The Pendleton Round Up starts today…Let ‘Er Buck! Round Up Fever is in the air…it is rodeo time…come on get your boots and hats on! The rodeo begins today at 1:15…running every day through Saturday the 17th.
In the late summer of 1910, a group of area ranchers and farmers gathered in Pendleton to celebrate the end of harvest. This was the beginning of the World Famous Pendleton Round-Up. Last year we celebrated a 100 years of Round Up and today the 101st Pendleton Round-Up is gearing up for another year of the cowboy. Hang on to your hats…be prepared to see incredible cowboy and cowgirl events…life in the real west…the excitement…the heritage…the history…the tradition…a rodeo like no other…welcome to Pendleton…Let ‘er Buck!
I grew up with the Round Up as my Dad was very involved his entire life with the rodeo. He was the Grand Marshal for the Westward Ho parade in 1986…on my mare Shez Alotta Leo….”Lottie.”
I love Round Up for the heritage and the history…part of that history is your life as it involves your family. The worst part of the rodeo is the traffic as Pendleton is a small town of 15,000 population all year long except for the week of Round Up…it then swells to over 50,000 population…so if you are in a hurry to reach the other side of town…forget it.
This is my cowgirl outfit…if you go to Pendleton this week my trailer is not that long compared to some of the trailers you will see….horsetrailers so dang long you wonder if the end of the trailer is in CA. There are huge trailers and semi trucks all over town as well as cool pick ups and motorhomes and campers and cars and people…did I say people…Round Up for locals like me is like Portland coming to visit us for a week…sort of fun but by the last day we are ready to go back to a sleepy cow town…quiet…boring…the Pendleton we know.
I love looking at all the horses and trailers that do come to the Round Up….you see some amazing horses that the cowboys own and compete on. Our trailer is a four-horse trailer with living quarters and tack room…I will show you in another blog….did you note the bug shield with ghost flames….and the inserts on the pick up have flames too.
Lets head back in history a bit to the 1963-1964 Pendleton Round Up
The Round Up President and his family on the cattle ranch…and me in my dorky glasses…and short hair…with horses Snip and Gypsy.
My Dad moving cows on the summer ranch on Bucky with his dog Blue.
And in the Round Up arena on Gypsy the week before Round Up.
Ok now let’s go back in history to the 1940′s for some rodeo trivia.
While Dad was involved in the Round Up and Happy Canyon he also was involved out here in the 1940′s with a rodeo right here….yeah…where we live now…it was called the Juniper Joust. I blogged about this before on our Holton Secret Lab Blog…sorry to bore those of you who saw it a few months ago but…I need to mention this on this post.
This picture was taken right across from my house…when they had the rodeo they fed the spectators and contestants with a bq beef that was cooked in the ground for several hours over night…Mom made up gallons of potato salad…I am sure that Jean also made up gallons of macaroni salad too.
I need to do a reunion of the Juniper Joust…seriously I do…if you are reading this and had family involved or were involved with this let me know. I will update this on a different blog…rodeo has been a big part of my life and heritage.
Dad and Jingle….1940′s roping here in the arena across the road. The Juniper Joust eventually became the Mustangers.
Dad roped all over the NW…he was one of the founding members for the AQHA for this area of Eastern Oregon and Washington.
Me doing my thing on Red at the Mustangers….pole bending race.
Running the barrel race too!
Back to The World Famous Pendleton Round Up
The beginning of each day of the rodeo…riders come into the arena presenting the flags.
Racing around the track.
Finally entering the middle of the arena as the national anthem is sung.
Then the Round Up Court comes out….first the Princesses jump the fence and do the run in across the arena.
Another Princess makes her entry jumping the fence.
Then the Queen follows her court jumping the fence!
Another shot of the Queen racing around the track waving to the crowd as she goes by them.
The President of the Round Up follows chasing the five gals around the track and out the gate.
I love seeing the run in each day at exactly 1:15 for the kick off of the rodeo. It is thrilling to watch!
The grand stands are full with a cowboy-cowgirl crowd ready to see some rodeo.
Pendleton is ready to boogie!
And this lights your fire…the United States of America flyover at the beginning of the rodeo on Saturday.
