I had always been under the impression that all parade horses were privately owned, well cared for and trained to deal with noise and crowds. This practice of a stable owner buying horses (possibly from unsuspecting previous owners?) for the sole purpose of renting them out to people who want to ride them in a parade and them taking them to the pound when Mardi Gras is over is atrocious and should be banned forever. Just because someone wants to be a parade marshals and ride doesn't mean they should be able to rent a living creature to inflate their egos. This explains the rider that was cited because he was punching his rented horse (

Parade rider issued citation for animal cruelty after seen hitting, kicking ...
www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2018/02/parade_rider_issued_citation_f.html

)in the face!  These horse don't deserve to have their fates rely on a very fast adoption just because someone wanted to be part of a parade. These horses need immediate homes and this practice must be stopped.