Entries sought for Days of '47 horse parade

"You only have to be able to handle a horse and control it."

Days of '47 All Horse Parade chairman Merl Thurgood cited that as the only requirement for entry into the annual parade. June 10 is the deadline to enter a horse in the event, which will be July 10 at the Sandy Towne Center.

"Our forefathers came by horse and wagon," Thurgood said Wednesday morning. "And we like to relive the way our grandparents got here."

There will be over $3,000 in cash prizes for 11 of 12 categories for horses and wagons. Some of the categories include: authentic wagons (iron/wood wheels); adult group - small (fewer than 14 people); ponies/mini-horses; and a humorous category.

Categories will be judged on cleanliness and grooming of the horses, presentation, attire and staging etiquette.

The parade has featured as many as 400 participants, but was canceled last year because of a horse virus found in Canada and the U.S. Eight cases were confirmed in Utah, but the outbreak was declared under control mid -June of 2011.

To register for the parade, visit http://www.daysof47.com/events/all-horse-parade/.

mappelgate@sltrib.com