When the 135th Tournament of Roses parade stepped off in Pasadena on New Year’s Day, a two-hour spectacle of colorful floats and marching bands along a 5.5-mile route, two local teens who are avid equestrians got to participate in grand style.
The view of the Rose Parade in Pasadena from the perspective of participants in the parade.
Paris Mahoney, 17, and Cavan Smith, 17, students at Oasis School on the Cabrillo College campus, practice at Trinity Rivers Equestrian, a program run by Michelle Mahoney on the campus of Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville.
The teens were thrilled by the invitation — and their Rose Parade experience.
Both girls ride half-Arabian horses, and they were asked by the Arabian Horse Association to join them in the parade. On the TV screen, it said the association was based in Sierra Madre.
Cavan wore classic Hunter style attire while Paris rode sidesaddle, like a proper Victorian lady, wearing a fuchsia jacket and riding skirt.
Ahead of the Rose Parade, they rode in EquestFest at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, along with the other horseback contingents.
At the parade, they got to meet people from many other organizations, including the U.S. Marines and U.S. Forest Service.
Cavan was surprised by how many floats and bands were in the parade.
Local horses dressed in red roses for the Rose Parade.
“I had only ever watched the parade on TV, so the amount of people that came out to watch the parade in person is what surprised me the most,” Paris said. “I didn’t think there was going to be so many people!”
One special highlight was a stretch of road where the parade route starts to head down a hill, the view is one of a kind– “As you are at the top, you can see the whole parade in front of you,“ Cavan said.
Cavan rode a horse named Apaladore.
“We call him Blaze,” Cavan said. “Paris and I both used to show him but now he is ridden by kids at Monte Vista Christian School for physical education with Trinity Rivers Equestrian Center.”
Paris rode Pure Brandy Elegance.
Cavan Smith and Paris Mahoney, on horseback, make their way down the Rose Parade route past hundreds of thousands of spectators.
“Brandy is a Half Arabian Western Pleasure and Hunter pleasure show horse I used to show many years ago around the age of 8,” she said. “Although she is mostly retired from the show arena she is still loved and enjoyed by the kids of Trinity Rivers Equestrian on the campus of Monte Vista Christian School.”
Paris started riding at a young age.
“I have been riding my entire life, since my family are horse trainers and ranch owners,” she said. “I have been riding Arabians since one of my first horses, Foolish Question. Alongside Arabians, I have been riding in the Open Hunter Jumper world and have started competing in National Grand Prix level classes.”
In 2023 Paris had 4 wins and 3 second-place finishes in 1.35 jumper classes riding Cool Girl, Bowbore VDL, and in Germany riding Gran Torino Pj.
Mahoney and Smith ride in the Rose Parade with the Arabian Horse Association.
Cavan’s best finish was 3rd at Interscholastic Equestrian Association Nationals.
Competitions coming up are this season’s IEA regionals and in February we are attending Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Two years ago, Cavan switched to Oasis High School, an online school which offers more flexibility for students.
Cavan plans to attend a four-year college — and she is thinking about going to veterinary school.
Paris signed on to compete for the Fresno State D1 equestrian team.
Photos courtesy of Michelle Maloney
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Top Photo: Paris Mahoney (left) dressed in a fuchsia jacket and riding skirt and Cavan Smith dressed in Hunter style attire.