The Oldest African-American Trail Ride In Texas
Style Magazine Newswire | 2/24/2017, 9:30 a.m.
Prairie View Trail Riders Trail Boss Myrtis Dightman, Jr. with his grandson/credit KATYA HORNER
The first African American group of trial riders to saddle up and join the tradition riding into to Houston for the Rodeo Houston’s Go Texan Day and parade is marking their 60th anniversary. Myrtis Dightman, founder of the group, and the other cowboys have gone from not being welcomed participants to winning the Outstanding Trail Ride award in 2016.
Dightman’s son is now the group’s trail boss. Dightman, Sr. founded the Prairie View Trail Riders with James Francis with the permission of Prairie View A&M University according to Houstonia Magazine. Annually, the association teaches horse and rider safety courses at the HBCU during the first week of February, holds an annual cook-off there when they pass through on the way to Houston, and raises funds by selling concessions at the school’s new football stadium. Look for the Prairie View Trail Ride Association on March 4th in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Downtown Parade.
For more information go to http://www.HoustoniaMag.com
