Temecula Equestrians To Ride In Rose Parade

TEMECULA, CA — A group of Temecula equestrians will be included in Pasadena's 133rd Rose Parade on Jan. 1, and the city is helping to cover their expenses.

During Tuesday night's Temecula City Council meeting, council members voted 5-0 to sponsor the Horsewomen of Temecula Wine Country and Temecula Valley Horsemen’s

Association in the amount of $10,000 for expenses associated with their upcoming participation in the parade.

The Temecula horseback riders are one of nearly 20 equestrian groups from across the country to ride in the 133rd Rose Parade that's being presented by Honda and is themed “Dream. Believe. Achieve."

Other Inland Empire equestrian units approved to ride in the event are the Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team and the USMC Mounted Color Guard (Barstow).

The equestrian teams will complement the bands and rose-covered floats journeying down a 5 1/2-mile parade route.

The Horsewomen of Temecula Wine Country participated in the parade in 2020. The riders bedazzled their tack and costumes with the City of Temecula logo. In 2022, the Horsewomen of Temecula Wine Country, along with the Temecula Valley Horsemen’s Association, will be promoting the city again, according to city documents.

The city sees it as a marketing opportunity.

"This is an economic benefit to the City of Temecula because millions of viewers will be watching the parade," according to city documents.

According to Rose Parade statistics, 37 million people watched the event in 2019.

The two Temecula horseback riding groups are "deeply rooted in a rural farming, ranching and equestrian lifestyle. Their love of country and pride of city compels them to preserve this rich heritage," the city documents continued. "Today's Temecula remains a special place where despite busy modern-day life, rural living continues to flourish within our valley’s countryside framed with mountains, rolling hills and beautiful vineyards."

The annual Rose Parade was called off in 2021 due to the pandemic. It was the event's first cancelation since World War II.