Why has owner threatened to pull Arabian "dancing horses" from Racine's Fourth Fest Parade?

RACINE (WITI) -- A traditional dance was on the verge of coming to an end! For more than a decade, fans of the Fourth Fest Parade in Racine have been able to enjoy the Arabian horses -- but this year's parade threatened their return.

FOX6 News has learned the actions of a couple of parade officials created an issue for the family that owns and rides the horses that appear in the parade every year.

For the past 15 years, Lauro Davalos and his dancing Arabian horses have been a fixture of the annual Fourth Fest Parade in Racine.

"It's been good," Davalos told FOX6 News, through a translator.

Each year, Davalos' horses and their riders perform along the parade route celebrating the nation's birthday -- something that's very important to Davalos.

"This is his second country. He's been living here for the longest time. He's had his business here for 40 years," Davalos' daughter, Prisma said.

Davalos is the owner of La Tapatia in Racine -- and has enjoyed being involved in the community since he arrived.

"He's happy to bring his passion to everyone else," Davalos' daughter, Prisma said.

But during this year's parade, things didn't go as they had in previous years.

"One of his horses fell with the rider on him. The reason being, again, we were being so pressured and hurried," Davalos' daughter, Prisma said.

That pressure, according to Davalos, came from parade officials.

"There was a lot of yelling and harassment that I felt this year from the people that were organizing it," Davalos said.

Afterwards, Davalos decided he would not have his horses perform in the parade again.

However, the incoming president of Fourth Fest, Jake Lovdahl is getting involved.

In a statement to FOX6 News, he says, in part:

"I would like to speak with both parties involved before casting any judgment on the matter. Our board of directors will then review the situation at our decompression meeting of the parade."

Meanwhile, Davalos says for safety reasons, he just doesn't want to be rushed.

"It should be more of a patient and enjoyable parade," Davalos said.

Davalos and Lovdahl met on Tuesday, July 8th to discuss the future.

Fourth Fest's incoming president, Jake Lovdahl issued the following statement to FOX6 News on that meeting:

"Fourth Fest officials met with Mr. Davalos and his family (Tuesday) afternoon to discuss issues with this year’s parade. I am very happy to report that a positive resolution came of this meeting. I can also report that both the Davalos family and Fourth Fest of Greater Racine are looking forward to working with each other next year. Mr. Davalos loves to celebrate the 4th of July. That is something we definitely see eye to eye on.”