The City of Mobile has updated its 2026 Mardi Gras parade policies to enhance the safety and welfare of horses, riders, and spectators. Key changes include Animal Control Officers conducting on-site health evaluations of horses using national standards, replacing the previous veterinary certificate requirement. Horse owners must submit comprehensive health records, including a negative Coggins test and proof of vaccinations, by January 23, 2026. Rider safety measures have also been improved, with streamlined training requirements—owners riding their own horses need training every three years, while those leasing horses must refresh annually—and mandatory helmets for riders aged 16 and under.

Additionally, the city will offer a free rider training clinic before the 2026 season and will continue close coordination with parade organizations, stables, and law enforcement to enforce these standards. Horses failing to meet the updated policies may be removed from parade routes to ensure overall safety. Full details of the 2026 Horse Policy are available on the City of Mobile’s Mardi Gras Dashboard.