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 Erin who is not only a past Godiva but also our current wig genius! While she hasn't ridden in a while, we love having her every year as part of our important behind-the-scenes krewe!
Also... to the origin story of the coveted Ladies Godiva HorseSHOE!
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For the last five years, Lady Erin has been the creative genius behind every Lady Godiva’s lush and flowing locks and she loves doing them! It takes weeks for her to untangle, wash and restyle the numerous wigs required for the Ladies' Godiva annual march as part of the Krewe of Muses.

Not only that but she's also able to keep up with any changes the Godivas make to their overall style and themed look for the year; from adding hair extensions and hair glitter to helping adorn us with lit crowns, ivy wreaths (or that one year - real hay headpieces (a fan favorite amongst the 4-legged members).

While Lady Erin is best known to newer Ladies for her amazing wig-making capabilities, she actually started out as a Lady Godiva herself in 2009. In the following year, Erin had an epiphany while at her home in Baton Rouge surrounded by her seven horses and all their used shoes - “I’m gonna decorate horseshoes!” She and her husband pulled all the nails out, cleaned them and because it was near Valentine’s Day, she spray painted them all red and decorated them. It was an idea that would change the Godivas “throw game” forever. And what makes more sense than the Godivas making horseshoes to accompany the stilettos thrown out by Muses??

Kurt Owens Jeff Goad

The Ladies Godiva honor our late co-founder Lady Ellen...mother, wife, surgeon, horsewoman, lover of life, BADASS!!! She is missed beyond words. 💜💚💛🐎

In 2002, Ellen met her heart horse, Sugar Jack, a tiny, chestnut Morgan gelding that fit her wild and free nature. The two could be seen in the evenings galloping full speed down the Mississippi River levee with Jack’s mane flying and Ellen flat against his neck!

Ellen paved the way for the fruition of Allison Barca’s dream of a LADIES GODIVA parade group when she witnessed a female scuba diver in a n**e-colored wetsuit appear completely naked from afar! Within a year, five airbrushed wetsuits paraded with the Krewe of Muses on medieval costumed horses for the first time!

Ellen was a beloved OBGYN to so many women and the tales of her prowess in delivering stubborn babies in impossible scenarios is legendary. She was small but mighty, charging through the halls of Ochsner Hospital and practicing medicine and surgery HER way, with patient care of primary importance!

She married her late husband David and the two purchased a tract of land in Poplarville, MS where they hunted deer and boar regularly. Ellen once shot dinner, a turkey tom, right from her kitchen window! Another night, she shot a dangerous boar that was approaching her in the dark while she was smoking a cigar and admiring the night sky alone on the farm.

She approached LADIES GODIVA with the same excitement and exuberance as she did everything else in her life and eagerly shopped for signature throws for the group each year. She breathed energy and giddiness into preparations for our big night every single year.

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

Honoring Lady Liz who is not parading this year but holds a special place in the hearts of the Ladies Godiva! Look for her in the quarter these days still seeing the streets of NOLA between the ears. 💜💚💛🐎

"I have ALWAYS loved all equines, and got my first horse for my 13th birthday. While I’ve never had any formal riding instruction, my horse, Toby, and I were fearless as we rode all over Harahan and the Mississippi River levee – sometimes even swimming together in the river batture. And as I watched mounted horse units in Carnival parades over the years, I always thought, “One day I’m going to ride a horse in a parade.” When I saw the Ladies Godiva in Muses their first year I knew - I HAVE to do that!

As school, work, and family took most of my time and money, I was without a horse from 17 years old until I got Bandit for my 55th birthday. But once I got him, I immediately resumed my interest in riding with the Lady Godiva group. It helped that Ellen Kruger, one of the founding members, kept her horse at the same place I boarded mine. In 2019 I fulfilled my lifelong dream of riding my own horse in a Carnival parade, and it was even more incredible than I imagined - because I got to do it ‘naked’ as a Lady Godiva! It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

Having ridden on a float in Orpheus a couple of times in the years before, I knew the exhilaration of viewing the parade as a participant rather than spectator. But to ride a horse, and be able to see the revelers on both sides of the streets as the parade was passing, was just… indescribable. It made my heart VERY happy!

Sadly, Bandit and I only rode with Lady Godiva one time. He and I still enjoy more leisurely rides along the levee, with an occasional ride through Audubon Park. But he’s 26 now, and I’m… much older.

I still get plenty of equine exposure, though. After retiring from 35 years of corporate travel management, I began working with Royal Carriages doing mule-drawn carriage tours in the French Quarter. If I thought seeing a Carnival parade “between the ears” was a thrilling perspective, seeing the Quarter that way has been truly unbelievable. My love for horses, donkeys, and mules has been fully requited at work and play! Laissez le bon temps rouler!"



