By Yubhya Garcia
A total of 125 horseback riders and three wagons are participating in a 100-plus mile trail ride from Cuero to the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
This is the 47th annual ride of the Old Chisholm Trail Drivers Association.
Trail coordinator Clay Allen said there are riders coming from other states such as Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
Clay said the trail ride has three riders from Australia and seven from England, two of whom have come down for the past couple of years enjoying it so much that they have scheduled their wedding for Sunday evening at the Lazy F Ranch.
The people participating come from all walks of life — ranchers, chicken plantation workers and doctors.
The event started Jan. 25 when riders met the horses provided by the Lazy F Ranch at the Cuero Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.
They ride between 14 to 21 miles a day and camp at designated parks and yards in camper trailers or tents.
The ride culminates Saturday on the grounds of the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum.
Saturday night trail riders will have their grand entry at the rodeo.
Allen said the main theme of the Old Chisholm Trail Ride is family and the cowboy life such as riding horses while wearing cowboy gear like chaps, boots, spurs and hats.
He added that the age range of the riders varies from 2 to 75 years.
“It’s a fun way to spend time with the family other than watch television all day,” Allen said.
Allen said many of the riders love to see their friends from a year ago and to meet the new riders.
The unofficial rules on the Web site of the ranch indicate the playful spirit of the event.
The rules caution riders to not poke or tease other riders’ horses because you will get the hell kicked out of you.
Please do not use whips on the ride, save them for your spouse, kids or horses later that night at camp, the rules state.
For more information on the trail ride, log on to www.lazyfranch.com or call Allen at 391-6378.
For more information on the rodeo, log on to www.sarodeo.com. For tickets, call 225-5851.