I Love a (Horse) Parade

by Lisa Kiley | Published in the Horsemen’s Corral August 2022

In cities and small towns all over the world, parades are used to bring people together, to celebrate holidays, events, and ideas.  It’s hard to deny that parades can evoke many happy memories. I am sure I am not the only one who, when thinking about parades, remember equating these festive times with horses. 

As a little girl, I remember seeing horses ride by in my small-town parade and thinking, ‘I want to do that’ and later as a member of a 4-H club, getting to ride my own pony through town.  Now, I am lucky to live in a place that has one of the best parades in the country and one of the largest horse parades this side of the Mississippi, the Delaware, OH All Horse Parade. 

I wanted to find out a little more about how this parade got started and some of the best ways to enjoy it, so I talked to Diane Winters who has been part of the parade from its inception in 1986.  Winters recalled that it was Red Reed of the Delaware Gazette who approached her with the vision of the All Horse Parade.  With her experience in the horse world, he felt that she would be able to help make this idea a reality. 

“The first year, there were 55 horses in the parade and by the second year, there were 155,” she reported.  “There was a learning curve as we figured out through trial and error that having the parade start and stop at the fairgrounds and take place on the Sunday before the fair prevented traffic backups for those bringing in other livestock for the fair.”   

Winters shared that the idea of the parade was to bring attention to the activities in the small town (as it was when the parade started). There were lots of horse related activities and the parade showcased local horses in the area including horses that would be showing at the fairgrounds. It also highlighted the famous Little Brown Jug race that happens during the fair week every year. 

As the town has grown, the popularity and participation in the parade has also increased drawing in participants from MI, PA, IN, KY and even as far as GA.  However, there are some fundamentals that have stayed the same in the 36-year run that has only seen two cancellations in all its years (one from flooding and the other from covid). 

Winters explained, “Outside of the police escort at the beginning and ending of the parade, there are no other motorized vehicles allowed, which keeps the focus on the horses,” for similar reasons, no politicians permitted in the parade either.    

Having a parade board that has horse sense is evident and makes for a wonderful experience for participants and those who are there to watch.  If you are thinking that you might like to participate in the upcoming parade, Winters advised that participants should download the form on the fair website to get all the details. 

In addition, she mentioned, “horses should be used to loud noises such as clapping and cheering and the sound of the band.  They should also be able to stand patiently and quietly, as sometimes there can backups along the parade route.” 

She also shared that there are some dress and grooming requirements to make sure that participants are properly turned out to make for a great show for spectators. 

The parade route is just over two miles long and there is a map available to help determine what some of the best spots on the route are for setting up chairs.  It’s a good idea to arrive early as parking can be challenging on the day of the event, but there are plenty of great places to watch the parade from.  Bring some drinks and snacks to enjoy while waiting for the parade to get going. 

Winters did advise that parking is allowed at Hayes High School, but make sure that you are planning to stay for the duration of the event because you won’t be able to leave the parking lot until the parade has ended. 

Additionally, there are many fun events that happen along the parade route, many people have parties on the day of the event, and horse bingo is a fun activity where chalk lines are laid out on the street and participants scrawl their names in a block hoping that a horse will leave a ‘deposit’ in their square.  You can also pick up a parade t-shirt to show your support. 

“We are very thankful to the sponsors of the parade, which include Byers Auto and the local Eagles, and to all those who have sponsored in the past as well,” Winters also mentioned that the parade relies on the help of volunteers.  “There have been different teams from Ohio Wesleyan University and other groups that help clean up the streets as we go – especially in front of the bands.” 

When asked what volunteer opportunities are available, Winters mentioned banner carriers, cleanup crews, and helpers at the fairgrounds.  “It’s always nice when we have people who have experience with horses that can volunteer, it helps things run smoothly on the day of the parade.” 

This year the parade will be held on Sunday September 11^th and will start from the Delaware County Fairgrounds at 3pm.  You can find the entry form, rules, and parade route Here.  If you have any questions, you can also contact Diane Winters directly at 740-272-7636.