Mobile announces new Mardi Gras horse policy after animal collapses during parade

On By Pranco

The City of Mobile will be introducing new policies regarding horses and riders ahead of the 2025 Mardi Gras season.

The new policy comes after public outcry earlier this year a horse collapsed during a parade. The horse was then kicked and punched in an attempt to get it to stand up.

The Conde Cavaliers write in a letter on their Facebook page: said the horse “lay down” because of the crowd noiseand had nothing to do with the weight of its rider. The horse’s collapse was captured on cell phone video and uploaded online, where it went viral.

The video also showed the horse being punched and kicked so that it would get back up with the rider still on it. The organization has said the person who punched and kicked the horse is not a member of the Conde Cavaliers.

The city’s Mobile Animal Services Department helped create the new policy in collaboration with local veterinarians and community partners.

The new policy would do the following:

  • Requires equine medical evaluations performed by a veterinarian.
  • Require riders to complete a basic riding course and provide proof of training.

All horses, including riderless horses or horses used in carriages, must undergo the medical evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that all horses are healthy, vaccinated and able to handle the weight of their rider, if they have one.

The training for riders is designed to ensure that they have basic riding skills and can accurately judge whether a horse is under duress in any way.

During the parades, police officers and animal control officers monitor whether the new policy is being adhered to. Riders or horses found not following the rules will not be able to participate or will be removed from the Mardi Gras parades.

Horses are given a release tag that must be braided into their mane.

To help with the new policies being implemented ahead of Mardi Gras, the City of Mobile Animal Services will host free training for interested riders and a “field day” with free medical exams for showpiece horses.

More information about the use of horses during parades can be found here