|  Celebrate the Horse is the Pacific Northwest’s only horse festival to focus on entertaining and educating the general public. It’s the mission of Celebrate the Horse to help people learn about the wonderful world of horses, its breeds, its disciplines and its sports in an atmosphere of celebration and education.
This year’s event is on July 5th and 6th--- a great way to kick off summer for the entire family. And all net proceeds benefit People Helping Horses, a nonprofit focused on rescue, rehabilitation and public education.
Celebrate the Horse is not an industry trade show--- it’s better yet--- and you’ll find the best in the horse business ready and available to help you learn, and answer your questions.
Celebrate the Horse is for families, individuals and yes---kids---, who want to learn more about horses, while enjoying exciting breed demonstrations, professional training mini-clinics and a wide variety of nutritional and health care lectures and clinics by leading edge professionals—many of whom focus on holistic care.
You’ll be able to meet and talk with our clinicians and breed representatives—because this event is all about promoting the wonderful horse---while teaching the best in care and ownership practices. Our professionals will be anxious to answer your questions.
When you see gorgeous palomino horses decked out in black saddles and bridles with beautiful silver trim---mounted by men and women in coordinating “posse” get-up—this can only mean one thing. The Posse is here! And they’ll be here with us on Sunday---cruising the grounds and available to talk with you and your kids!
Yes, the same group of folks who are valued participants in everything from the Seafair Torchlight Parade to the Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee to the Ellensburg Rodeo.
Only—here you’ll be able to talk with them and see the horses up close. And oh yes, they’re always looking for new members, so don’t be shy—ask about all the fun you’ll have as a member!  King County Posse makes appearance at Grand Opening of new Kathryn Taylor Equestrian Park Woodinville Saturday, April 5, 2008 KING COUNTY POSSE MAKES FRONT PAGE OF ELLENSBURG DAILY RECORD click here for photo | | ARTICLE FROM ELLENSBURG DAILY RECORD August 9, 2006 ELLENSBURG RODEO HALL OF FAME: King County Posse longtime rodeo partners By Mike Allen "For a horseman, it's a way of life." - Gary Lewis, King County Posseman. "Silver Saddles and Golden Horses" has become not only the King County Posse's slogan, but its standard as well during the many years the group has served as the state's most colorful horsemen and women.
The King County Posse - a mounted drill team with nearly seven decades of service to the Ellensburg Rodeo - will join greats past and present for induction into the Ellensburg Rodeo at a banquet Sept. 1 at Central Washington University's Samuelson Union Building.
Alongside the King County horsemen and women, Joe Alexander, Jimmie Cooper, the Joe and Mary McManamy family and Red and Rose Wall and their bronc named Tornado will enter the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame this year.
The King County Posse formed as the King County Sheriff's Posse in 1941, led by Wilfred Hall of Auburn and Daniel Bekins of Seattle. The posse emulated other groups that had arisen in the early 20th century West.
These horsemen aimed to keep alive the old 19th century posse traditions in a much tamer form, supporting local government and helping foster civic pride while participating the burgeoning professional rodeo scene.
Like other hobbyists across the West, King County Possemen were deputized lawmen holding honorary commissions and serving without wages. Their commissions came from the King County Sheriff: they wore official sheriff's badges, carried sidearms and assisted law enforcement officers in mounted search and rescue assignments.
Early King County Posse literature noted, "Each of us is a volunteer deputy sheriff obligated to render such service as he may be called upon to perform in case an emergency should arise."
The coming of World War II certainly loomed on Westerners' minds as these words were written.
Ellensburg's older Ellensburg Rodeo Posse advised and assisted the King County Posse from the beginning.
Dr. J. P. Richardson helped found the Ellensburg Rodeo Posse in 1939. Richardson, father of Rodeo Princess Dorothy Vaughan and grandfather of Queen Heidi Vaughan, admired San Francisco's mounted posse at the Cow Palace Rodeo and wanted to organize a similar group for Ellensburg.
The Ellensburg Rodeo Posse thus became the first mounted drill team in Washington state. King County joined them, and the two posses have been mounted comrades for nearly seven decades.
Since 1943, King County Posse riders have ridden in the Ellensburg Rodeo Parade and the Grand Entry, and competed in the rodeo's mounted racing events and the Sunday Posse Night Show's drill and riding competitions.
In addition, King County Posse families have often been the source of an Ellensburg Rodeo princess representing King County on the royal court.
One King County Posse family - the Brown family - has for three generations been involved as posse riders and rodeo princesses in the Ellensburg Rodeo.
The King County Posse's most famous job in the Ellensburg Rodeo is its crucial role in the rodeo's introductory ritual called the Grand Entry. Following the Grand Entry, it is King County Posse riders who post the American colors, which means stationing flag-carrying horsemen at posts around the rodeo arena while the "Star-Spangled Banner" is sung. Only then do Yakama Indians ride down Craig's Hill into the arena to commence each rodeo performance.
The "silver saddles and golden horses" of flag-carrying King County Posse riders are visually stunning.
Two decades ago a King County Posse rider estimated the cost of his saddle and tack at $2,000. He described their famous drill: "We gallop the horses and we lope 'em through the maneuvers, and this is where the practice and the timing come in. It's colorful: Fourteen palominos with sterling silver saddles and bridles. Guys all dressed in the same uniforms. And each man carries a 4-foot-by-6-foot American flag. And when you use flags like these, you're blind on one side and can't see what's coming at you. If you've ever seen us do the 'thread the needle,' you'll know it's quite a challenge."
In addition to their annual trek to Ellensburg, King County riders stage their own horse shows, play days, and get-togethers. They have served as the lead unit in the Portland Rose Parade. They also appear at Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival, the King and Yakima county fairs, Puyallup Fair, Seattle Seafair's Grand Parade and many other local and regional venues.
Over the years the King County Posse has seen changes. Members deleted the term sheriff from their title even though they remain honorary deputies. Recently, the King County Posse admitted its first female members, a move emulated by other posses and rodeo boards across the country.
But some things stay the same. Flag-carrying King County horsemen will no doubt continue their annual trek to Ellensburg, race the relays and perform their precision drill. And, of course, they will continue to post the colors in the Ellensburg Rodeo's Grand Entry for the foreseeable future.
When asked why he was a King County Posseman, Gary Lewis was quick to respond: "I get to ride nice horses. I get my exercise, with lots of nice guys. And there's something about riding a nice horse and wearing a badge and carrying that American flag.
"I'm really proud of carrying that American flag when I'm riding a horse." |
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