Personality of the parade

The Washington family of Costa Mesa will be riding in the Rose Parade for their 11th year, bringing “curliest regards” to viewers along the spectacle’s six-mile route.

Jim Washington, his daughter Tiffany, son Lawrence and extended family members comprise the Classic Curly Riders in the parade every year, astride the rare American Bashkir Curly breed, which has a unique, curly coat and paradoxically smooth temperament.

Washington owns a ranch in the Antelope Valley, where he breeds and raises Curly horses. On Saturday, he and his family brought the horses down from the ranch to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center for Equifest, an all-day event for Rose Parade riders and horses.

Traveling up and back with the horses is worth it, Washington said, because he is able to take advantage of having the animals washed and dried at the facility, something which takes up to three hours for each horse.

“They have a lot of hair,” he said.

Everyone in the Washington family owns a horse, and this year, family friend Liz Bridwell will be riding on Teddy. Tiffany’s boyfriend, Ted Beechinor, and Lawrence’s girlfriend, Linzy Spencer will also be representing the group.

“The neatest thing is that it’s very much a family affair,” Washington said.

After Equifest, the family traveled back to the ranch, then made the final trip down Monday night, arriving by midnight at the designated 110 Freeway location under Colorado Blvd., where they spent the night.

Washington said horses and riders will be up at 5 a.m. today getting ready for what ends up being an almost seven-mile walk from their location to the end of the parade route.

“What really strikes you is the fact that they have to part the crowds four blocks before the actual start of the parade. The crowd is 20 deep, there are so many people,” Washington said.

The International Curly Horse Organization describes the Curly’s temperament as peaceful, quiet and calm, noting that even when the horse is frightened, it often stops to watch and think before resorting to panic.

The Classic Curly Riders are a Western-dressed group, and will be wearing “dressy, retro black-and-red Western shirts with black chaps, gloves and hats accented with silver hat bands and ties.”

They’ll be especially friendly, too. Washington said equestrians are the personality of the parade.

“We talk to the crowd, wave and converse about the horses,” he said.

Washington will also dispense his own version of happy New Year wishes to the crowd.

“My family and I repeat ‘Curliest Regards’ hundreds of times to over a million people.”

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.