Today I shot about 60 photos of the Northeastern Trail Riders–it’s Go Texan Day–and this is my absolute favorite shot of the bunch. They’re both so beautiful, but I particularly love the younger girl’s expression. I vowed this year I would get up early and catch more of the riders, but I was busy doing stuff until 5 a.m.–isn’t that ridiculous?–so of course I slept in. I felt very fortunate to catch this group heading west on Memorial Drive as they arrived after their six-day, 100-mile ride from the town of Cheek, outside Beaumont.
What a great experience it must be as a kid to belong to a community of trail riders, feeling connected to a tradition that dates back not only several decades related to Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo, but also to their ancestors who made this ride when they migrated from Louisiana to Texas.
I had a special request to find out the story behind this photo that’s included as part of my banner collage:
The only family tradition I can claim here is that like me, some predecessor cut off a horse’s nose to get a photo of the rider. In this case, the rider is my grandfather. Other than that, I don’t know what the story of the photo is. He did come to visit us when we lived in Colorado, but as my brother pointed out when I asked him, Papa was much older on that visit than he is in this photo. I don’t know if this was taken on a trip out west, but the landscape sure looks more western than like his home in North Alabama.
As I dig around through stories my father wrote, maybe I’ll find some clue about the photo. Regardless, I like this glimpse of my grandfather on horseback, so I share it as indicative of the spirit of those willing to explore new territories. Yeehaw!
I think I was very lucky to have horses for a short time growing up …
Definitely! My sister loved horses, but I was never a horse girl. Though one of these days I intend to fulfill a longtime dream and go somewhere in the country to photograph mules and goats.
Thank you, Becky! So this was your paternal grandfather? I like his face. Did you once say you have some native american ancestry? His face sure looks like it (like my paternal grandmother – a Muscogee (‘Creek’), from the same part of the country as your family. Maybe you and I are distant relatives!
I thought the same thing when I looked at his face! If the records I have are correct, his grandmother (Elvira) was Cherokee. She would be my paternal great, great grandmother.
As well, my maternal great, great grandmother, Mariah, was Cherokee.
Oh and I meant to say that your photograph of the Trail Riders is really beautiful.
Thank you very much. =)