CSFA Steamer Team Participates in the Tournament of Roses Parade and Equestfest 2008

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Each year in anticipation of the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association hosts Equestfest, a public event showcasing all of the equestrian participants of the parade. This year's event was held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on December 28, 2008, and featured 250 horses, wagons, riders, and performers who will be a part of the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2009. This legendary parade, featuring marching bands, performers, equestrian teams and floats adorned in flowers and vegetation, is watched across the United States and around the world on New Year's Day each year. Equestfest, a four hour program, is a show in which audience members can watch some of the tricks and talents of the Rose Parade's equestrian participants that are normally not seen during the parade. Equestfest 2008 was attended by over 4,000 spectators, and included miniature donkeys, medieval knights, the Wells Fargo Stage Coach carrying the "Sons & Daughters of the Reel West", and the Martinez family's trick rope team.

One of the fire service's famous participants in this year's Equestfest and Tournament of Roses Parade is the California State Firefighters Association's 1902 American steam fire engine. The CSFA Steamer Team is comprised of the 1902 American, which is owned by Dave and Barbara Huber, and Morgan Percheron horses owned by George Liblin. A part of the CSFA Steamer Team for 6 years, Iowa-native Liblin owns 14 Morgan Percherons, 3 of which are part of this year's Rose Parade and Equestfest. Attending many events with the Steamer Team throughout the year, Liblin enjoys the Tournament of Roses Parade, saying, "The Rose Parade, I like it because once you start you don't stop. You go right on through. There's no starting and stopping, and I like it because it is a fast parade for us." The parade itself runs along a five and a half mile route along the famed Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California.

Also part of the CSFA Steamer Team is the Huber's Dalmatian, Blaze. According to Dave Huber, a retired Captain with the Orange County Fire Authority, Dalmatians have long been a part of fire service history, with their association beginning in the early 1800's with the use of horse-drawn fire apparatus. "In the early days, Dalmatians were known as coach dogs, and in the early days when fire apparatus was horse-drawn, the Dalmatian just naturally came across and became part of the fire service function. And the main job of the Dalmatian was to protect the horses," says Huber. Hungry wild dogs would bite at the heals of the horses, and the Dalmatians chased these predators away. According to Huber, "There was a bonding that grew between the horses and the dogs, and of course, the firemen."

In its 9th year of participation in Equestfest and the Tournament of Roses Parade, the CSFA Steamer Team is joined by two antique fire wagons and a 1905 Seagrave Hook and Ladder. During Equestfest 2008, the Steamer Team carried the 91st Rose Queen, Courtney Lee of Arcadia, California, and the antique fire wagons carried her court of six Rose Princesses. For the Rose Parade, the team will include 30 to 40 members and the 1902 American will be adorned with roses and will also carry several of the members' wives for the first time in their history. The women will wear period costumes, including wide-brimmed hats, paying tribute to this year's Rose Parade theme, "Hats Off to Entertainment".

To watch a video with further information about the history of the CSFA Steamer Team, click here.

Happy New Year's from FDNNTV.com!