Preparing Your Horse for Parades

Desensitizing Your Horse

The most important step you can complete to prepare your horse for a parade is to desensitize him as much as possible. Parades are in a new place with loud sounds, surprises, costumes, and more.

You may feel these things will not scare your horse, but you never truly know how an animal will react. A horse starts the day with an empty cup. Each trigger puts a little more liquid into the cup. A parade has so many triggers that the cup can overfill. Your horse will be left agitated and afraid.

New Environments

Your horse adapts to his pasture and lets his guard down. To prepare your horse for a parade, load him into the trailer and go to new places. Simply riding in the trailer is good practice. However, you should expand it to different locations and riding terrains. Remember, most parades will be on asphalt. 

Loud and Sudden Sounds

Parades are full of loud sounds. Some of them you cannot predict. At a parade, your horse could experience the following:

• Talking, screaming, shouting
• Bands
• Fire or police sirens
• Flags and tarps flapping
• Fireworks or noisemakers
• Vehicles, strollers, bicycles

It is best to expose your horse to these sounds early to help promote a calm response. Overall, exposure will lessen your chance of a fearful reaction. The real goal is to teach your horse that these sounds will not hurt them. 

Balloons and Flags

Besides the sounds that flags or tarps produce, they also move suddenly and erratically. This sudden movement can startle even the calmest horses. Work on desensitizing your horse to these objects in a round pen or arena at home until they become more comfortable.

Costumes and Decorations

Traditionally, riders and horses dress up for the parade. You will want to expose and desensitize your horse to the feel and sound of a costume on himself, on other horses, and you. 

Ride Next to Experienced Horses

Horses make decisions primarily with the herd. If your horse is riding next to a calm parade horse, your horse will feed off that. Pair your horse with an experienced one. This step is not a substitute for desensitization but is an additional safety idea to help keep your horse calm. 

Never Force the Situation

 You know your horse better than anyone. As you enter the parade grounds, take an assessment of your horse. You can certainly expect your horse to be more on guard. However, you do not want to see an overreaction or fear. If you do see your horse is frightened, choose to skip the parade. The experience of a new location and sound is still beneficial. 

Start Small

With a rookie parade horse, choose smaller parades to start. Smaller parades will bring fewer overall “threats” and boost your horse's confidence.

Relax and Enjoy It

Just like your horse feeds off other horses, he will also feed off you. Stay calm for your horse and enjoy the parade. Each parade will build confidence. Moreover, your support and gentle urging will help your horse feel safe.