on a mould.

Is that your cake Shockolata? And is it a small onet? I'm not sure what size the OP is planning on making.

I am planning to do a 6". 

@imagenthatnj  goodness me, that is not my cake but I think this is how it was made. I eyeball it to be a small cake because I see the serving platter, then the board and then the cake. Also the size of the straw is important in figuring out dimensions. So what would fit inside a straw and be umbrella shape? A cocktail umbrella. You open it up and dress it in fondant. I can see a bit on the left of it that looks like wood. I am going to search the image and see who's created it.

This cake was designed by https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marlise-Ross-CAKES/427519517343130?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser however, the cake pictured above is a copy and you can easily tell it by the lack of attention to detail. If you are really keen on doing this cake, why not contact Marlise directly and see if she is willing to divulge her method? 

Thanks Shockolata! It looks like she has stopped making cakes, which is a shame, because it looks like she did a good job with them. I think I am gonna try out a few of the suggestions here, and buy the Craftsy class as well. The class will likely be a good resouce for future cakes besides just this one. 

Does anyone know where I can find a good horse mold? 

Just put 'horse mold' in a search engine! ;)

That crafsy class is a gem. It would be good to get it at $20. I think they're having a sale and you can always go to Jessica Harris' blog to get the 50% off coupon. I saw the party where the other cake comes from, and yes, it's a small one. I did a moving carousel cake for my niece 8 yeas ago and I wish I had the craftsy class back then.

Shockolata, you were speaking with such authority about the cake that I thought it was yours! I also hadn't seen the lack of attention to detail since I was just trying to help while I'm at work!

Here are some links. I'm interested in this theme because my friend's daughter will turn one pretty soon, and I want to steer her into a carousel party, even though I won't be making the cake. I think I'm liking the ones where you insert the stick already in the silicone mold.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/245008265/big-size-3d-carousel-horse-mold-cupcake?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=carousel%20cake&ref=sr_gallery_6

http://www.amazon.com/Molds-silicone-fondant-gompaste-M4696/dp/B00937WTGO

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-The-carousel-cake-mold-silicone-baking-fondant-chocolate-cookie-decoration-vivid-cartoon/32382207172.html

http://www.fancyflours.com/product/3D-Carousel-Chocolate-Mold-3-Piece-Set/Circus-party-theme

Lol funny how a quickly written response can sound like that, eh? By the way, I found an umbrella mold that would work for the carousel top. But I also thought of a way of using rice crispies to make the canopy part. The carousel horse mold you discovered is ideal - well done! Ships to the UK, too. The only ones I found here were £50 !!!