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Tamia Hope, '64
Tamia is a long time Southern California attorney and you'll see her life-long avocation below.
Click on an image to enlarge and view.
LBReport.com
News
Long Beach Mounted Police Bring City Volunteer Rose Parade Presence; "The Most Popular Equestrian Unit In This Parade" Says KTLA/5's Bob Eubanks.
(Jan. 1, 2011, updated Jan. 2) -- Maintaining a tradition they've observed since 1946, LB's all-volunteer, non-profit Long Beach Mounted Police were part of today's Tournament of Roses Parade.
Long Beach (via its taxpayer-backed CVB) no longer expends public-money for parade floats event (comment: wise decision), but the all-volunteer LB Mounted Police equestrians were seen an estimated 750,000+ spectators on the Pasadena parade route plus a large television audience.
In top photo below, Mounted Police members (left to right) Joanne Althouse, Richard Hirsch and Tamia Hope .
In this second photo below, Mr. Hirsch and Ms. Hope.
(The photos above were shot from the grandstand area by a friend of Ms. Hope, thank you).
Ms. Hope (LBMP VP) tells LBReport.com via email: "The large crowd was exceptionally enthusiastic and responsive to our group today along the parade route."
KTLA/5's Bob Eubanks told viewers that the Long Beach Mounted Police is the most popular equestrian unit in the parade.
This year, the LB Mounted Police equestrians were parade entry number 90 out of 98.
Riding golden palominos with sterling silver saddles, Long Beach Mounted Police members are volunteers with the Long Beach Police Department. At their own time and expense (website indicates 8,000 hours annually plus an annual membership fee), the group's members give Long Beach a visible presence in charitable events, openings, educational events locally and beyond.
Organized in 1935 by 16 LB-area businesspeople and civic leaders as a promotional and good will vehicle, the group's website says that "educating young people about horsemanship -- patience, discipline and 'horse sense' -- is a common theme for the troop...One of our most important tasks today is to support the horse world by providing resources through a Scholarship program for serious students entering equine veterinarian programs..."
It adds:
The saddles are all unique works of art. Each saddle is black leather, Western style, decorated by custom-made sterling silver created by artists of the 30’s and 40’s such as Edward H. Bohlin of Hollywood. Complementing the saddle are silver and leather breast collars, bridles and reins, as well as silver gun belts, holsters and Western-style six-shooters. Traditional Western embroidered shirts, pants, black boots and white hats complete the outfits.
And group's original barn and clubhouse was at Palo Verde Ave and Wardlow Rd. (near the present day Los Coyotes Diagonal).
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