Featured Video: Riding in America’s Thanksgiving Parade

Get a rider's-eye view of what it's like to march through Detroit on horseback in one of America's longest-running parades.

Leslie Potter

November 20, 2016

1881

Two Thanksgiving parades launched in 1924 and are still running today. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York is likely the most well known, but we’re going to give the edge to America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, Michigan. Why? Because Detroit’s celebration has horses.

In this video from last year’s parade, we get a rider’s view of what it’s like to ride with a team from Meadow Reflections Farm of Howell, Michigan. The riders are all mounted on American Saddlebreds decked out in silver parade tack and Christmas-themed accessories. As the parade route goes on, the crowds get bigger and the atmosphere more boisterous, but these equine pros have no trouble handling the task at hand.

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According to a recent article from LivingstonDaily.com, the Meadow Reflections group will be back in the parade this year, led by the flashy pinto Paddyngton’s Mark of Distinction, called “Marcus” around the barn. Marcus is a champion in the parade division on the American Saddlebred show circuit, but is likely best known for his Breyer model, which was the 2014 Store Special at Breyerfest.

So if you need a break from the giant balloons in that New York parade, or from cooking, or from your family’s political arguing, tune into America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday. A list of TV stations around the country that will be showing the parade is available at theparade.org.

15 COMMENTS

Marion November 21, 2016 at 5:57 am
Awesome, always loved the horses in the parades! As a matter of fact, did a few parades myself back in the mid 70’s with my AQHQ horse Waggoners Bum, beautiful palomino all decked out in black and silver tack!
Ann November 22, 2016 at 6:14 am
Best part of any parade, the HORSES!
Jenny November 23, 2016 at 5:48 am
So looking forward to watching the Thanksgiving Day Macy’s Parade, as that’s all I get on my TV channels. But it’s still horses!
Marion November 24, 2016 at 6:05 am
Can’t wait, one hour till the start of the Parade in NYC! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Rob November 25, 2016 at 5:57 am
Don’t forget the Pasadena Parade on New Year’s Day in Ca. Now talk about horses! WOW!
pKL November 25, 2016 at 6:06 am
I did not get to watch the parade, but love to see the pictures.
cc November 28, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Will have to check out the links in the article. Sure looks like Christmas but no snow…..yet!!
Sissy Mom November 28, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Love to watch the beautiful horses with all their silver and glitter.
Alica November 28, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Best part of the parades, the HORSES~
kygal December 2, 2016 at 3:04 pm
have to agree with Alica best part is the horses
CeCe February 5, 2017 at 3:55 am
Yep for sure, best part of any parade is the Horses!
Heather October 8, 2017 at 3:52 am
Love all parades and more so the horses! Just can’t wait to see them strutting their stuff!
Marion November 22, 2017 at 3:55 am
Well tomorrow is the big Macey’s parade in NY Can’t wait to watch it! Hope to see a horse or two!
Joy November 23, 2017 at 3:54 am
Happy Thanksgiving Day today! Hopefully some horses in the parade later on, can’t wait!
Marion November 24, 2017 at 3:54 am
Well disappointed, didn’t see one horse in the Macey’s Day Parade yesterday! But then again, I wasn’t able to watch the entire parade!