Mini Therapy Horses Return to Rose Parade, Showcasing Dual Role as Performers and Healers

Eight miniature therapy horses from a Calabasas-based equine therapy organization will make their sixth appearance in the upcoming Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

The horses are part of Mini Therapy Horses, an organization that provides equine assisted therapy services with miniature horses through regular visits to hospitals, veterans’ facilities, and crisis response situations across Southern California.

The organization’s founder and President, Victoria Nodiff-Netanel, ensures rigorous preparation for the 5.5-mile parade route plus staging areas through daily exercise routines in their neighborhood.

“All 10 of our horses are exercised every single day. I often drive a golf cart and they trot behind up and down the hills in our neighborhood,” Nodiff-Netanel said. “They’re extremely healthy and well maintained like princesses.”

The participating horses will begin their parade day at 4:30 a.m., receiving special preparation including warm mash and decorative braiding for the celebrated event.

Among the performers, Pearl has emerged as a crowd favorite with her distinctive personality.

“Pearl is the biggest show off of all our horses,” Nodiff-Netanel said. “She loves people clapping and she will stand on her hind legs and walk just because people just love that.”

Mini Therapy Horses, which started in 2008 with a single horse at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital, now conducts over 130 outreach visits annually, with 83% being subsidized services.

“When I started my program with the Veterans Hospital, I contacted them and they had no idea what I was talking about,” Nodiff-Netanel said as she reflected on her pioneering role.

Recently named as Equus Guardians in 2024, the program’s impact extends beyond veterans to include children’s hospitals, law enforcement, and crisis response teams, earning recognition as a Guidestar Platinum Charity.

“We work with a lot of children who after surgeries, we actually work with them before they go under anesthesia, while they’re going under anesthesia, as they’re coming out of anesthesia or when they go in for x-rays,” Nodiff-Netanel explained.

Captain Michael Gross of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 91 attested to their impact.

“Every single firefighter is grinning from ear-to-ear,” he said. “The horses are here because they bring a smile to our faces.”

The organization maintains a rigorous schedule, including weekly visits to the Veterans Affairs Hospital and bi-weekly visits to Shriners Children’s Hospital, while serving on Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team.

Two of the organization’s 10 horses, Valentina, their newest and youngest member, and Sky, their largest horse, will remain home during the parade festivities.

Since its inception, the program has expanded to serve tens of thousands of California residents annually, establishing itself as a cornerstone of animal-assisted therapy services.

To learn more about Mini Therapy Horses, visit https://www.minitherapyhorses.com/.