My name is Rainier Rose and I live in the Evergreen state of Washington. I picked the name Rainier Rose because I live and ride in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. I am proud to be a charter member of the VRLRS and have provided ground support for the last two exciting years that the VRLRS have been invited to the Rose Parade. My daughter, Margarita Rose, and I share a close relationship and I look forward to coming down south for the holidays and spending time together. This would be my first appearance in the Rose Parade and it would mean everything to me to share it with my daughter. I started riding when I was 6 years old. I got my own horse when I was 13 and I have never looked back. I have been lucky enough to compete in gymkhana events such as barrel racing and pole bending and I have also shown a bit. I joined Backcountry Horseman in 1989, a national club that promotes recreational trail riding in the backcountry. I was one of the first in my chapter at the time with a gaited horse (a non-trotting horse). A lot of the long-time packers told me that my horse would not make it in the extremely high terrain that I frequently ride in. My Tennessee Walker is now over 25 years old and both of us have won numerous packing and trail contests. I absolutely love riding in the most remote and pristine places that the Northwest can offer. I have ridden all the Northwest states including Montana, California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho and of course, here in Washington. I get to see places that few people will ever get to and I spend weeks camping with my horses during the summer. The horses I ride now that my Tennessee Walker is retired are three athletic Peruvian Paso geldings, Concho, Rio and Amigo; one is a buckskin and two are palomino: father and son. All are gaited.

Angelina de la Mar is my daughter's horse. She was the first Peruvian that either my daughter or I owned and she is the horse that started our love affair with the breed. Since then we have owned 6 Peruvians including a breeding stallion. Angelina made her first appearance in the Rose Parade in 2009. She is a 16 year old chestnut mare with a flaxen mane and tail. She has done it all: trail riding, camping, endurance riding, working cows, gymkhanas, showing, breed expositions, and more than 75 parades. Not only has she done it all, she has excelled at everything, earning her show titles, placing her in the top 10 at local endurance rides and helping my grandson Tanner achieve high-point gymkhana. Angelina is truly an ambassador to her breed, proving that the Peruvian makes a fantastic all-around horse.