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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2021)
14 CULTURE & HERITAGE SEPTEMBER 15�22, 2021 The music rides on Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File Dennis Zimmerman sounds the drum as a member of the Pendleton Mounted Band during the 2019 Pendleton Fourth of July Parade. Cowboy Mounted Band dates to 1911 LO S T I N E , O R E G O N 11 W am to 7 pm Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday EDNESDAY - SUNDAY 8 AM TO 8 PM L 11 A T am E O to N 8 F R pm IDA Y AND S A Saturday TURDAY Friday and 541-569-2285 S C R AT C H M A D E BEER PIZZA DENIM AND MORE G L A C I E R C O L D • FA W N F R E S H By Jennifer Colton Go! Magazine P ENDLETON — There are only two active mounted bands in the United States, and one of them is in East- ern Oregon. The Pendleton Cowboy Mounted Band is a lot like a marching band … if the mu- sicians were riding horses instead of marching. Originally founded in 1911, the Pendleton Cowboy Mount- ed Band was revived in 1985 and has performed on horse- back every year since, with the exception of 2020. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band is back in the saddle this year for its 35th season. “We’re excited to be back on horses, playing again,” mu- sical director Randy Morgan said. “It’s fun to play an instru- ment — it’s even more fun to play an instrument and ride at the same time.” Members travel from across the Pacific Northwest to practice, ride and play with the band each year. Cattle Rancher Neva Hascall said it’s a diverse but close- knit bunch. “We have become more than just a group of people on horseback playing instru- ments,” she said. “We are a family, supporting each other through times of happi- ness and grief, good friends who genuinely care about each other.” The band members range from retired teachers and cur- rent students to railroad work- ers and doctors. The youngest is 17, and the eldest member is “somewhere in their 70s” CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF EASTERN OREGON — one of the many who have played with the band since its revival in 1985. Keeping the band mov- ing also takes more than just musicians. “We also have a very ac- tive ground crew, usually made up of family members who provide support from helping us get on our cow- boy gear, grooming, helping saddle, feeding and making pizza runs,” Hascall said. “We also have outriders who help wrangle horses and ride with us during performances. Their job is eyes on always to notice potential problems and help fix the issue before it becomes an accident and a horse or rider is injured.” Members also include rid- ers who carry flags — repre- senting the band, Round-Up and USA — before the group in parades, as well as honorary members who no longer ride. Find photos and videos of the band on its Facebook page, Pendleton Cowboy Mounted Band. During Round-Up week, you’ll be able to hear the mounted band in the West- ward Ho! Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, which begins at 10 a.m., as well as in downtown Pendleton on Saturday morn- ing and in the arena before the rodeo begins that afternoon. If you are interested in joining the Pendleton Round- Up Mounted Band, email Amy Johnson at Pendleton. bandhorse@gmail.com. Band members must be at least 16 years old.