They are one of the iconic components of the annual Folsom Pro Rodeo, that takes place in the arena they call home and now, they are preparing to kick off the new year before a national audience. They are none other than the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers (PLRP), who are slated to perform in the 135th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade Pasadena on New Year’s Day. 

As they return to the nationally televised event, the local rodeo performers are poised to ride down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard atop their beautiful American Paint Horses. This will mark the 9th time overall the team has been selected to perform in the parade and marks the 5th consecutive year they will make the trip. They first appeared in the parade in 2005. 

In addition to their role in the Folsom Pro Rodeo and other events close to home in Folsom throughout the year, the Painted Ladies travel the country for various events annually, while the Folsom Pro Rodeo is their hometown event and one of their favorites, the parade in Pasadena is certainly a resume topper for the talented team.

The Tournament of Roses Parade is rich in history and tradition since 1890. The event attracts more than 500,000 spectators lining the streets in Pasadena along and is seen by more than 70 million television viewers nationwide and abroad. 

In addition to performing at the Folsom Pro Rodeo each year, they have performed locally at the televised Hangtown Motocross Classic, Folsom’s July Fourth and Veteran’s Day Parades, at the Sacramento River Cats, the Sacramento Harvest Parade and others. They have also been featured in the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. 

“The Painted Ladies have been an incredible contributor to the legacy of the Folsom Pro Rodeo. We will be cheering them on as they showcase their talents at the Rose Parade,” said Joe Gagliardi, CEO and president of Choose Folsom and the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, which presents the annual Folsom Pro Rodeo. “As we prepare to celebrate the 63rd year of Folsom’s patriotic rodeo, we will welcome these equestrian stars back for another great year.”

The PLRP is made of a group of hard-working, dedicated equestriennes who volunteer their time to promote their love of horses and drill and share it with our audiences in a show they will long remember.

“We take considerable pride in the fact that the sport of equestrian drill has afforded us many cherished opportunities throughout the years to give back to our community,” reads a statement from the PLRP. “One of our most meaningful contributions yet, has been resurrecting the Miss Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen and the contest and engaging hundreds of residents who come out to support the contest and kick off the rodeo.”

Traveling to an event like annual Rose Parade comes with great pride as well as expense. In an effort to offset some of the travel costs, the PLRP has been receiving sponsorship donations for their journey next week. The sponsorships assist them with costs of entry fees, insurance, costumes, fresh floral arrangements, travel and lodging expenses, all of which are event more costly than the previous year’s they have been selected to perform in the parade. 

Founded by Jennifer Macias-Sweeney, who continues to lead this talented team today, the Painted Ladies have been performing as a team for three decades now.  Their high-energy drill is always set to a musical landscape of personally mixed tracks and consists of today’s hottest songs, interlaced with those spellbinding and nostalgic throwback compositions that uplift audiences year after year.

Those wishing to donate or sponsor the Painted Ladies as they gallop to Pasadena can still do so through their official website at www www.paintedladiesrodeo.com. Those who have sponsored the Painted Ladies journey this year thus far include the following local businesses and individuals:

Handley’s Western Wear

US Bank – Chris Small

Folsom Pro Rodeo

DRT Rentals

Painted Ladies Foundation

Bailey Hats

Cinch Jeans

Lake View Ranch

Lake View Ranch and Carriage

Folsom Fraternal Order of Eagles #929

Nor-Cal Logos

Road Scholar

JP Equipment Rental

Reliable Cadillac

Jacob Maarse Floral Design

Alex Macias

The Painted Ladies are one of 18 groups to ride in Monday’s parade, which also includes the California Cowgirls Drill Team based in nearby Wilton. Since the start of the Tournament of Roses in 1890, the Equestrian units have played a key role in the Parade and its surrounding festivities. 

This year, the parade will showcase a variety of horse breeds that entertain and highlight their majesty and poise. Each unit promises a unique blend of skills and dazzling costumes, adding an extra layer of charm to the festivities, according to information provided by the Tournament of Roses Parade.

In addition to riding the five-and-a-half mile Rose Parade route the Painted Ladies will join the other selected groups in Equestfest on Friday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.  Equestfest hosts a variety of tricks, precision drills, dance routines and impressive roping skills. Attendees will also enjoy a vendor court and great music.

The  135th Rose Parade “Celebrates a World of Music,” the Tournament of Roses invites people from around the world to join the celebration via their first-ever livestream, which will be carried, in its entirety, by four streaming services, including Fubo TV, Christmas Plus, Pluto TV and LocalNow.

While the Parade will continue to be broadcast live nationwide on linear television via ABC, The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel, Great American Family, KTLA, NBC, RFD-TV and Univision, the new livestream will not only allow more people to access the show, but also will feature each of the 85 show units that will journey down the 5 ½-mile Parade route.

2024 Rose Parade Equestrian units (listed alphabetically):

1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment – Fort Cavazos, Texas

Arabian Horse Association Versatile Arabians – Greenwood Village, Colorado

Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team – Lakeview Terrace, California

Budweiser Clydesdales – St. Louis, Missouri

California Cowgirls Drill Team – Wilton, California

Long Beach Mounted Police & Kings County Sheriff’s Posse – Long Beach, California and Kings County, California

Los Hermanos Banuelos Charro Team – Altadena, California

The New Buffalo Soldiers – Shadow Hills, California

The Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team – Norco, California

Orange County Regional Mounted Enforcement Unit/Western State Mounted Officer Association – Orange County, California

Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers – Sacramento, California

Scripps Miramar Ranch – San Diego, California

Silver Spurs Riding Club Quadrille – Kissimmee, Florida

Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday Celebration – Washington D.C.

Spirit of the West Riders – Arcadia, California