Football Teams Aren’t the Only Ones Headed to the 100th Rose Bowl/125th Rose Parade…

By: Brittany Bevis

The Michigan State Spartans and Stanford Cardinals aren’t the only teams gearing up for the 100th Rose Bowl Game and accompanying Rose Bowl Parade that’s scheduled to take place Jan. 1st, 2014 in California. The Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club is just one of 16 equestrian groups that have been selected to participate in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Just as the Rose Bowl game will be celebrating its 100th anniversary and the Rose Parade will be celebrating its 125th anniversary, the Calizona club celebrated an important milestone this year as well.

“Calizona is the oldest recognized regional club in the nation, having been founded in 1953,” says Calizona parade group member, Debbie Herzman. “We celebrated our 60th anniversary this year. Much as they did when the club was started, we still continue to promote the Appaloosa breed. We started the parade group in approximately 2007 when there was some interest and a idea to try and get the Appaloosa back in the Rose Parade. After a few attempts, the idea for submitting [a horse entry] in the American Indian regalia surfaced, and we have not looked back since…”

Herzman is not only one of 12 riders in the parade group, she has also created many of the elaborate native-themed costumes that adorn both equine and equestrian. She began designing these incredible hand-beaded and feathered pieces in 1974, when she first discovered “costume classes,” now called heritage classes, at Appaloosa horse shows around the country. Herzman explains that the tradition of utilizing American Indian trappings in their parade costumes in meant to honor a native celebration called the Horse Parade.

“The outfits and regalia are all hand-beaded and made much in the same manner and with the same materials, for the most part, they would have been in the time period they represent,” she says. “Each outfit is individually made and has its own story to tell about the horse and rider that wears it. Depending on the outfit, it can take upwards of three years or more to complete. Most of the outfits you will see in the parade are more ornate then everyday wear. These were considered Horse Parade outfits and regalia.”

“Most of the outfits are styled after the Nez Perce and surrounding tribes in the Northern plateau and plains areas that were the homeland of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce are credited with developing and refining the breed. Many of the outfits [are used in competition] at Appaloosa regional, national and world level horse shows in the heritage classes. Several of them carry World and National titles to their credit.”

The Appaloosa horses that participate in the Calizona parade group range from trail and pleasure riders to World and National Champion show horses. Although the preference is to include the most colorful representations of the breed within the group, Herzman says a few solid Appaloosas have participated in the past. However, it’s not only their dramatic markings that make these Appaloosas the perfect choice for parade horses.

“It takes a horse that’s willing to accept a lot of outside stimuli to his senses and one that can remain calm and composed in most situations,” she says. “We do have a few horses, that are more steadfast than most, that can grab up anyone that has issues.”

“Some of the horses have also excelled in the open show arenas as well as in halter, pleasure, and open driving competitions. One of the horses this year was the 2011 ApHC Museum Raffle horse. He started last year by being ponied with the group in parades and has advanced to being one of the riding horses this year.”

Herzman says Calizona receives requests from all over the country from equestrians seeking to have their horses become part of the Rose Parade group. However, the club must be very particular about the horses that are selected because of the often unpredictable venue the animals will be exposed to.

“It’s unlike anything most horses are accustomed to,” she says. “As you turn the corner of Orange Grove and start down Colorado Boulevard it’s like a gauntlet of bleachers on the sides, the sounds of the bands echoing off the buildings, the fly-overs from the jets, and the nonstop noise from the crowds.”

“It’s an incredibly thrilling event, and a lot of time and preparation goes into preparing the horses. We do a lot of local parades to get the horses acclimated to the crowds, bands, and noises. Some of the folks even go so far as to hire local disc jockeys and bands to accustom the horses to the noise.”

Recently, the Calizona parade group rode for the first time in the 2013 Hollywood Christmas Parade where the horses were able to walk down the coveted red carpet.

“It was unlike anything we have ever done,” she says. “[There were] bands, cars, and balloons. It was a star studded event at night under the lights. We had the crowd screaming by the entire parade route as we rode by. It was great to have the Appaloosas walk over the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard that night. We had so many people taking pictures with them. It was great.”

Other equestrian groups that will participate in the upcoming Rose Parade include:

• All American Cowgirl Chicks, Marshal: Trish Lynn
• Budweiser Clydesdales, Marshal: Doug Bousselot
• Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team, Marshal: Ramon Bañuelos
• Los Angeles Police Metropolitan Division Mounted Platoon/Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Detail, Marshal: Michael Porter
• The Martinez Family, Marshal: Benny Martinez
• Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Marshal: Dave Manuel
• The New Buffalo Soldiers, Marshal: C.F. Brown
• The Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team, Marshal: Mychon Bowen
• Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, Marshal: Teressa Kandianis
• Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds, Marshal: Michele Macfarlane
• Spirit of the West Riders, Marshal: Phil Spangenberger
• United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard, Marshal: Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Garcia
• Valley Hunt Club, Marshal: Sarah Babcock
• War Horse Foundation, Marshal: Fritz Bronner
• Wells Fargo, Marshal: Doug Murphey

The Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club will be entry #68 on January 1st, 2014 in the Rose Parade. The group will also ride in Equestfest on Dec. 29th at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.