Round Up is blessed each year to have the fly over…it brings tears to my eyes and makes me proud of who I am here…and of the heritage of where I live…and my personal family history. There are many of us who grew up here…left to go to college and experience life away from here…only to come back home following in our families footsteps…we are the lucky ones. Many left and can not come home again or come back…so if you are reading this and you live here….grew up here…and your life is here now…you are blessed.
Slack started Monday at the rodeo grounds with steer roping and barrel racing.
Look at her go….she is turning and burning!
Slack continued Tuesday with steer wrestling.
And calf roping for the 2011 Round Up.
This picture was taken last year at the rodeo for one of the Indian Relay races.
The winners making their victory lap!
Tough Enough To Wear Pink Day is Thursday of Round Up….the cowboys and the crowd all wear pink shirts that day to honor breast cancer survivors and raise money for TETWP.
Wild Bill and I with our pink shirts on and the pink beads that are given away on Tough Enough Day.
Another picture of my Dad on my mare Lottie in 1986. Dad was inducted into the Round Up Hall Of Fame in 1990….his plaque names him as “The Cowboy President”….the cowboys who came to compete liked him as Dad was able to make changes that helped them out as well as talk to them as a cowboy himself.
Wild Bill when he used to help with the Round Up’s Oxen…this picture was taken during the Westward Ho Parade…he also helped take a team of oxen through Happy Canyon each night…Happy Canyon is a night pageant that runs nightly during the rodeo week.
That’s me riding my mare Lottie escorting one of the wagons through the Westward Ho Parade. This parade is awesome to see as there are no motor vehicles….just people, horses and livestock.
So now on to how I get ready for Round Up each year…hmmm.
Ok this is a hair clip my hubby gave me…I tried to take a picture of it in the mirror…not sure if you can see the bucking horse on my hair clip…but it is there.
These are my shoes…pretty much boots and outside shoes here…cowgirl stuff as in daily grind…for Round Up I will shine up my Boulet boots in the back corner.
These are my favorite ones to dress up in…Old Gringo…love these boots!
Look how awesome they are….it is like wearing a work of art!
Uh….hmm…these are Wild Bills shoes…ok…where did you put your boots WB….come on…no I mean your Justins…ok fine your lace ups….no what about your Buckaroo boots…come on…give it a cowboy try…please:)
Wild Bill looks good with his cowboy stuff on… he is my cowboy hubby.
I had to shop a bit before the crowds devoured everything! Skyhawk Rugs are my pick….I have had them now for many years and they last….great pile…and amazing durability…and I am PICKY.
Minnie was named one of their best models this year…her stripes blend and match their Navaho Cross rug…my very cool girl…you are beautiful…”Diva Minnie”.
And I had to go to HAMLEY’S Western Store! Where you find incredible jewlery….incredible clothes.
Wild Bill gave me this for Christmas…it matches my hair clip…I love the Pendleton bucking horse on them.
I am ready to head to the rodeo!
As Kiah is trying to say….Let ‘Er Buck!!!
Oct 30, 2011 @ 00:31:50
Hi Hot Rod Cowgirl, Pretty cool blog. I will post a link on my facebook page.
Jan 25, 2012 @ 20:51:49
So happy you came by! Would you believe I have been to Roundup! and to the Let’er Buck room…hiarious. One of my very best friends John Duff is from Pendleton and a close friend from Grad School was from there too, Brooke Burns? I am not sure if you would know them, but it’s not huge so you never know! Love your tag line:)
Jan 25, 2012 @ 21:18:25
Hi Shannon….Let ‘er Buck! It is great to meet you and thank you for stopping in. I was given your blog link by a wonderful friend and I am reading it as I write….you are an incredible lady:) I do know the Duff family and also I think I know Brooke…lived here forever…family has been here forever and we are big U of O fans too! It is a small world and will keep in touch:)
Jan 30, 2012 @ 14:51:27
Great pics!
Jan 30, 2012 @ 16:40:45
Thank you
Feb 05, 2012 @ 18:30:11
You have captured the event so well. I can feel the excitement in the air. Great shots!
