No horses allowed in parade

The Atlanta Christmas Parade is coming up quickly and preparation is underway for another successful parade.

This year’s theme is “A Wild West” which only seems natural to have horses involved.

Unfortunately, that idea has been nixed out of an abundance of caution. Organizers of the event wrote this on Facebook recently – In light of recent concerns surrounding the spread of EHV-1 in Texas, we have made the difficult decision not to allow horses in this year’s parade taking place on Saturday, December 6.

The health and safety of our equine friends, and the peace of mind of their owners, are very important to us, and we feel this is the most responsible step to take. Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asks “every local horse rider, roper, trainer, and breeder to do their part today. Check your horses twice a day, isolate any exposed animals, tighten up your biosecurity, and call your vet the moment something looks off.”

We truly appreciate everyone’s understanding and support as we work to keep our community and our animals safe. We’re still looking forward to a wonderful parade filled with floats, classic cars, monster trucks, local bands, and more. We hope to see you downtown on December 6 at 5:30 p.m.