HOUSTON – If we’re rolling into the end of February, then it’s almost time to rodeo, Houston! For long-time fans of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, rodeo season doesn’t kick off until the cowboy and cowgirl trail riders, along with their horses and wagons, have hit the roads and trails, heading to Houston.
Eleven trail rides associated with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will shove off starting this weekend. More than 2,000 trail riders are expected to participate, and they’ll come from rural locations throughout the Southeast Texas region while making overnight stops and traveling more than 100 miles away in some groups, before converging at Memorial Park on Friday, Feb. 23rd.
The wild card each year when the cow hands head out is what will the weather be? Some years, they’re sweating it out under a late April-like sun and heat. Other years, multiple layers are needed with temps just above freezing and sideways rain! Below is the temps for the past six years at the start of Houston Rodeo. Notice an interesting pattern?
Check out the forecast for next week’s Wed-Fri as the riders work they way in from the trails to Memorial Park. I’d say there will be a number of happy cowboys and cowgirls with this forecast!
The reason for the nice weather this year’s ride is a strong high pressure center that will be just east of Houston. Winds travel clockwise around these high pressure centers so if it’s east of us, we’re looking at a steady south wind and warmer temps!
If you want to learn more about the different trail groups, here is a great article that our digital staff at Click2Houston.com put together about the teams, where they come from, and how long they’ve been riding.
This year’s rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 27-March 17 at NRG Park.