Feb 05, 2012 @ 18:57:28
Thank you:)
Mar 31, 2012 @ 12:01:08
I like this post, really a Wild West Show! Ann
Mar 31, 2012 @ 16:39:19
Yes, truly the yearly Pendleton Round Up is very well done and lots of fun for the entire family:)
Sep 08, 2012 @ 18:47:08
FANTASTIC shots! It must have been quite a crowd! Say, I was wondering if you know or ever met Ty Murray or if your dad did? I read and wrote a review of a book about him. It’s not that long and you might enjoy it: http://www.epinions.com/content_215209643652 How is that foot of yours doing?
Sep 09, 2012 @ 11:57:14
I probably did meet him but it is hard to remember all the various people you run into at Round Up and names…my hubby said he remembers meeting him…and my Dad may have too but Dad passed away in 1997. I did enjoy your review, thank you for sharing it with me:) What do you mean my foot? I can’t remember but did I write about the horse that fell on me or was it something else?
Sep 09, 2012 @ 14:27:12
As active as you are in rodeo, I had a feeling you or your dad may have met him. I’m glad you enjoyed the review; I thought you would
I enjoyed the book! I didn’t know he and Jewel were an item until I read the book. Yes, you wrote that a horse fell on you. I asked in one of my posts for suggestions from readers and what they might like to read regarding their health. I got one sports injury request,a private request, and your request. I’ve only written about a sports-related injury so far. I’m still planning on writing about your injury so I was asking how was your foot. You had a very serious injury. You were asking me about having surgery.
Sep 09, 2012 @ 17:17:20
I am sure my Dad met Ty as Dad was actively involved with the Pendelton Round Up all of his life. He was on the board of directors for many years and was elected President of the Round Up in 1963 and 1964….before that he mainly ran the arena events and kept the cowboys happy….he also was livestock director for many years. In 1990 he was elected to be inducted in the Round Up Hall Of Fame and was called The Cowboy President as he worked with all the cowboys and kept a good relationship with them. My hubby worked in the arena and the bucking chutes for 25 years of our marriage and also took the team of oxen through the parades and also each night of Happy Canyon…he said he did meet Ty for sure. I competed in barrel racing and figure eight etc. but that was not anything they had at the Round Up when I was doing it. Today they do have women’s barrel racing.
Yes in 2005 the horse I am hugging in my picture Hobby, fell on me one early summer day in our arena which is behind the barn. I had just gotten on her and we were walking around the arena and all was fine when with no warning at all Hobby fell over on her right side. My right leg was sill in the stir up and I have really long legs….usually wear a 36″ inseam, she did not move but just lay there. I knew I was in a predicament as I was not sue if she had a stroke and had died or if she would come to and then roll back on me to get up which would have been a bad deal. I struggled to get my foot free and yelled but no one could hear me in the shop on the other side of the barn…I kept yanking on my leg as I was hoping to slip my foot out of the boot…I had spurs on too so it was not easy but by the grace of God I got free…..Hobby did not move at all and I could see her eyes were open and she was alive but was not there….I could not stand on my right ankle or leg so I kept yelling for someone to come and finally one of our employees heard me…Hobby came around and after she did she stood up and looked at me like what happened? I got hold of the vet right away and I went to the ER. My ankle they told me was tore up pretty bad…no strength as I ripped my three main tendons or muscle that give the ankle support and should have surgery….I was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after that and put it off. Yes today it hurts and locks up on me more and more so I am sure I need to see a good Dr.
Sep 10, 2012 @ 16:47:40
Your dad was very active in the Pendelton Round Up. The bucking chutes is what I like to watch. Did you watch every event your hubby was in? 25 years of that is a long time. How many bones has he broken? Barrel racing and figure eights, you’d have to have a fast horse and the two of you would have to be really in tune. I also like to watch dressage and the horse jumping events. Pretty much anything with horses except I don’t watch horse racing anymore ever since a horse broke several bones and they tried to keep her alive for six months trying different things only to have to put her down after all that. I just couldn’t watch or enjoy it anymore. I can’t remember her name. Then I learned from a horsewoman on LinkedIn that horse racing was filled with horses that broke bones. It just wasn’t publicized across the country. We only hear about the Belmont or the Kentucky Derby. We don’t hear about the weekly, or maybe daily horse races in California I think she said.
