An Osceola County tradition is bound for sunny California as the Silver Spurs Riding Club prepares to take the national spotlight during the Rose Parade.
The New Year’s Day tradition, now in its 135th year, precedes the 110th Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, during which Michigan will face off against Alabama in the college football playoffs semifinal. The Silver Spurs Quadrille team, comprised of 16 riders and horses, was selected nationally as one of 18 equestrian teams to march in the Pasadena parade.
Board member Kaye Whaley first pitched the idea to the club after the February rodeo, then applied and found out Silver Spurs was accepted this summer.
“The planning has not stopped since August. We’re one of three first-timer equestrian teams in the parade,” said Ashley Fluke, the quadrille chair and parade marshal. “We’re representing more than the quadrille. We’re representing Silver Spurs, Kissimmee, St. Cloud and Osceola County.”
The quadrille event, which is often described as “square dancing on horseback,” involves eight pairs of riders performing drills at high speeds with sharp turns, then concluding with an exciting, precise figure-eight formation.
“These riders have to trust one another. You don’t want horses or riders to be at risk,” Fluke said. “There’s a great camaraderie and care that riders have in doing a good job. It’s very much a team effort.”
The equestrians will ride in Equestfest on Dec. 29, where they will have a chance to perform the quadrille ahead of the parade on Jan. 1. That means that 18 horses and riders have to be out in California by Dec. 27 to prepare and practice.
“For the horses, we’re using three big rigs from professional haulers. They get there in less than 42 hours,” Fluke said. “Experience Kissimmee came through with their huge sponsorship, and that allowed us to do this. Our county has come behind us, our Silver Spurs board and a lot of individual donations have helped.”
The tourism group sponsored this big undertaking to the tune of $50,000, with many other small-dollar donations helping make the trip possible. Fluke, whose grandparents were founding members of the quadrille team (which dates back to 1941), said she is grateful for the support of friends, family and the community.
Her mother, Martha Booth, volunteered countless hours of her time along with five other women to make new costumes inspired by vintage shirts with fringes that were used decades ago.
“The week after Thanksgiving, we worked every day from daylight until dark,” Booth said, showing off polyester satin shirts in bright teals, pinks, pastel orange and deep blue. Mike Wheeler crafted new leather chaps.
“Aren’t those beautiful? He made 18 pairs of those,” Booth said, gesturing toward the chaps as Wilder chimed in: “That divides up to 36 legs.”
Since the beginning, the Silver Spurs Riding Club and quadrille have always been a family affair — the team’s riders are all relatives. The youngest, Natalie Booth, is 17, while the oldest, John Partin, is 59.
“The biggest thing with quadrille is we just have fun. We all laugh and joke and pick at each other,” said Randy Booth, who will take over as the Silver Spurs Big Boss next year. His wife, Sarah Booth, also rides on the team.
“It’s an honor, and it is really exciting to go,” she said. “It’s feeling real now. We’re going to make Osceola County proud.”
Read More: Silver Spurs prepare for Rose Parade ride