Mini Therapy Horses will gallop into sixth Rose Parade appearance

Equestrian groups have long been a staple of the Rose Parade, but some horses again aim to make a big splash despite their small stature.

Mini Therapy Horses, a Calabasas nonprofit group that started in 2008, is participating in the parade this year for the sixth time.

”I’ve lived in Southern California a long time, so the Rose Parade is a very important part of our experience here,” Founder Victoria Nodiff-Netanel said.

Nodiff-Netanel and her mini horses have spread cheer, comfort and companionship while offering equine-assisted therapy to sick children, veterans, disabled people, foster families and first responders for decades.

Mini Therapy Horses founder Victoria Nodiff-Netanel works Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, with 8-month-old mini horse Valentina in Calabasas. Some of the nonprofit group’s horses will be in the 2025 Rose Parade. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Studies have shown that equine therapy leads to an improvement in balance, posture, motor control, posture and range of movements, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Psychologically, benefits of the therapy include improvements in cognitive, emotional and sensory functions.

The horses have participated in the 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 Rose Parades.

Alongside basic commands, they’re trained to do tricks such as smile, give high-fives, play a piano keyboard — and perform a maneuver in which they stand up and walk on their back two legs. They’ll show off many of these tricks on the parade route Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Mini Therapy Horses, a nonprofit group that comforts sick children, disabled people, veterans, service members, first responders and others, will be in the 136th Rose Parade on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. These custom-made and hand-bedazzled vests will be worn in the parade. (Photo by Victoria Ivie, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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The troupe of eight miniature horses will wear a sky blue vest with the group’s name in hand-bedazzled rhinestones, rhinestone harnesses, sparkly ribbons and bows. Their handlers will don color-coordinated blazers and hats.

Horses in the parade will be Blue Moon, Bindi Blue, Lily Blue, Liberty Belle, Willow Blue, Sweet Louise, Penelope Von Schweets and Black Pearl.

The horses regularly visit children’s hospitals, including Shriners Children’s Southern California in Pasadena, the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and the Greater Los Angeles Veteran’s Hospital.

Denise Andrade pets a mini horse at Shriners Children’s Southern California on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Pasadena. Mini Therapy Horses is a nonprofit group that will be in the 2025 Rose Parade. (Photo by Victoria Ivie, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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Other sites they visit include the Ronald McDonald House, the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services Juvenile Court and L.A. Family Housing.

Delva Joseph, who is staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena, came from Belize in Central America for her daughter to be fitted for a prosthetic.

Brinae Myvett, Joseph’s 8-year-old daughter, suffered from sepsis in December 2022, resulting in her right leg being amputated and a 50-50 chance of living because of how severely the infection from a cut on her leg had spread.

Brinae Myvett, 8, pets mini horse Blue Moon in fake snow outside of Shriners Children’s Southern California in Pasadena on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Mini Therapy Horses, a nonprofit group based in Calabasas, visits hospitals to comfort patients. (Photo by Victoria Ivie, Pasadena-Star News/SCNG)

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Brinae and Joseph are staying in the U.S. for the first time and will be here until February for the fitting and a few weeks of physical therapy.

“It’s amazing she gets to experience these horses, one of many new opportunities we’ve had since coming to the U.S.,” Joseph said.

Brinae met Blue Moon, a white miniature horse, at Shriner’s on Thursday, Dec. 19. Hugging the soft creature and petting its long white mane, Brinae had a big smile as she talked to the mini.

Most of the horses have training, including potty training, obstacle navigation, the ability to maneuver around medical equipment, desensitization to loud noises and sudden movements and entertainment tricks.

Brinae will likely work with one of the horses while doing her physical therapy.

“The horses really make a difference in helping motivate kids to do different exercises they need to be doing to help them adjust to the new prosthetic or for any manner of physical disabilities,” Nodiff-Netanel said. “To be able to see these tiny little horse angels and give them a hug is fantastic for these kids.”

Often, the horses help alleviate stress for parents too, she said.

Some of the families have been helped or comforted by Nodiff-Netanel’s mini horses for as long as 12 years.

The Mini Therapy Horses will be No. 24 in the parade, behind the U.S. Army float and in front of the Pasadena Humane Society float.

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