Did you ever find out what was wrong with Hobby? What happened to her? How long did it take you to get back on a horse again? They say if you fall off a horse you should get right back on again. I’ve got my own horse story but I’m going to save it for my blog post.
I’m so sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with breast cancer. That would be rough to go through chemo and also foot surgery. I think that would be too much. Are you fully recovered from breast cancer? Your husband must have been beside himself. Well, I’ll give you a break from my questions for now. It’s been nice getting to know you : – ) Have a peaceful evening.
Sep 10, 2012 @ 20:25:15
Will answer more on this tomorrow:) Sleep well:) I enjoyed talking with you and getting to know you too:) I am a big fan of good health:) and the bc was caught before it was invasive so my survival rate is 99.7 since we did the most proactive thing we could do with a double mastectomy and reconstruction:)
Sep 11, 2012 @ 17:46:01
: – ( No wonder you put off your foot surgery. I like the 99.7 number. Make sure you eat your broccoli young lady. It’s good for warding off cancer. I’m serious. Sorry to be so late in responding today after yesterday’s “interrogation” ; – ) I was busy writing a post commemorating 9/11 today. Mine was different than most because I talked about the Healing Fields. You know me, I try to put a positive message in all of my posts. I’ve got broad shoulders and I like to offer hope to people. There’s always hope.
Sep 13, 2012 @ 00:20:13
I bet your post was beautiful:) I think giving hope to others is the most important gift we can give….we can not always make that person take it and use it but we can try:) Before I knew if it was cancer….we had gone for the yearly mammogram and after four different views and then a call into the head of radiology with my hubby too I knew it was not good…we met with my Dr. right after too and life had changed. We went home and for the next week we prayed and cried and searched….finally the morning of the biopsy was here and we got up early. Portland is 200 miles away and about 5 hours drive time. We were up by 4:00 that morning…I grabbed my daily bible scripture reading and that day it jumped off the page to my heart….Ps:30:2-3…and from that moment on I knew that I would be ok no matter what…cancer or not. And it was cancer and I am ok…it had not become invasive yet and my Dr.’s felt with the double mastectomies etc. I would be free of it coming back…of course I stay on top of my check ups and pay attention etc. Making it through 16 hours surgery and then another 4 hours for a total of 20 hours in 48 hours and I had no complications at all..to me that is a miracle of God:) I know without a doubt that God saved my life and I give Him praise and credit:) I hope that I can help others by letting them know it is better to stay on top of your tests and your health and ask questions and be responsible for your body and health:) Going through all the biopsies was scary and all but I was determined to win the battle and I knew I would be ok:)
We lost my Dad In-Law September 3rd 2001 on a camping trip….my hubby and I had taken our camper to meet Mom and Dad up out of Boise and Dad woke up with heart pains the second morning…we got him to the small hospital and he was air lifted to Boise where once we got there they said he would be ok and would be released in the morning…but God called him home that night..it was a shock for us and for Mom…we were glad that we were with her but it was so unexpected…I had already had my first suspicious biopsy in May of 2001 and was due for a follow up check up 9-6-2001…I canceled it and they rescheduled it for 9-11-2001…we got home on the 10th and when we got up on September 11 we turned on the TV and sat in shock watching the planes hit and the towers fall…we went to my check up and I was clear by God’s grace until the spring of 2002..we have always thought of Dad having been a World War II veteran possibly was called by God to be in Heaven that fateful day to help fight the battle that was going on and to comfort those that God took home that day…we will never forget 9-11-2001! I would love to read your article:)
It is so cool that we are both Marcy’s:) What is your middle name? My Maternal Grandfather wanted the speling of Marsha to be Marcia for me…and still pronounced the same way…and shortened to Marcy. With red hair I have been called Lucy or Lu by my hubby and as I said MJ or a few other endearing words. We will celebrate 36 years next month:)
And back to the dang foot and ankle pain…geez. Seriously I do not know what to do at this point…it seems to bother me more and flare up more so I know I need to find a specialist that I can trust to give me good advice to do what is right. So that is the next hurdle. Right now my hubby has some serious issues of health…he was lifting something easy and felt a twinge but thought oh well and proceeded on with his work day in the shop pulling hard on wrenches etc. and he was pulling a wrench when he heard a loud pop sound in his right shoulder….long story short he has several tears in the bicep muscle now in his right shoulder…but he also has a numb feeling down the right arm and intensive pain that is indicative of neck issues. In 2006 right in the middle of my recovery of bc he was diagnosed with a hole in a vertebrae in his neck so he had to have two vertebrae’s fused…last week they did an MRI on his neck and you can see what should be two vertebrae’s that look like a blob of bone sitting on top of a nerve…so neck surgery will happen as soon as they can do it and another fusion…then they are hoping it will help the bicep not hurt so much but I have a feeling the bicep will be surgery number two after we get him healed up from the neck fusion…so for now my ankle will wait as I need to get him well and healthy. He is the love of my forever…and I am worried.
