Ladies Godiva Riding Group

Happy Ladies Godiva Day!! It's finally upon us and we are excited to see you all out there on the route. On this Krewe of Muses , we are sharing some of our favorite signs along the route. Thank you for the support and love!! 💜💚💛🐎

Jeff Goad Kurt Owens

Presenting the beautiful Lady Alison who is not parading with us this year but will surely be missed! Happy MusestHERSday and Ladies Godiva Day Lady A!
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"I started getting interested in horses when I took my first riding lesson at age 11. I mowed neighbors' lawns and did odd jobs to take lessons with my best friends at a local dude ranch. After that, there was no looking back! I started to participate in the local speed events, barrel racing, and 4-H activities in northern Michigan. I started the equestrian club at my high school (it was only 2 of us, but we showed up and took the shows seriously) and rode my horses in the small-town parade we hosted every year. I taught horseback riding at our local kids' camp in the summers and volunteered for a local equine therapy barn in my spare time.

I got involved with the Godivas through Dr. Allison Barca. She was my vet after moving from Michigan to Mississippi to Louisiana, I landed at a small barn near the airport called Windsong Stables. I rescued a draft horse cross, named Vera who was underweight and in need of some TLC. Dr. Barca saw Vera and said she would be the perfect parade horse for the Godivas! I had never heard of the group or considered riding in Mardi Gras, nor did I think it was even possible. After getting more information from her and nursing Vera back to health, another barn friend and I decided to join the krewe!

Riding with the Ladies Godiva was something new and wondrous. Various friends have joined me on the Muses adventures as Lady Godiva, walking my horse or riding alongside me.

I'm a horse lover at heart and in order to fund my obsession, I work at Tulane University as an Administrator in the department of Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. My background is in social work and public health and I hold a doctorate in social work. I am an adjunct professor in health policy and teach occasionally for the department. I am especially interested in the intersection of public health and social work and have done extended research on equine therapy for PTSD.

And a fun fact about me: I tried falconry for the first time on my trip to the UK last fall! Now I'm obsessed and want to get a bird of prey and hunt with them on horseback."

Jeff Goad Kurt Owens

Presenting the lovely Lady Britten, a native New Orleanian and currently Florida based Godiva who not only dresses up with a horse for the Godivas but also quite frequently in her "normal" life.
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Lady Britten has been riding horses since she was a child growing up in Mandeville. One of her first heart horses was a pony aptly named "Biggie" who had a huge heart and an even bigger personality to offer to a little girl who loved jumping, and "fun shows" and didn't much care for dressage.

In her day to day, Britten can usually be found behind a computer in Fort Myers, FL from which she manages a team of client success partners for a global IT research and advisory firm.

But on the weekend, she can be found at the barn trail riding with the barn girls or dressing up her Appaloosa horse Mo (show name Modified - how fitting)! Together they did 12 months of holiday themed dress-up and are now slowly working through the theme of famous book characters.

Lady Britten was brought into the Godivas by her sister in 2017 and she has paraded almost every year since. One of her most memorable Godivas year was the infamously chaotic 2020 when we all slept in full makeup in hopes to ride the next day... and then sadly did not. However, the silver lining was being able to finally watch the Muses parade and catch a stiletto for herself!

Lady Britten loves parading every year not only because her favorite holiday is Mardi Gras, horses and dressing up but because it's so much fun to plan, prepare and hang out with the other Godivas every parade day. She loves watching the crowd interact with the Godivas and their horses - from the adults with the witty signs and stories of horses past to the kids who share pony dreams and want to know if the costume is "really real."

She hopes to see all of you on the parade route for her T Swift bracelet inspired "Ride Naked" horseshoes. Happy Mardi Gras y'all!

Jeff Goad Kurt Owens

While she may not be riding this year, we want to wish Lady Rebecca all the best and hope she will ride again soon! Here's a little bit about one of our past Godivas so she can share in the fun from far away New England! 💜💚💛🐎

"When I was still living in Louisiana, my vet, Dr. Allison Barca, mentioned the Godivas to me. At the time I was moving out of town and I wasn’t sure I would be able to come back, but fortunately I was able to ride with the most wonderful ladies for Mardi Gras 2023.

I am a lifelong equestrian, having started riding at the age of six. I was involved in United States Pony Clubs, and competed in Dressage and Eventing. Being a part of this amazing community of women was amazing. I was welcomed in with open arms, and made new friends. I think my favorite part about parading is seeing friends along the route and being able to hand them our hand-decorated horseshoes.

Outside of the Godivas, I work in the insurance industry. I am also an avid hiker and can be found most weekends hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, or parts of the Appalachian Trail.

I love baking. For the last couple of years, I have been baking my own French Galette des Rois and traditional New Orleans king cake for friends and family in New England."



Jeff Goad Kurt Owens