Rose Parade Official Farrier Ada Gates Patton Makes Sure that Parade Horses Have Sure Footing

Longtime Southern California farrier Ada Gates Patton has one job in the Rose Parade. Just one. But it’s oh so important.

Patton is the horseshoe inspector for the 2023 Rose Parade and her job is to ensure that horses participating at the parade are safe during the iconic New Year’s Day tradition (although the 2023 Rose Parade is on Jan. 2, traditionally it is always held on Jan. 1). 

Speaking to Pasadena Now, Gates Patton said making sure that every horse has on the proper shoes with traction devices on them, is important so the chance of horses slipping over and being injured is minimized. 

Gates Patton’s work as horseshoe inspector starts days prior to the parade.

Ahead of the parade, she informs marshals of everything they need to know including information about the traction devices, how they are used, where to buy them and how they’re placed onto the shoes. 

On December 29, during the rehearsal for Equestfest, she goes to the stabling area in Burbank to check if the horses are compliant with the rules.

If the owner or rider of a horse has used some different kind of a traction device that’s either non-compliant or has worn off, then her farrier Bert Lee will repair them to make them compliant. 

Before the horses march, Gates Patton does her last inspection at the pit, where all the horses are lined up.

“I can’t spot check 200 horses, so they don’t know what horse I’m going to check. So they have to have all their horses ready.” 

“If they’re not ready by then, they’re not ready. There’s no fixing, there’s no fixing in the pit. It’s done. You better be ready.”

Once she has checked the horses in the pit, her job is done.

“There are up to six veterinarians on duty from 4:00 in the morning until well after the parade, and they’re lined up down the parade route. So if there’s any problem with the horse, veterinarians take care of that. There’s no more horseshoeing or horseshoe checking after I leave them.”

Gates Patton has been working as a volunteer for Rose Parade for over 20 years. She was working for Linda Klausner, former equestrian chair of the Rose Parade when she volunteered to become horseshoe inspector after Klausner told her that the parade was having problems with horses slipping on the pavement.

“I got the job unexpectedly and I just had to create the job. I just had to figure it out and create it.” 

“I have learned over the years [that] I’ve had to modify what’s allowed. I’ve had to get tighter and tighter. If you give too many options, people just become confused and they don’t know what to do. So I just keep it real tight, real simple.” 

Through her work at the Rose Parade, she has met people that she has never met before and gone to many places.

“I go places behind the scenes in the Rose Parade that the public never sees,” she said. 

“I get invitations to a party here and there. I’m not paid, but I do get certain benefits,” Gates Patton said. “To me it’s been a huge honor. I’m honored to be part of such an extraordinary event because there’s no event like it in the world, there really isn’t.”