For nearly five decades, the Southwestern Trail Ride of Houston has embarked across Brazoria and Harris counties to kick off the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This year, 250 riders made the trek from West Columbia, Texas to Memorial Park during the weeklong journey. The association, established in January 1973, held its first trail ride to the rodeo in 1975. The group is dedicated to the educational enhancement of Houstonians of all ages — with hundreds of members scattered across the region.

Mary Posey brushes her son’s horse before the Southwestern trail riders set out on their journey to Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
(Left) Terrance Leary Jr., 5, holds his horse Blaze, 5, during a lunch break. (Center) Daveon Houston, 18, gazes outside the Onyx Riding Club wagon. (Right) Al Mitchel, mule skinner for the Onyx Riding Club, poses for a portrait as the Southwestern trail riders journey to Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
Zoey Baines, 8, rides behind the Onyx Riding Club wagon during the Southwestern trail ride to Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
(Left) The Beltway Regulators wagon trots along. (Right) Treasure Gault, 18, adjusts her braids in the Beltway Regulators wagon before the Southwestern trail riders set out for Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
Daveon Houston, 18, looks out the Onyx Riding Club wagon during the Southwestern trail ride to Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
(Left) Christopher McCoy reaches for a high-five while galloping past students from The Emery/Weiner School. (Right) A child guides a horse under an overpass during the Southwestern trail ride to Memorial Park on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
Students from The Emery/Weiner School gasp audibly as the Southwestern trail riders make their way to Memorial Park, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
Camryn Cooper, 12, embraces Starr Miller, 5, in the Beltway Regulators wagon as they wait to reach Memorial Park during the Southwestern trail ride, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)

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Antranik Tavitian is a photojournalist at the Houston Landing. He previously worked at The Arizona Republic, where he covered the border, Arizona politics, Mezcal production in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Phoenix’s...