My second trip to the annual prairie view trail ride began on the second day as it did my first trip a year ago The 87 mile journey began as always in Hempstead, TX. But due to intimate weather was a bad officials said. But I met up with the group on the trail on old Houston Highway a few miles from the Prairie View A&M University Campus (PV). From there we rode on to the days’ end campsite on Owens road across the street from PV campus about 4pm with nine wagons sets of mules and about rides including me with bag #260.
After chow the cowboys and cowgirls settle down to their campsites. Music was playing from site to site from Brian Jack’s zydeco party to “Juke Joint Love” to “Boots on the Ground.. where them fans at…” One family built a travel trailer remote Hooka Bar with private bathroom heated interior benches and a deck for cards or dominoes. The evening celebrations went on through the wee hours of night but not before the pit for the annual hog roast was started.
On monday, day three, the parade of wagons cowboys and cowgirls trailed through the University campus announcing the once a year celebration with the students and faculty has started. And a tradition that was founded in 1957, PVTRA earned the name “Mother of Black Trails” by blazing a path for inclusivity in trail riding. Over the decades, we’ve triumphed at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR) with multiple “Top Trail Ride” victories and perfect scores. From championing youth engagement to highlighting Western heritage, our legacy is a testament to perseverance and community spirit. Notable achievements include repeated first-place finishes in HLSR Division 1, recognition as “Best Parade Trail Ride,” and ongoing collaborations with Prairie View A&M University to support agriculture-focused programs. The parade ended back at the campsite on owens road to start the annual chili cook-off.
As the night sky began to illuminate and the pig roast was finishing up on it’s 24 hour skewer the campsite began to settle with cowboy stories, music, dancing, cigar smoking and and moon-shine hopping, and horse grooming through the night till around 2 am when all that was heard was some crackling left from the pig roast bonfire.
At around 5am on day four Trail Boss Myrtis Dightman jr. cranked up his truck circling the campsite blasting the morning wake-up call with Eddy Arnold’s “Cattle Call” Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh. Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de The cattle are prowlin', the coyotes are howlin’ Way out where the dogies bawl Where spurs are a-jinglin', a cowboy is singin’ This lonesome cattle call. I might mention this went on for eight mornings.
We headed past the campus for the last time until next year. A few miles down the road we stopped and greeted children at the Herman T Jones Elementary school The children lined the fence and greeted the trail riders as they passed through.
A few hours later we stopped at another school and the children and the neighborhood were once again elated to see the riders on their journey. Finally the day ended at Zube park in Hockley, TX. Where the riders settled in for the evening but the party celebrations seem to end a littler earlier
The trail riders leaped frogged their horse and travel trailers each morning to the next over night stop and shuttled back to the start of the ride. I too participated shuttling riders back and forth with my rental. But for one night I needed a shower I rented a hotel room butI slept in my rental the whole week.
After leaving Zube Park we stopped and passed by many schools an neighborhoods until finally reaching Memorial Park in Houston for the grand finale where over a dozen trail riders from around the state culminated for the night setting up different campsites with live bands, DJ’s and cook-offs.
But all we’re looking forward for the awards ceremony. Southwestern Northeasten all placed but Prairie view held down the top spot for another year for the best trail riders. The riders are judged daily on appearance, horseman ship, spirit and other qualities.
On the last day of the ride the trail riders left for downtown Houston for the official parade and opening ceremonies of the HLSR. Dighman and his team were once again of the excitement.
However Dightman said” the whole purpose of the trail ride is promoting agricultural interests in young Americans. “We have about 50-60 children that ride with us every year and part of the history of the PVTRA. The adhere to strict rules and model after HLSR show and connects with the college to continue riding our horses and raising our animals. And the children show their animals off at the show and win prizes and money for scholarships.”
