The Most Attractive Parade Horses

The most attractive of all is the Animated Parade Horse, such as the American Saddlebred. I think that Michelle McFarland of Scripps Miramar Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe is the most renowned of all for her famous Pinto American Saddlebreds in their yearly presentation in the infamous Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. The animated Parade Horse performs what is called the Parade or Park Walk along the Parade route. This is a modified trot, in which the horse is barely moving forward but the impulsion is causing the horse to move in a very vertical motion of the legs. The front and back legs are quite high and very animated as the horse literally STRUTS along the Parade route. Head held high, and legs bouncing the horse along in a brisk motion, yet slow and very showy gait. This is the reason many fall in love with the American Saddlebred, this tremendous ability to show off in the midst of crowds and clamour!