It's not everyday that you get a call from Disney asking you if their newest star can ride your horse in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. But that's exactly what happened to Cheryl Goodheim. Her beautiful black stallion Pro-Metheus, better known around the barn as "Banner", was ridden by the star of Disney's "The Young Black Stallion". A few weeks before the parade, 13-year old Biana Tamimi came out to Rancho Borrego Montana to meet Banner and get a few pointers from Banner's trainer Darlene Hopkins. The pair worked beautifully together. Banner's first public appearance with Biana was a few days before the parade at Equestfest held at Griffith Park. Here Banner was surrounded by fans that wanted to touch him and get Biana's autograph. Darlene says that Banner was amazing and just ate up the attention. Banner was no less a superstar in the parade, something he had never done before. He carried Biana with all of the grace and beauty that an Arabian has. He was a wonderful ambassador for the breed.  Banner's next gig will be an appearance at Equine Affaire, January 30- February 1. Be sure and stop by and tell Banner what a star he is!

 

 

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE AP WIRE SERVICE:

 Black Stallion’ Star Rides in Bloomin’ Parade

LOS ANGELES - Young actress Biana Tamimi will forego the usual flower-festooned float in the Tournament of Roses Parade this New Year’s Day. The 13-year-old star of Disney’s "The Young Black Stallion" will instead ride a champion Arabian horse named Banner with John Suttill’s "Parading Arabians," continuing a tradition going back 75 years, when the first all-Arabian unit rode in the parade. Tamimi makes her motion picture debut in "Stallion," a role she won after a friend sent in a tape of her riding at home in Austin, Texas. "Biana’s story is remarkable. Her friend’s mother saw the casting announcement on the internet, shot a video of Biana’s riding lesson, and sent it to us," says the film’s producer Fred Roos. In addition the Tournament of Roses Parade, the young equestrienne will also participate in the Equestfest at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 30. "Stallion," which opened on Christmas Day, is the prequel to the popular 1979 film "The Black Stallion" and is set in Northern Africa at the conclusion of World War II. The story centers on the adventures of a young girl named Neera, who becomes separated from her family and finds herself alone in the desert where she befriends a wild stallion.