I spent all day at the rodeo in town Marcy so I better get my behind to bed…thank you for taking the time to write and it is great to know you more and to meet another Marcy:) God Bless your night and your Thursday:) I will answer the other note tomorrow:)
God Night:) Hugs,
HRCG or Marcy:)
Oct 18, 2012 @ 14:21:05
I wish the best for the both of you, Marcy (HRCG). Be well.
Marcella (Marcy)
Oct 18, 2012 @ 15:43:25
Boy I was a wordy little thing when I answered you on that post…I think part of my reason I write is that it gives me a connection to others as somedays if WB is not around I may not open my mouth to talk all day…forgive my wordiness and TMI Marcy:) Have a blessed evening and weekend:)
Oct 18, 2012 @ 16:07:11
LOL! You have a very nice conversational tone. There is nothing to forgive you for. I like you. You know how it is on these blogs, you kind of have to spread yourself thin, responding to people, writing posts, commenting, filling the award requirements, and then there’s life away from all this! I don’t mean to make it sound like it’s a chore, because it isn’t. I’m glad I got to know you and to know you even better. I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all meet our favorite bloggers some day? Just all get together in one place to meet? I hope some day that can happen.Then when we all got back home, we could write some very interesting posts! We’ll have to plan on that some day. Thank you for the blessings and a bunch of blessings right back atcha! ; – )
Oct 18, 2012 @ 16:24:37
Yes it would be awesome to meet all our favorite bloggers:) Are you far away from Oregon…..I should know but lately with all the medical stuff with WB I can not remember things I should…I think it is stress. I like you too Marcy and it is very cool that we both spell our names the same…I do not know any other Marcy Marcys:) Thank you as I do get wordy at times:) I enjoy the blogs as I learn about other’s lives and memories…their stories and history, heritage. I do so enjoy getting know others and I enjoy visiting with you:) As my neighbor who is 2.5 miles from me and like my sister….we call it yakking:) When we get a bit lonesome we yak:)Have a peaceful and wonderful night Marcy….I wish I could give you the beautiful sounds I am hearing of the ocean….there is something about the ocean that puts me to sleep and wakes me with peace:) I love it and I love God’s mountains too:) Thanks for dropping by:)
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:03:44
I love yakking with girlfriends. I live in Indianapolis, IN. I’ve been to Portland, OR several years ago. I was thinking of relocating there at the time but ultimately I couldn’t sell my house here. I recently refinanced so I won’t be moving anywhere anytime soon! I wasn’t talking about getting together soon, I meant sometime in the future as we all get to know each other better. Plus, I would have to save up for the trip. Do you know of any bloggers that got together to meet?
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:21:41
Yes, me too…my hubby like it too as then I do not use up my 10,0000 words a day all on him:) No I don’t know of any bloggers who got together??? It would be fun if we do find a group of us who want to do that and meet in a fun place….in the mean time I will keep blogging and yakkity yakking:) Portland is a great city and about 200 miles from us but they get lots of gray rainy days and months…we live on the dry side of the state and we get maybe 9-10″ a year of rain etc. I do love going to Portland to shop and see a bit of life but I am always ready to come home after a week or so:) Now the beach is a bit different as it is so peaceful and beautiful here….still I miss the ranch and my kitty Minnie and horses and dogs:) Have a peaceful evening….I am guessing it is two hours around of us or are you three hours?
