When Los Californios started out, we were mostly, guys from California and Arizona, who had their own horses, loved to ride, and tolerated some out of state flakes from New York. At one point, we were mostly law enforcement officers with badges and officers of the court without badges (attorneys).

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We were called the “Cops and Robbers.” We were more of a rough and tumble group back them with some serious greenie initiation rites (weightlifting) and occasional casualties. (See the pictures, all from the 50th.) After many arrests and convictions over the years, no law enforcement official remains and the robbers and other looters who come to ride in the desert are from many more states, fifteen at last count (AL, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, NM, NY, OK, OR, TN, and WA) and even England. 

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Back then, most brought their own horses on the Ride, were real men and were known by their real names: Conacher, Rogers, Hill, Schrader, Powell, Rodriguez (“Samrod”) – to name a few big empty saddles.