He won't be going at warp speed through the streets of Calgary, but Captain Kirk is presiding over today's Calgary Stampede parade.

Canadian actor William Shatner is the parade's grand marshal.

Traditionally the grand marshal travels the parade route on horseback but the 83-year-old Shatner is riding in an antique car with his wife.

Shatner is an avid horseman who has competed in a number of events, but he says it wouldn't be prudent to mount up for the parade.

He says he doesn't know the horse he'd be riding and parades are hard for the animals.

Shatner says when he rode one of his own steeds the last time he was in a parade, his trainer had to give the animal a sedative to keep it calm.

Shatner says he didn't need his arm twisted to be parade marshal, saying all it took was a good Canadian rib eye steak.