20 equestrian groups tapped to tack up for 2017 Rose Parade

A diverse roster of equestrian participants has been announced for the 128^th Rose Parade. The celebratory event is slated for Monday, January 2, 2017, as part of the festivities associated with the 103^rd Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, California. 

The equine acts selected represent many breeds and disciplines. From drill teams to trick riders, from jousters to mounted military groups, and from driving drafts to sidesaddle equestriennes, the assortment brings plenty of sporty interest to the annual 5.5-mile procession down Colorado Boulevard.

Here’s the horsey line-up for this upcoming highlight.

1. 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment (Fort Hood, Texas)
2. Anheuser Busch Budweiser Clydesdales (St. Louis, Missouri)
3. Backcountry Horsemen of California – Mid-Valley Unit (Sonora, CA)
4. California Highway Patrol Mounted Patrol Unit (Sacramento)
5. Kern County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse (Bakersfield)
6. Los Hermanos Banuelos Charro Team (Altadena)
7. Mane Attraction Equestrian Drill Team (Riverside)
8. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament (Buena Park)
9. Philippine Scouts Heritage Society – U.S. Army’s 26th Cavalry Regiment (Los Angeles)
10. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Mounted Enforcement Unit (Santa Barbara)
11. Scripps Miramar Ranch Saddlebreds (San Diego)
12. Seven Oaks Farm Miniature Therapy Horses (Hamilton, Ohio)
13. Spirit of the West Riders (Leona Valley, CA)
14. The New Buffalo Soldiers (Shadow Hills, CA)
15. The Norco Cowgirls & The Little Miss Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team (Norco, CA)
16. Union Rescue Mission - Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
17. United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard (Barstow)
18. Valley Hunt Club (Pasadena)
19. Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society (San Diego)
20. Wells Fargo Stagecoaches (Los Angeles)

Returning acts (from 2016) include the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment, Anheuser Busch Budweiser Clydesdales, Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Scripps Miramar Ranch Saddlebreds, Spirit of the West Riders, New Buffalo Soldiers, Norco Cowgirls & Little Miss Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team, USMC Mounted Color Guard, Valley Hunt Club, and Wells Fargo.

Themed “Echoes of Success,” the 2017 Rose Parade will also feature the ever-popular floral floats and marching bands.

Image/s:

Rose Parade promotional photos/fair use

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter.

A to Z horses – Stop and Salute Scarlett and Her Sidekicks

Scarlett

Scarlett is the newest member of the Madison Mounted Patrol Unit. The 17.1-hand Percheron/Friesian mare joined the Madison Police group in 2011. Ridden by Officer Casey Cherne and Officer Sarah McLaughlin, Scarlett is a 1,700-pound black beauty.

Her first owner donated her to the force after completing the mare’s initial show horse training. “Scarlett was deemed well-suited for police work,” McLaughlin explained. “Her great personality and willing attitude made her a good candidate.”

Coming seven this year, Scarlett will make her first public debut in uniform at the 2012 Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, Wisconsin, in mid-April.

Beau

The Madison Mounted Patrol Unit currently includes several special horse, such as:

Beau – a 2000 Missouri Fox Trotter

Bubba – a 2002 Percheron/Clydesdale gelding

Jack – a 2002 Percheron gelding

Luna – a 2005 Percheron mare

Luna

The Madison Mounted Patrol Unit assists the Madison Police with special events, gatherings, parades and other city highlights.

Related Items:

• Reality Bites for Michigan Man Barking at Police Dog
• Wisconsin Drivers:Texting Ban now in Effect
• Madison Mounted Patrol Q&A: Policing Madison Political Demonstrations

Last year’s A to Z post:  Stars and Stripes, Snips and Stripes

 .

 .

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. 

You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Image/s:

Photos provided by Madison Mounted Patrol  

2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge logo

Fair Use

 .

 .

Share

A to Z horses - Amazing Attalissa

Daughter to horse trainer Tracy Porter’s popular Casadero Sin Par (the painted Paso Fino stallion known as Caz), Attalissa is a 12-year-old Paso Fino mare with a heart of gold and a willingness to work long hours.

Born a sabino chestnut to Tracy’s mare Ikea, the filly was named after a town in Southeastern Iowa. Incidentally, the population of Attalissa, Iowa, was 283 in 2000, the year Attalissa hit the ground in Wisconsin.

Apparently, Tracy and her husband, Aussie cowboy/horse trainer T.J. Clibborn, rolled past I-80’s Attalissa exit on their way through Iowa’s Muscatine County.

Most likely, they were returning home to The Farm in Milton, Wisconsin after one of their whirlwind tours. 

Maybe they were heading back to the Badger State after picking up new equine training projects for a Mustang Challenge.

Either way, the Attalissa sign caught Tracy's eye.

The name stuck.

The little mare, fondly nicknamed "Atty,"  grew into an excellent endurance partner, and became a favorite mount of Tracy’s mom, Shirley May.

