The Torah Day School of Houston, Texas marked the start of Adar with a visit from a convoy of horses and buggies. Head shliach Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff also joined the fun.
The Torah Day School of Houston, Texas marked the start of Adar with a visit from a convoy of horses and buggies. Head shliach Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff also joined the fun.
The Mission Trail Ride visited Torah Day School of Houston, Texas on Friday. Students assembled outside to view the covered wagons and scouts on horseback, who were on the final leg of their 239-mile journey from San Antonio to Houston. Rabbi Enan Francis, principal of Torah Day School, arrived on the head wagon to greet the students. Students pet the horses and asked questions about trail riding.
Rabbi Francis addressed the students on the topic of “Mishenichnas Adar Marbin Besimcha.” Rodeo is a Texas tradition rooted in increasing joy. In the nineteenth century, cowboys and vaqueros amused themselves by competing to show off their skills in riding bulls and unbroken horses, and in wrestling and roping cattle. Onlookers took great joy in the accomplishments of the riders, and the rodeo was born.
April Hiller, fifth-grade secular teacher at Torah Day School, said, “I think that the Trail Ride (and the Rodeo in general) gives us a moment to be proud Texans. It is a reminder that we are part of a very large community that encourages our participation. Also, the trail ride is bringing a living museum to our school. My class had no idea the riders take off of work for two weeks to recreate the rides of cowboys of the past.”
“Seeing the Trail Riders helps the kids understand the commitment that people have to their history. It takes so long to travel, and they camp out every night!” added Susan Aronstein, Torah Day School sixth grade history teacher.
Torah Day School also coordinated Mission Trail Ride visits at other neighborhood schools, but the other schools were unable to accept or canceled due to school closures for a local water boil advisory.
The Mission Trail Ride departed from San Antonio on February 14, traveling 14-19 miles per day. The ride includes 75 people and four covered wagons. Trail Rides originated in 1952 when four men rode from Brenham, TX to Houston to promote awareness of the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM. The Trail Rides highlight the importance of cattle herding, cowboys, and their chuckwagons in Texas history. Today, twelve Trail Rides, more than 3,000 riders, converge in Memorial Park to herald the opening of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo TM.
