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.