Thousands of Texas Trail Riders are making their way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this week, carrying on a tradition that stretches back more than half a century. Riders from Lousiana to Texas are making the trek to the event.
Videos by Wide Open Country
KHOU reports the Trail Riders will arrive at Memorial Park on Friday. On Saturday, they'll participate in the Downtown Rodeo Parade, an event that celebrates the traditions of the Old West.
Old Spanish Trail Ride is on the way to Houston from the northeast. Stopping in Nacogdoches tonight. Rodeo parade is on March 4. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/BpITONC3IK
— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) February 26, 2017
The aerial footage from KHOU shows the riders taking to the highway.
The history of the Trail Ride is rich. In January of 1952, the first Trail Ride brought four men from Brenham, Texas to Houston to raise awareness of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The next year, 80 riders participated in the Salt Grass Trail Ride to Houston. Just one year later added 800 participants to the Trail Ride.
There are many different Trail Rides that will head to Houston this week. Certain trail rides even offer scholarships to students. Another unique feature of the Trail Ride is that a lot of the horses are rescued animals.
13 different trail rides bring people from all cities and phases of life together to participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The combined distance covered by all 13 trail rides adds up to nearly 1,800 miles. The longest ride is an impressive 353 miles conquered by the Los Vaqueros Trail Ride, which starts in Hidalgo, Texas. The Texas Cattlemen's Trail Ride is the shortest ride, stretching 70 miles from Montgomery, Texas.
