By Linda Holst

Three across, with a mare between two stallions, nine Mangalarga Marchador horses pranced their way along the five and a half mile Rose Parade route. We had been invited to ride in the 113th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day, in front of a million people lined up along the 5˝-mile long parade route and millions of TV viewers.

The experience began in June with the submission of the group application (available on the internet) consisting of a profile on each horse and rider down to the costumes that would be worn. The Parade Equestrian Committee reviews the applications, nominates participants and then makes a final determination of the invitees. We were thrilled to be invited as not only is the Mangalarga Marchador Horse Association (MMHAA) a new organization, but the Brazilian horse breed is new to this country.

Next, came the logistical planning and preparation. Having less than 30 Mangalarga Marchador horses in the country, one in California, two in Arizona, and the rest in Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida, we would have to directly transport most of the horses hundreds of miles. This would also mean having them arrive, via Bob Hubbard Transportation, at the LA Equestrian Center the day after Christmas, with the riders flying in a day later to practice the drill presentation for Equestfest at the Rose Bowl two days prior to the Parade.

Needless to say, our group needed to be extremely organized. A point person in the group became the Parade Marshall. It was up to Elaine Orta to keep the communications flowing as the liaison with the Rose Parade. She quickly developed a series of “Marchador Parade Notes” to be e-mailed to each member and an orientation luncheon upon arriving. Riding would be Tony and Elaine Orta (Atlanta, GA), Quillen Orta (Ashland, NC), Marsha, Bruno and Kim Brown (Toledo Ohio), Stan Sielbeck (Grand Chain, IL), Lynn Kelley (Scottsdale AZ) and myself, Linda Holst (San Diego, CA).

Parade “countdown” came quickly on New Year’s Eve day. With costumes for riders, floral ornamentation and non-slip borium parade shoes for the horses, parade parking permits, map and final instructions in hand, our unit was ready to be transported to the staging area known as “The Pit” (between 10pm and 3 am before approximately 100 busses transporting over 5,000 band members arrived).

Have you ever just hung out in the middle of a freeway, much less try to catch a few winks? Brightly lit and blocked off for all the equestrian and band units parking, were several miles of the northbound east side of the 710 Long Beach Freeway. One lane going south was open to traffic with only one lane and the median with port-a-potties separating us. Upon checking in, a guide on a scooter led each vehicle to their carefully measured and assigned parking spot in “Parade order”, allowing all to exit by 9 am so that the highway could resume its use. The scope and logistical organization of the Pit by the Pit Management Team would make any army proud.

Camped out until 6am, we received our 15 minute warning to be ready, mounted and get into formation, traveling up to two miles with a waiting time on a side street of at least 1 to 2 hours before each unit was fed into the Parade between floats and bands. Luckily it was going to be a beautiful California day after rain the days prior and day after. Certainly the Rose Parade had a connection with Mother Nature. How do they do it?

Among the nerve-wracking moments was the 8am opening ceremony of low overhead jets flying by three times, followed by the start up of bands. As we rounded the corner onto the famous Colorado Boulevard, in tightly bunched groups as directed by “the man in the white suit”, it was a freeze frame moment as both the horse and rider in our group discovered we were in between a gigantic towering Alice In Wonderland (FTD) and dinosaurs on a “scary” volcano float spewing smoke. (Floats so large that at the end of the parade, Alice’s head had to roll back just to get under the highway over-pass.)

Yikes!! Dancing around, we eased our horses into formation, (position #36 after Regis), opening to a space of 100 feet between Alice and us and then closing to 50 feet whenever the parade would stop (hard to count from horseback). Of course that encouraged the volcano to erupt. Next came our moment, “Lights, Camera, Action”, as TV and media were stationed on balconies on top of buildings to “angles” everywhere. Smile! Wave! Relatives, friends and family were loyally tuned in to commercial free HGTV and KTLA (the most equine coverage). Relax! Have fun! Focus on communicating this to the equine partner underneath you!! (Procedures were in place, of horse van transportation supported by three equine veterinarians and several Pasadena Humane Society Officers, should any horse be injured, highly agitated or sick, before or during the Parade.)

Settling into the rhythm during the first mile, about three hours including the wait time, we could appreciate the friendliness of the crowds of people packed in bandstands, rooftops and sidewalks the entire way, representing the warmth and fabric of America. Three hours later, it was amazing to see how many people really wanted to connect by waving and eye contact after camping all night at least six to ten feet deep on sidewalks. “Happy New Year! What beautiful horses!” we heard time after time. It really was a fabulous experience to be a member of the numerous equestrian groups representing the “spirit of friendliness and personality” of the Parade.

Traveling over seven miles of paved streets, we’re proud to say that what makes the gaited Mangalarga Marchador horse breed special held true as these young horses did a fine job: Jallaio da Boa Fe do Regal, a three year old 14K gold dun stallion with black points; Orixa Vale Vermelho do Regal, a three-year old, dapple-gray stallion; Jordao do Regal, a four year old red bay roan stallion; Cavedo do Regal, a five year old dark bay gelding; Ritmo do Regal, an eight year old “black-gold”dappled stallion with flaxen mane and tail; Ninja do Regal, a nine year old blue-black stallion, along with mares: Mabi ValeVermelbo do Regal, four year old dun, and Morena do Regal, five year old rich dark bay and finally my six year old golden buckskin stallion Batuque do Regal. Any thoughts for next year? Yes, I’ll figure out a better way to anchor floral sprays to a tail.