The 78th annual Rancheros Visitadores ride to Old Mission Santa Inès delighted the crowds gathered Saturday on the streets of Solvang.

No bull.

Well, to be accurate, there were more than 30 longhorn cattle, which were herded at the front of the Rancheros procession, drawing cheers from the people lining Alisal Road.

Around 700 men, riding horses or horse drawn wagons made their way from a nearby campsite, up to the streets of Solvang. They headed north along Alisal Road, before gathering on the mission grounds.

“For me to see this many horses in one place is amazing,” said Jock Pillsbury, among the spectators who grabbed an early spot in front of the mission to watch the padres give the group their annual blessing.

Richard Schwasnick of Carpinteria brought his two children up to see the Rancheros, something he says he tries to do every year.

His daughter Haley, 8, is clear about what she likes about the Rancheros.

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“Horses!” she said emphatically.

“Want to make buddies?” asked one Ranchero, bringing his horse, Winchester, to where a group of children stood watching the procession.

“I raised him from a colt,” said the man, answering the crowd's questions, while Winchester dipped his head down for a few affectionate pats.

“I just want a couple pictures to remember the whole thing by,” said John Moore, a Solvang resident armed with a camera while positioned along Alisal Road.

“Those cattle with the horses behind them should be quite a sight with the mountains as a backdrop,” he said, scanning for a good vantage point before the procession began.

After the cattle came by, closely ringed in by a circle of cowboys with lassos, came the wagons and horses of the Rancheros. A few minutes later a straggling calf, having broken free of his herd, scampered alongside the procession with a cowboy in pursuit.

The cattle, new this year, reflect the California's ranching history that the all-men's club took as inspiration.

The Rancheros Visitadores ride was founded by John Mitchell, who, after attending the annual Bohemian Grove gathering, was inspired by the old ranching tradition of cowboys traveling from ranch to ranch, helping one another herd and brand their cattle, before gathering together for rodeo contests and a fiesta.

The Rancheros will ride more than 15 miles today, on their way from the Alisal Ranch to Camp Janeway, located in the hills overlooking Lake Cachuma. There they will spend the remainder of the week, enjoying everything from campfire cooking, to live entertainment, to a legendary amount of practical jokes.

The Visitadores expand their membership by invitation only, accepting only a select few into their ranks. This year's ride includes 35 first-time riders.

The most venerable of those taking the ride this year is 98-year-old Frank Bogert, who has done the ride for more than seven decades.

The Rancheros' roster has included names such as Bob Hope, Gene Autry, Walt Disney and Ronald Reagan.

As the blessing ceremony concluded, Rancheros Visitadores President Richard Rudnick ended the event the same way it has been for 78 years, with the command, “Ride, Rancheros, ride!”

Glenn Wallace can be reached at 737-1059 or gwallace@santamariatimes.com

May 4, 2008