Mardi Gras Horses Find New Hope Through Humane Society’s Adoption Program
Behind the dazzling parades and colorful festivities of Mardi Gras, there’s a heartbreaking truth many don’t see — for years, parade horses were brought in by brokers and, once the celebrations ended, sold off for slaughter.
“We started getting reports a few years ago that some of the parade horses — still wearing leftover glitter and decorations — were being transported to slaughterhouses in Mexico,” Jeff Dorson, founder and executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, shared with FOX 10 New Orleans.
Determined to change this grim reality, the Humane Society of Louisiana launched its Mardi Gras Horse Adoption Program in 2017, and since then, they’ve rescued 106 parade horses from a tragic fate.
“Once we understood what was happening behind the scenes, we knew we had to act fast to ensure these horses would never again face such cruelty,” Dorson said.
Now in its latest season, the life-saving mission continues.
On February 2, the first group of this year’s rescue horses arrived at their temporary stables, including Olaf, a striking white quarterhorse, Buttercup, a shaggy brown mare, and Pongo, a uniquely spotted saddle horse. In total, 20 horses are expected to be adopted this season, and all must find homes before Mardi Gras day on March 4.
Each horse undergoes a full health evaluation by a LASPCA veterinarian to ensure they are healthy and ready to participate in parades.
The Humane Society has also emphasized the importance of responsible adoptions:
“Adopters are welcome to bring their own vet to evaluate any horse they’re interested in, and visits to the stables are available by appointment,” the organization shared on Facebook.
However, they caution that these are rescue horses — many with unknown backgrounds.
“These are not horses for first-time owners,” the group explained in multiple posts. “We strongly recommend that every adopter works with a professional trainer after adoption.”
Beneath photos of the newest arrivals, local supporters and horse lovers flooded the page with appreciation for the nonprofit’s dedication.
“It makes me so happy to see these updates every year,” one commenter wrote. “I’ll definitely be sharing this with all my horse-loving friends.”
Thanks to this compassionate initiative, the horses that once brought joy to Mardi Gras crowds now have a second chance to find loving, permanent homes.