Texas, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Trail Ride routes and History

[texasgal]

I just love Texas! The Montgomery/Anderson crew have been doing practice rides for weeks now, legging up their horses, making sure their wagons are road worthy, making sure their butts are in shape

, and their cold and rain gear are worthy! Many of these folks started at the beginning of the week, and camped out in freezing snowy weather on the first nite..

Trail Rides

Nothing brings to mind the Old West like a modern-day trail ride. Pioneers created trails as they moved west in search of a dream and cowboys created trails to take cattle to major market centers. While these routes are no longer a necessity in daily life, more than 4,000 riders saddle up each February to relive the Old West as part of 13 trail rides leading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™.

In January of 1952, several men formed the very first trail ride as a way to increase awareness of the Show. Though only four men made the first journey from Brenham, Texas, the attention they raised attracted more publicity than ever expected, as more than 80 men signed up the next year. The trail rides are a signature tradition of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today.

Today’s riders hit the trail in an attempt to recreate the Old West, and in doing so, find a common ground that links us all to the Show. A sense of history and pride resides in each rider; igniting envy and intrigue in each child as they watch the trail riders and hope to one day join them.

Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride, established in 1973
386-mile ride from Hidalgo, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 6, 2010
Trail Boss: David Ramirez

The Mission Trail Ride, established in 1990
235-mile ride from San Antonio, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 16, 2010
Trail Boss: Daniel Viera

Northeastern Trail Ride, established in 1982
108-mile ride from Beaumont, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 21, 2010
Trail Boss: Anthony Bruno

Old Spanish Trail Ride, established in 1956
216-mile ride from Logansport, La.
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Morris W. Brown

Prairie View Trail Ride, established in 1957
102-mile ride from Hempstead, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 21, 2010
Trail Boss: Nannie Francies

Salt Grass Trail Ride, established in 1952
90-mile ride from Cat Spring, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Milton Beckendorf

Sam Houston Trail Ride, established in 1955
70-mile ride from Montgomery, Texas
Start date: Feb. 22, 2010
Trail Boss: David Supak

Southwest Trial Ride, established in 1993
120-mile ride from Rosenberg, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Rosalind Brown

Southwestern Trail Ride, established in 1973
102-mile ride from Angleton, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 19, 2010
Trail Boss: Rosetta Gray

The Spanish Trail Ride, established in 1961
112-mile ride from Shepherd, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Joe Cantrell

Texas Cattlemen’s Trial Ride, established in 1986
85-mile ride from Anderson, Texas
2009 start date: Feb. 21, 2010
Trail Boss: Cliff Wilson

Texas Independence Trail Ride, established in 1961
98-mile ride from Brazoria, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Jeff Simpson

Valley Lodge Trial Ride, established in 1959
71-mile ride from Brookshire, Texas
Start Date: Feb. 20, 2010
Trail Boss: Mike Murphy

 

[turney31]

Used to ride the Southern trail riders assc. , started in Bay City ,Tx. This was when I lived in El Campo, Tx. Those were fun times! Except for the year I drank too much Boones farm.

That was the only time I did that . Good thing I had a horse that had auto pilot. Thanks for the reminder.

Micah

 

[Ladysonja]

I rode with Joe Cantrel and the "The Spanish Trail" for 2010. What a wonderful week. This was the 10th year for me and my friends. If you ever get a chance to ride with any group, you will have to do it once. It will be the ride of a life time whether on a horse or in a wagon.