There is a sad reality behind the pomp and circumstance of Mardi Gras celebrations: for years, parade horses were brought into the city by horse brokers only to be sold to slaughter once the fanfare died down. 

“Several years ago, we began receiving reports that some of the parade horses, still distinctive with glitter and decorations from Mardi Gras, were spotted en route to slaughter in Mexico,” Jeff Dorson, founder and executive director for the Humane Society of Louisiana, told FOX 10 New Orleans.

That’s when the Humane Society of Louisiana stepped in to help. 

Since 2017, the Humane Society of Louisiana’s Mardi Gras Horse Adoption Program has saved the lives of 106 parade horses. 

“Once we became aware of the sad reality behind the pageantry, we mobilized our team to ensure that none of the Mardi Gras horses would ever again endure this cruel fate,” Dorson said. 

This year, that life-saving operation continues. 

On February 2, the first group of rescue horses arrived at the stables — including a white quarterhorse named Olaf, a shaggy brown mare named Buttercup, and a spotted saddle horse named Pongo. 

In total, the program anticipates adopting out 20 horses this year, all of whom need to be pre-adopted before Mardi Gras begins on Tuesday, March 4. 

Upon arrival, each horse is given a health check-up by a LASPCA vet to ensure that they’re up for the parades and in sound health. 

“Adopters are welcome to have a vet check done on any horse they are considering at their expense and you can visit the stables, by appointment, and see the horses in person as well,” the nonprofit added in a Facebook comment. 

An additional warning was splashed across the adoption program’s Facebook page, reminding prospective adoptees that the history of these horses is unknown. 

“These are rescue horses,” the adoption program echoed in several posts. “They are not first time owner horses…We strongly recommend and encourage every adopter to work with a trainer following the adoption.” 

Beneath the photos of new arrivals, horse-loving locals thanked the nonprofit’s volunteers for their hard work. 

“It makes me so happy every year to see these posts,” one person wrote. “I will definitely be sharing with all my horse people. “ 

Adoptable Mardi Gras rescue horses can be viewed through the Mardi Gras Horses Adoption Program Facebook Page.

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Header image via Humane Society of Louisiana's Mardi Gras Horses Adoption Program Facebook Page