Trail riders are arriving in Houston to kick off the annual Houston Livestock Show and rodeo season, with twelve trail rides converging at Memorial Park before participating in the Downtown rodeo Parade. This longstanding tradition began in 1952 with four men riding from Brenham to raise awareness for the rodeo and has since expanded to over 2,000 riders traveling from various cities across Southeast Texas. The combined trail rides cover approximately 1,300 miles, featuring diverse participants of all ages, including multi-generational families.
Among the notable trail rides are the Mission Vaqueros Trail Ride, the longest at 206 miles starting in Goliad with over 180 riders, and the Salt Grass Trail Ride, the oldest and largest with 1,000 riders beginning in Cat Spring. Other rides vary in length and size, such as the Prairie View Trail Ride with 300 riders over 80 miles and the newly introduced True Western Trail Ride, making its first appearance this year from Brookshire. Each ride includes multiple wagons and riders, showcasing a rich cultural heritage and community spirit leading up to the rodeo festivities.
