Rancheros to make 81st ride Saturday

Continuing a long tradition, hundreds of riders on horseback and in wagons will arrive in Solvang on Saturday when the Rancheros Visitadores make their 81st trip to Old Mission Santa Ines for the blessing of the riders. The Rancheros Visitadores, or the “Visiting Ranchers,” is a men’s social club founded in 1930 to commemorate traditional rides that once were made from ranch to ranch. Members come from many states and several foreign countries. After riding to the mission, the Rancheros will ride toward Lake Cachuma to camp from May 7 to 13. In 2009, the traditional ride was canceled because a new property owner along the Santa Ynez River didn’t grant the group permission to cross her land in time for the ride, but that issue has been resolved and the ride resumed last year. Each year after the Kentucky Derby broadcast, the Rancheros ride on horseback, in carriages and wagons from Jackson Camp to the mission for the blessing and then move on to Janeway Camp, property they own near Lake Cachuma. The blessing, scheduled for 3 p.m., typically draws large crowds to view the solemn blessing ceremony as well as more light-hearted banter from the stage as the riders line up, creating a colorful parade ground that fills the open land between Mission Drive and the mission buildings. Rancheros General Manager John Balch expects 750 horseback riders and about 30 covered wagons, carriages and coaches this year...more