Pasadena Police Mounted Unit Named to 2027 Rose Parade Equestrian Lineup

The Pasadena Police Department’s mounted unit, revived by the City Council in 2024 after nearly two decades, is among 17 equestrian groups selected for the 2027 Rose Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced Sept. 30.

The 138th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed “Welcome,” is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. Two other selections are based in Pasadena and Altadena: the Valley Hunt Club of Pasadena and Altadena’s Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team.

The council voted unanimously in October 2024 to restore the police department’s mounted unit, which had been discontinued in 2005, as the Mounted Enforcement Unit. Under the agreement, five officers lease their personal horses to the city for $1 a year.

The unit is intended for crowd control, search and rescue, disaster response and a visible presence at special events and parades.

The department said in April 2026 that the five officers and their horses had completed the Western States Mounted Officers Association’s Foundation and Skills Course at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside.

The other 14 units include three military and law-enforcement teams: the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment of Fort Hood, Texas; the U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard of Barstow; and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Mounted Unit.

Also selected are the Budweiser Clydesdales of St. Louis; the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program 250th Ambassador Team, Freedom and Liberty, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; the Hawaii Pa’u Riders of Waimanalo, Hawaii; and Disneyland Resort, listed from Norco.

The remaining units are the Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team of Lake View Terrace; the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers of Sacramento; Scripps Miramar’s Omnibus of San Diego; the Spirit of the West Riders of Tehachapi; The New Buffalo Soldiers of Shadow Hills; The Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team; and Versatile Arabians of Sierra Madre.

The equestrian units are to ride the 5½-mile parade route with floats and marching bands. The Tournament’s events calendar lists the parade from 8 to 10 a.m.

Before New Year’s Day, the public can see the units at Equestfest at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. The Tournament says the event includes an equestrian show, warm-up rings where visitors can watch the riders, exhibits, music and a food and vendor court.

NEED TO KNOW: Equestfest. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2026. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the equestrian show begins at noon. General admission is $26.50; children 5 and under are admitted free. A limited VIP reserved-seating package is $51.50, and every VIP seat requires a ticket regardless of age. Tickets are sold online only, with no cash or credit sales on site. Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank. Parking is $20 per car, purchased at the venue. The event is rain or shine, and the Tournament has a clear-bag-only policy. Tickets: https://tickets.sharpseating.com/p/tickets11/events/equestfest