Trail riders make their way to Memorial Park, start of rodeo

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Trail riders make their way to memorial park Some 3000 trail riders with 13 trail rides converged on Memorial Park Friday signaling the beginning of the Houston Livestock show and Rodeo.

"Nice horses," said a little boy gleefully.

And they come in every size shape and color just like the trail riders themselves.

This all started back in 1952 when 4 men made the journey from Brenham to Houston. Now thousands make the trek some coming as far as Mexico to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The one thing that remains constant with the trail ride is tradition.

"I don't really know what else it would be about said trail rider Barney Cases.

"I've been riding on the trail ride since I was 2-years-old," said Bonnie Black. "My grandfather started out on Saltgrass he was the original second trail boss on the Saltgrass from the very beginning."

For a lot of trail riders it's all about family as each generation makes the yearly ride to the rodeo.