[Sandra-A1]

Some of your smaller community parade put all the horse groups at the very end and not mixed in with the rest of the parade.
That way the walking groups, such as the marching bands do not have to "step in anything." If this is the case you won't have too much to worry about.
I rode in two Christmas Parades in Georgia one year and in the first, the Arabian group I was riding with was placed right in front of an old/classic/antique firetruck...with bells, siren, smoke.steam?
Anyway, the first several minutes during the parade line up was really "interesting" for several of the riders, but after a bit of calm discussion with the driver of the truck (about keeping a "reasonable" distance from the horse group)...and allowing the horses to get used to all the noise and smells...as well as understanding that the truck would not be getting all that close to them...once the parade started up and the horses got to moving...the few that were a bit anxious took their cue from the calm horses in the group that we surrounded them with and then relaxed and started to enjoy themselves.
The next Christmas parade I rode in placed my group in a better position as we were between some convertibles with some group's queens riding in them....but...... they were tossing candy to the crowd and the crowd control was not all that good so.... we had people rushing toward us from both sides...the whole route.

So, while you can prepare your horse a bit at home...what you actually can do is prepare yourself for how you will deal with any problems that might ariase with your horse during the parade because you never know what the parade will throw at you...each one is always different.

[Heavenly Jumper]

This is WONDERFUL.

When my MIL was doing more mounted police work we used these CD's with great success. In addition to other experiences, these are a fantastic tool.

http://www.harmonyacresparadehorses....ining-cds.html

There is even a parade specific one


SpookLess Sound Conditioning CD: Parade

Designed to desensitive horses to the sounds encountered during Parades. Designed for Equestrian training, but also popular for dog training.

Sounds included:
Air Brakes
Big Truck Braking
Cars & Trucks
Children & Babies Screaming
Crowd Cheering
Dog Whistles
Dogs Barking
Farm Animals
Firecrackers
Four Wheeler
Gun Shots
Horns Horse-Drawn Vehicles
Horses on Roads
Noisy Fan
Noisy Horse Trailer on Road
Sirens
Slamming Doors
Thunderstorm
Whinnies
Bagpipes
Big Cats & Elephant
Calliope
Cannon Cans Rattling
Car Alarms
City Busses
Fireworks
Helicopters
Marching Band
Motorcycles
Parade Ride
Show Organ
Sleigh Bells
Trains
Wood Bridge

[Chelle2005]

get him use too sirens, and flashing lights it never fails all the parades we are in we get stuck somewhere near the firetrucks and blaring horns!!!!

[roxyroller91]

Thanks everyone. You have been so helpful. I will have to look into getting that CD Heavenlyjumper. And thanks Sandra, very helpful.

I will need to start working on myself also, being ready for anything.