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:24:53
It’s 5:25 PM here. Three hours, I think.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:46:59
Yes you are right on:)
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:26:30
You have a peaceful evening too. It has been raining here all day. That’s OK. Sometimes I like a rainy day for a change. I like to hear it rain. It’s relaxing.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 14:46:35
Yes raining here too but I still love the sound of the ocean and the sound of the rain:)
Sep 16, 2012 @ 04:12:06
I was intrigued to think you were writing about Victoria Pendleton, but I see you had a different Pendleton in mind!
Sep 16, 2012 @ 18:30:33
Oct 16, 2012 @ 20:19:18
Reblogged this on Serendipity and commented:
I love the rodeo. We used to get some around here, but not in the last few years.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 22:54:01
Thank you much for reblogging this:) I truly appreciate it and love it:) Thank you:)
Oct 17, 2012 @ 08:48:06
Love your Rodeo/family blog!! You got to do what us Eastern “Pilgrims” only played or dreamed of doing as kids. As my Wife, Teepee 12, noted — we did a little rodeo stuff here a few years back. Strictly amateur but I loved it. My Wife made me look good in the saddle (??) and we even did a local TV piece on our adventures. Your wonderful pictures and anecdotes resonate with this Cowboy wannabe! Thank You!!!!
Oct 17, 2012 @ 13:11:56
Howdy and thank you so very much:) I do feel very blessed as growing up with my Dad being a real mans man cowboy was the greatest…and Mom was his Lady and a wonderful mother to me:) I did not realize until I was older how blessed I was to have grown up every summer herding and moving cattle on an isolated mountain ranch…no phones, no TV, no radio except at night late Dad could pick up some talk radio show called Ira Blue…I think he was out of CA. but not sure and it would fade in and out. Oh and no running water or power….so my parents and I had a great life up there and I have some great memories of working cows with my Dad and also others when they would come up to help gather and also brand etc. Dad had me on a horse before I could walk…and I loved it and still do…my horses are my family and I love each one of them:) Once when I was barely 2 years old some friends of my parents came to visit for the afternoon and they had a young son about 14-15 years old who wanted to go see Dad’s horses…Dad had 6-7 horses at that time…well I went with this young man to walk down to the barn to see the horses. We had been gone a hile and as our parents were talking in comes the young man…without me…Dad immediately asked where I was and the young man said he left me with the horses….Dad ran as fast as he could and sure enough I had crawled through the fence to see the horses and was laying face down on the ground under them, not moving…Dad grabbed me and saw I was plugged up with dirt and manure so he held me by my heels and swatted my back to get me to spit out the manure and etc. so I could breathe…I had one hoof print on my chest that went away and a broken shoulder but it did not stop me from loving horses and riding them:) I am sure Mom wished I would not but she trusted my Dad and as I grew up she knew I was a good rider and Dad always taught e about safety with animals. Again thank you for stopping by and for re-blogging the rodeo blog too….the Pendelton Round Up is always fun and such a tradition to go to and see:)
Oct 17, 2012 @ 10:36:24
My husband wanted to tell you that he really loves your site. His heroes really have always been cowboys. Literally. We used to ride together before my back got too bad for me to ride at all and he refused to ride without me. I guess it didn’t feel right, because it was something we’d always done together. There are many horses around here. Lots of breeding, especially of Percherons and other huge horses … Just the smell of the paddocs an barns bring back wonderful memories of when we used to ride. I so miss it! I think so does Garry. I think he tried to leave a comment for you, but it doesn’t look like it made it. Maybe he got tagged as spam?
Oct 17, 2012 @ 12:57:46
Hi and thank you so much:) Also thank you for re-blogging my Pendleton Round Up posts….I think you did two of them? That was very kind of you to do and like you I love the Round Up as it was always such a part of my family:) Yes I did get your husbands comment and will be answering him next I grabbed Wild Bill and loaded him into the car and we are on the Oregon Coast for a few days so I am pretty good about checking my computer but I have been shooting lots of pictures too:) I am sorry for your back causing you pain and misery, I know how hard that is on people….so far I am ok with that but I have to take lots of calcium etc. as my low back has shown some signs of osteopina? Not sure on spelling but it is a pre-curser to osteoporious….and I do not want that. yOu husband not riding as you can not is very sweet of him….and I know what you mean about the smell of horses:) I love their smells:) Thank you again for the re-blog and for stopping in:)