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

Presenting the lovely Lady Kim who will not be riding this year but was a member for several years with her divine horse Carousel Dreams 💜💚💛🐎

"I have been in love with the beauty of horses for as long as I can remember. Every chance I got to interact with horses, I took pony rides and carriage rides, and I never missed an opportunity to pet them if I saw them on the street. On the weekends, my family would visit my godparents at their farm in Hammond, and I would ride Ginger, an ornery little Shetland pony with a bad attitude. She was always appalled that she was being asked to work when I showed up, but I loved her anyway. She knew that when I arrived, she would get lots of carrots and apples.

I boarded my horse, Carousel Dreams, at Denny’s Stables with Dr. Allison Barca for years. When she and Ellen Kruger formed Lady’s Godiva, I was one of the original Godivas to sign up to ride naked through the streets. Our maiden ride was exciting from the start—putting together costumes not only for ourselves, but for our horses as well, down to the decorated horseshoes. My first ride was exhilarating as I watched people’s expressions when they realized we were “naked,” riding through the streets of New Orleans. I had a blast that first year. Each year, as the group evolved, the costumes and throws became better and more elaborate, leading to what it is today. My friendship with some of the ladies of The Lady Godivas—especially Dr. Allison Barca and Dr. Daphne Glindmeyer—has lasted more than 20 years.

I’ve had two horses, and my heart horse was Carousel Dreams, aka CD. He was bred at Angola State Penitentiary as part of their breeding program and later joined the Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division before enjoying an early retirement. For twenty-three years, we rode to City Park, down St. Charles Avenue, along the levee, along the Lakefront, through Audubon Park, and on the Abita Trace. We went glamping in Brushy Creek, attended dressage clinics, and rode everywhere else I wanted to go. With all those miles under saddle, I felt completely comfortable riding him in the parade. When we rode, he didn’t necessarily want to be in charge, but he always wanted to know who was—just in case some s**t went down! LOL. As my trusty steed in the Muses Parade, he was beautiful, and he knew it.

Thank you, CD, for an incredible four-year run with The Lady Godivas."

Jeff Goad Kurt Owens

Memories from 2013

Sharing some last minute horseSHOE preparations for the Ladies Godiva on this Superbowl Sunday. Lady Daphne's hard work on her decorated horseshoes is being critically appraised by former Godivas' parade horses Tina and Sig (thanks y'all... we appreciate the input)
And Lady Lauren shares some of the final product that I'm definite Tina and Sig would give a 5 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕rating.
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Kurt Owens Jeff Goad

The Ladies Godiva proudly present the beautiful and caring Lady Nicole who has a heart just as big as her "heart horses." She truly puts family, her patients and her animals first. We are excited to have you parade again with us! 💜💚💛🐎

"My mom likes to say I’ve been riding since I was still in the womb—she rode while pregnant with me, and from the very beginning, horses have been part of my life. She not only taught me how to ride, but why I ride, a passion that still guides me today.

As a child, I always admired the Godivas and dreamed of becoming one. When I learned that a longtime family friend, Alison Barca, was a Godiva, I was beyond excited. One phone call later, the rest is history. I have proudly been a Godiva since 2018, and I truly love parading for the people—there is nothing quite like the experience.

My favorite year so far was last year, when it was Xena’s first time parading and my husband dressed as my knight in shining armor and walked with me. It was unforgettable. Being part of this incredible group of women means so much to me. Even though we don’t see each other often, the support, sisterhood, and willingness to show up for one another is unmatched.

I’ve been fortunate to have two heart horses in my life. My mom gifted me Honey, a Palomino Tennessee Walker, for my 16th birthday. I trained her myself, and she was truly special. Sadly, she passed away from COPD about two years ago. For our 10-year wedding anniversary, my husband bought me Xena, my Friesian Sport Horse. She is my soul sister—a gentle giant with an incredible temperament who approaches everything with confidence and grace.

Outside of the Godivas, I am an Oncology Nurse Navigator. I love my job and caring for people during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. I am also a proud mother to two wonderful children, Natasha (6) and Lee (3). My husband, children, and I live on over 25 acres, where we raise chickens, goats, cows, and of course, horses. We also enjoy fishing and hunting together as a family.

Although horses have always been part of my life, I have never competed. One day, I hope to explore competition—possibly barrel racing or obstacle courses—and see where that journey takes me."

Jeff Goad Kurt Owens