Ada Gates: Pioneering Farrier Ensures Safety and Tradition at the Rose Parade

Ada Gates, a trailblazer in the world of farriery, plays a crucial role in the annual Rose Parade as the official Horseshoe Inspector, ensuring the safety and security of the horses that grace the iconic Pasadena event.

Ada Gates made history as the first woman in the United States to attain the prestigious title of Certified Journeyman Farrier. A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses’ hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if necessary. 

Gates’ journey into this male-dominated field was not without its challenges. Rejected initially, Gates persevered, proving her mettle and breaking barriers to become a respected figure in the world of farriery.

“Before I became licensed, I was rejected by ranchers in Colorado when I first started out. I was hired, thankfully, by housewives that wanted me to come and take care of their ponies, their daughter’s pony, which was fine,” Gates recalls. “Eventually I did start working for ranchers because they really were desperate for a horseshoer, and so they had to get over having me.” 

In Colorado, her path to farriery began unexpectedly when a broken-down car led her to a horseshoeing school, setting the stage for a career that would span over four decades. A New Yorker, Gates eventually came to California after some encouragement from a friend. 

In 1978, Gates became the first woman farrier licensed to shoe Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States and Canada. She was licensed at the Santa Anita Race Track and became a member of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades. 

Gates’ unique status gave her great opportunities and led to many years of selfless service, including farrier liaison for the 1984 Olympic Games. She has also been President of the California Thoroughbred Foundation Board of Directors, and member of the farrier committee for the World Equestrian Games. 

In 2008, Gates received the Edward Martin Humanitarian Award at the American Farrier’s Association Convention in Lexington, Kentucky. She is a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame and the farrier consultant for the Online University of horse trainer Monty Roberts.

Gates’ involvement with the Rose Parade spans more than 20 years. As official Horseshoe Inspector, she’s in charge of making sure that all horses that go in the parade are properly shod with traction devices. 

“Horses wear steel shoes, and steel shoes on pavement are very slippery, especially when you add the hydraulic fluid that comes out of floats spontaneously, and that’s oil,” she said. “That combined with the cement is very slippery. So we cannot have horses falling down.” 

She has also created mandatory shoeing specifications for all parade horses, which at any given year averages about 200. 

The meticulous inspection process involves checking for proper shoeing and traction devices for the horses, and starts with meetings in September and culminates in thorough inspections on Dec. 28 and the morning of the parade. Gates’ strict approach ensures the safety of both the horses and their riders during the event.

Gates emphasized the evolution of her role, becoming more specific and strict over the years, allowing only steel shoes with traction devices or barefoot considering the unique challenges of the parade route. 

“I only have one or two standby blacksmiths available to me to work on horses, and we can just do a very simple approach,” Gates said. “If people don’t care for that and they’re upset about it, I’d say, ‘I’m terribly sorry. You don’t have to go in this parade if you don’t want to.’” 

As a seasoned farrier, Ada Gates offers advice to aspiring individuals entering the field, emphasizing the importance of dedication, continuous learning, and serving apprenticeships. She believes that high-profile events come with experience and skill, urging newcomers to start where they are planted and gradually work their way up.

“It’s a very tough job. It takes two years to get fit, it takes 10 years to sort of maybe be okay, and it takes 20 years to be really, really good,” she said. “During those 20 years, you better serve apprenticeships, you better go to clinics, you better stay awake, and you better have the drive to be good and to be a servant to the horse. If not, you shouldn’t be in the business.” 

Although Ada Gates would prefer being behind the scenes, ensuring the horses’ safety without seeking the spotlight, she and her legacy in farriery, along with the skill and dedication of many others in Pasadena, contribute to the continued success of the Rose Parade.