The official kickoff of the 104th edition of the Calgary Stampede is less than two weeks away and efforts are underway to prepare the nearly 800 horses that will take to the streets of downtown Calgary.

For the last six years, Jack and Cap have pulled a float in the Calgary Stampede Parade. The tradition will continue in 2016 with their owner, Kevin Graham of Double T Percherons, at the reins.

“They are like big kids,” explained Graham. “You teach them manners and teach them what the right things to do and the wrong things, ‘you’re not supposed to do that’, and it turns into a trust.”

With close to 800 horses expected to walk the parade route, the Calgary Stampede Parade safety committee says it’s imperative the animals are cool, calm and collected.

Safety specialist Michael Arthurs says the horses will encounter unusual situations they wouldn’t normally encounter in their day-to-day activities.”

“Having several hundred thousand people along the parade route, balloons, confetti, there are loud noises,” lists Arthurs.

Not everyone agrees with the inclusion of horses in the parade and the involvement of animals in the Calgary Stampede Rodeo and Rangeland Derby. Recently, animal rights activists targeted this year’s parade co-marshal, singer Jann Arden, criticizing her decision to participate in the event.

Arthurs says every horse undergoes a thorough inspection before its permitted to hit the road.

“Typically we will send them through a judging ring and it’s in that ring where we inspect them.”

Arthurs admits there has been, what he refers to as, hiccups, the safety committee continues to evolve its parade safety plan. Horses are separated from the noisiest sections of the parade where the animals could potentially be spooked by marching bands or entries with confetti cannons.

Bob Wilson of Guns of the Golden West says he wants parade visitors to understand, and embrace, the role horses played in Alberta’s history.

“Right then, people are back in the 1880's and they are reliving that moment for 20 seconds as we pass by.”

Wilson says as long as the horses are treated with respect, he hopes to see the tradition continue.

The Calgary Stampede Parade is scheduled for Friday, July 8. For parade route information, visit Calgary Stampede.

With files from CTV’s Jamie Mauracher