The two have paraded through Wisconsin towns and taken many 25- and 35-mile limited-distance rides, completing more than 650 total miles together.

“Attalissa gives it as much ooph as she can,” Tracy said.

“Incidentally, my mom will be 76 this year,” she added.

(Readers: That's Shirley May in all the Attalissa photos on this page.)

A is for awesome!

You go, Shirley May!

By the way, Attalissa’s half-sisters, Pieta and Twinkle are also prized distance horses.

And take a look at Caz, Attalissa's sweet sire. 

Maybe you've seen him at equestrian expositions, horse training demonstrations or flashy horse performances.

But Caz has been known to visit local elementary schools, where he actually enters the facilities and stands quietly for youngsters' attention, measurements, grooming and other child-friendly interactions.

Caz also seems to enjoy assisting with holiday bell-ringing duties in small-town Wisconsin.

Of course, Caz can be best recognized when Tracy is standing on her head upon his back. And, yes, Caz will jump through fire for Tracy.

That's some stallion.

Related Items:

• 14 Tips for Safer Summer Horse Trailering
• Horse Show Packing List: 85 Must-Haves for Equestrian Competitions
• 6 Ways to Mark Horses for Positive ID and Theft Prevention

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. 

You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Image/s:

Tracy Porter photos

Used by permission

Ashley photo

Linda Ann Nickerson - Nickers and Ink

2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge logo

Fair Use

Share

Helmet Protestor Killed in Tragic Crash

Helmet Protestor Killed in Tragic Crash

Head injuries can be catastrophic … but many can be prevented.

Motorcyclist dies in weekend crash.

Philip Contos (55), of Parish, New York, was killed July 2^nd during a motorcycle ride protesting a law requiring bikers to wear safety helmets. Contos was tossed over his handlebars when his bike skidded suddenly out of control and crashed near LaFayette, New York. His injuries proved fatal.

Paramedics and state troopers hypothesized that Contos might have survived, had he strapped on the appropriate head gear for the ride.

The Saturday ride was organized by ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education) of Onondaga County, New York. Participants purposely went without helmets, hoping to prove their point of protest.

Alas, the result was tragically ironic and sad.

Bicyclists need helmets too!

Head injuries make up more than 60 percent of all bicycle accident-related deaths, according to statistics from the Children’s Safety Network.

Horseback riders face similar statistics.

Estimates from the Equestrian Medical Safety Association indicate some 60 percent of all equestrian-related accidental deaths are caused by head injuries.

Strap one on!

Helmets are required by law in most competitions and many communities for bikers, cyclists, equestrians and other riders.

Where’s your helmet?

Sure, safety headgear may mess up your hair. But that helmet may just save your head, your hide and your life.

Related Items:

• USEF passes new rules for safety helmets in Dressage & Eventing
• Why you should not buy a used motorcycle helmet
• Hide a Helmet Q&A: Stylish Equestrian Safety
• Use Your Head! Choosing a Safety Helmet for Horseback Riding
• Product Review - Troxel Spirit Equestrian Helmet
• July 10th is National Helmet Awareness Day for Equestrians

Image/s:

Motorcycle photo by SpaceMonkey

Public Domain Photo

Horse show photo copyrighted by

Linda Ann Nickerson

Nickers and Ink Creative Communications

Share

 

Flash mob dancers fill Calgary street before Stampede

Flash mob dancers fill Calgary street before Stampede

OK, I admit it. The Calgary Stampede is on my proverbial bucket list. I have always wanted to go.

The massive rodeo will take place in Calgary, Alberta, from July 8^th through 17^th.

C’mon, now!

One of these years, I’m just gonna pony up and go. Maybe I can wrangle up a press pass. Heck, I’d do a hundred stories, if one of my horsey news outlets would send me northwards to the Calgary Stampede.

Those thundering hoofbeats, daring cowboys, wild-eyed wranglers, cool concerts and fabulous foods.

Are you with me?

And now they’ve gone and done it.

Two hundred people jumped into a Western-style line dance outdoors in the Stephen Avenue Mall of downtown Calgary at high noon on Tuesday, June 21^st.

The performance surprised locals and tourists with their hot moves. Accompanied by blasted strains of The Black Eyes Peas’ “Imma Be,” the hoofers swirled in the street.

Participants included folks from Dance Canada, volunteers from the local dance community and other fancy footwork enthusiasts. Even Harry the Horse stepped in.

Take a look at Calgary’s line-dancing flash mob:

 .

 .

Related Items:

• A Cowboy's Name - a Poetic Song on a Love Lifelong
• And Style to Boot – Gotta Love Red-Hot Cowboy Boots!
• His Perfect Passion: What’s It Like to Love a Cowboy?
• It's a Wild Ride: A Poetic Tribute to the Rodeo Cowboy
• Olympic Dreams: What If Rodeo Events Were Olympic Sports?

Image/s:

Calgary Stampede promo photos

Share