Mounted Band

While we were in Pendleton we had several opportunities to see the mounted band. They go arround town performing as well as put in appearences at the happy canyon show and the rodeo. The horses are all very well trained to not bolt at all the noise and the musicians are equally talented at controling their horse and carrying a tune in a bucket. Here are some pictures of them as well as a video so you can see them in action. (keep an eye on the drummer).

Performing in the parade.

On mainstreet at Hambly's

Let 'er Buck

We attended the Rodeo both Friday and Saturday. My pictures are a compelation of the two.

Tommy did great all three days of the trip. I think this was his favorite part of the Rodeo.

As will all Rodeo's our patriotism cannot be contained with just one flag.

We had a fly by of the stadium by the Oregon National Gaurd.

Tommy was awake for parts of the Rodeo and had the most comfortable seat in the stadium as he had padded seats (pampers are great) and a back rest the entire time and I don't think his legs felt cramped once. Plus with so many hats arround he hardly ever saw the sun!

Calf roping.

Bare back riding.

All the contestants could watch from the field although accacionally they had to run for their lives!

For the Bull riding the put up a "protective" PVC fence for the Cowboy's to sit behind. which worked supprisingly well although a couple bulls were not fooled by so flimsy a defence.

Tommy and me! See that naughty pantser sneaking his hand in his mouth when he thinks nobody's looking.

Westward HO!!

Dad, Sara, Tommy and I all attended the festivities at this Year's Pendleton Round-up. My mother Judy was raised in the Pendleton area and attended the round-up frequently while she was growing up. She continued the family tradition of attending the round up with her children however this stopped when I was quiet small as I am sure the costs of taking a family of 8 to the Rodeo became prohibitive. One of our last years we attended she made us all matching western style shirts to wear to the rodeo. I guess we were a sight to be seen as several tourists asked to take out picture. I am not sure if the attraction was the shirts or such a large family wearing them. Anyway by the time I started creating memories that I could remember we had stopped our annual attendance of the Rodeo. A couple of years ago my sister Cindy and I returned for a long over due reunion where we took in the sights and made new memories. This year we decided to make the trek again and take in the sights. First stop was the Westward HO! Parade where no mechanized vehicles are allowed.

Tom and Tommy waiting for the parade to start.

The opening Flag.

'Course this being a rodeo one flag is not enough to show our patriotism.
Draft horses pulling farm equipment. I do not remember what Dad says it was called rake maybe? Plough? This brave and His horse was a big part of the Happy Canyon Show. I did not get any pictures of the show as the lighting was not conducive for iPhone photography. Indian women on her pony I loved that her buckskins were a darker tan it showed of her beading so much better. The fire brigade in their long underwear.

I love that this warrior is up on his horse with his little boy!!

The mounted band I will post more on them in a future post. And what parade is not complete without Bigfoot? Indian Princess

An olden day Semi truck pulled by mules.

Sara's husbands Alma matter (we cheered extra loud for them). More cheering Go OSU! If you look on top of each of these mules they have a set of bells attached to them. They made quiet a ruckus when they went by it sounded like Christmas!

Sara and I sittin' in the shade.

This was the last of the parade it is called the Arc. It was massive! Look how little that guy looks in the middle of it and he was not little! This was to cute! However I can see why Shetland ponies were not used in transporting pioneers across the wilderness.