By JULIETA PAITA
With about 7 wagons and 60 horses, the Spanish Trail Riders did their sixth stop of the ride by Greenspoint Mall last Friday morning February 25, 2011 before hitting to Memorial Park, their last stop and in preparetation of the Houston Rodeo.
The Spanish Trail Riders started at Shepherd, Texas, a city about 126 miles up US 59 from Houston. “We have been riding for 6 days,” said trail boss Joe Cantrell. “We are going to ride about 115 and 120 miles.” The Spanish Trail Riders ride about 14-21 miles a day from one place to another, starting at Shepherd city until they get to their destination, the inauguration of the Houston Rodeo.
After doing a short stop at Greenspoint Mall, the Spanish Trail Riders ride to their last stop at Memorial Park. “We’re going to ride 21 miles the last day plus ther parede,” said Cantrell.
The Spanish Trail rides arrived at Greenpoint Mall around 9:30 a.m. on a friday and “It takes us to 4 o’clock this afternoon to get to Memorial Park,” said Cantrell. At Memorial Park, they should join other 12 trail ride groups. During that night, they had some rest to be ready for their participation in the parede which was on Saturday February 26, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.
The trail riders as well as the parede are the traditional start of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo which runs this year from March 1 through March 20.
Trails date many years ago when people move west in search of a dream and cowboys transported cattle. According to Houston Rodeo website, in January of 1952 the firts trail was formed to incresed awareness of the show. Trails todays are an attempt to recreate the Old West.