NEW ORLEANS – The Humane Society of Louisiana is working with a local stable to find homes for 19 horses that will appear in different Mardi Gras parades this year.
The Humane Society started a program in 2017 to make sure horses brought into the city and leased to Carnival krewes would not be sold at sale, auction barns or possibly for slaughter.
“With the help of our volunteer adoption team, we were able to find great homes for all of the 17 horses that appeared in last year's parades,” HSL director Jeff Dorson said.
Residents who are interested in adopting a horse can view photos on the group’s Facebook page. Adoption fees range from $650 to $1,500, the humane society says. Adoption applications can be made online.
HSL says that there is a “heightened concern” for horses seen in this year’s parades after video of a rider abusing a horse at the Oshun parade surfaced online. The rider, a guest of the Nu Generations Riding Club was cited for animal cruelty and the horse was seized.