Trail riders enjoy horse competition

Vincent Williams, president of LA Posse Trail Riders, Lacombe, Louisiana, was a first timer at the Southern University Ag Center's annual horse show and trail ride this weekend. 

Williams is 1992 SU alumnus and has been showing horses and trail riding for more than 30 years.  He found out from other riders about the SU show and decided to join the fun. Now, he plans to return next year because "it was a pleasure".  

He joined more than 400 horsemen, women, and youth who gathered at the M.A. Edmund Livestock Arena for the annual competition that is organized by the Center's Livestock Show Programs Office. 

For more information on the horseshow, contact Christie Monroe, assistant director, livestock show programs, at (225) 771-2242 ext. 330 or christie_monroe(at)suagcenter.com. (Photo by Bridget Udoh) 

Trail Riders leave Monroe for 7-day journey to SU Ag Center Horse Show

Members of the Bayou State Trail Riders saddled up at the Monroe Civic Center, yesterday  heading to Southern University in Baton Rouge for the 40th Annual Horse Show and Trail Ride this weekend.

The trail ride will camp overnight in Archibald, Winnsboro, Clayton, Ferriday, St. Francisville and Baton Rouge and make special stops at schools along the route.

The journey is scheduled to last seven days, ending with the riders joining more than 500 riders who will gather at the Ag Center's M.A. Edmond Livestock Arena in Alsen, Friday, April 16. The group will make a scholarship presentation at Southern University's Baton Rouge campus, Friday at noon.


On Saturday at 2 pm, trail riders will caravan from F.G. Clark Activity Center, through North Baton Rouge and into the arena in Alsen.


Horse show events include: timed horse events, stick horse events for kids, gaited horse show, music by Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band. 


Horsemen and youth will compete in pee-wee, open, old timer, and junior barrel; tie-downs; break aways; team roping; steer dogging; and steer undecorating. 


Daily gate fee is $10 or $15 for the weekend. Children 12 and under are free entrants. Gates opens at noon Friday and at 7 am Saturday. No four-wheelers allowed. For more information, view the Horse Show announcement at http://www.suagcenter.com/documents/HorseShow2010Final.pdf


Monroe News Star photographer Arely D. Castillo captured photos of the Trail Riders leaving Monroe. View them at http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DI&Dato=20100411&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=4110801&Ref=PH


Contact: Christie Monroe, assistant livestock show director, (225) 771-2242 ext. 328 or christie_monroe(at)suagcenter.com 

Fall Horse Clinic scheduled for Nov. 14

Area horsemen are invited to bring their herd to the Southern University Ag Center's Fall Horse Clinic on Saturday, November 14, 8 am -  noon, at the M.A Edmond Livestock Arena in Alsen, Louisiana.

Staff from the Livestock Show Programs Office and Center veterinarian Renita Marshall will administer vaccinations, Tetnus shots, micro-clipping, and Coggins exams.

"This is an affordable opportunity for our herdsmen to take care of their horses and to insure that the herd stays healthy this winter," said Christie Monroe, assistant director, livestock show programs.

Contact Monroe at (225) 771-2242 ext. 328 or christie_monroe@suagcenter.com for more information on registration and fees.

The Cowboys are coming!

The Bayou State Trialriders have left Monroe and are in route to the Southern University Ag Center's annual horse show. Other trailriders from Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi will meet Bayou State in Baton Rouge for the April 4 show. The association will present their annual scholarship to Southern University agriculture students. Read the News Star's article on the group's sendoff below:

Cow pokes hit the 'Bayou Trail' on today

By Johnny Gunter, The News Star

Published March 29, 2009

The Bayou State Trailriders Association will make its fifth annual 125-mile journey from the Monroe Civic Center Baton Rouge campus of Southern University beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday. (March 29,2009)

The purpose of the trail ride is to raise scholarship dollars for students enrolled in Southern University’s agriculture program.

Sgt. Justin January, the association’s founder and president, said the group over the past four years has given out more than $5,000 in scholarship money.

This year’s honorary trail bosses are Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and Monroe native and Minnesota Vikings All-Pro defensive lineman Pat Williams.

“You know Williams is a big man so we’re going to have a big wagon for him to ride in,” January said. “They’re both going to ride out with us from Monroe.”

The ride will begin at 8 a.m. so January said those interested should arrive early.

“This is all about helping kids. We truly look forward to this event each year and we are excited to see that it continues to grow in popularity,” January said. “Combining the pleasures of horse riding and the worthy cause of helping promote education makes for a magnificent event.”

January said the Trailriders’ event has grown from seven riders the first year to 55 last year counting horses, wagons and buggies.

He expects more than 70 cowboys and cowgirls from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi to participate in this week-long journey from Monroe to Baton Rouge.

They will travel Louisiana 15 and camp in Archibald, Winnsboro, Sicily Island, Ferriday and St. Francisville.The ride is open to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and horses.

This year the trail ride will make stops at Winnsboro Elementary School on Monday and Ferriday Elementary School on Wednesday to visit with children. Both stops will be between noon and 1 p.m.

Anyone interested can register on site Sunday morning. The cost for participation is $10 for one day; $15 for two days; or, $35 fee for the week’s journey.

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For more information on the horse show, contact Christie Monroe, livestock show programs assistant director, at 225-771-2242 or christie_monroe@suagcenter.com.

Horse riders and young egg hunters invited to horseshow, trail ride, rodeo

Horse riders and young Easter egg hunters are invited to come out to the M.A. Edmond Arena on Hwy 61 near Baker for the Southern University Ag Center's 36th Annual State and Regional Horseshow, Trail ride, and Rodeo, Saturday, April 4 at 9a.m. Gates open at 8:30a.m.

Trophies will be awarded to egg hunters who find the silver, golden, and most eggs in the one-year-old to five-year-old group and the six-year-old to 10-year-old group. Participants can pet rabbits at the mini-farm before heading to the stick horse rodeo.

Young riders will compete in open barrel racing, buddy pick up, and cold drink run on their stick horses.

This annual event attracts more than 400 horse ranchers, riders, and ropers young and old. Trail riders from as far as Arkansas, Texas and North Louisiana will travel to the arena just in time for young riders to see an authentic horse corale and adult horse competitions. Trophies will be awarded for all youth and adult competitions. The day ends with a Blues and Zydeco Extravaganza.

The event is free to children 12 years old and younger. Adults and older youth will pay a $5 gate fee. The public and media are invited to attend.

Schedule of activities:
8:30 a.m. -Gates Open
9:00 a.m. -Easter Egg Hunt*
10:30 a.m. - Youth Stick Horse Rodeo*
1:00 p.m. - Trail Ride leaves from Southern University Mini Dome
3:30 p.m. - Halter and Western Pleasure Open Barrel Racing
4:00 p.m. - Open Barrel Racing, Buddy Pick Up and Cold Drink Run
5:00 p.m. - Gaited Horse Show
6:30 p.m. - Fashion Show (Best Dressed Cowboy and Cowgirl)
7:30 p.m. - Ranch Rodeo
9:00 p.m. - Blues and Zydeco Extravaganza
*open events for all participants.

For more information or to register, call Christie Monroe, assistant livestock show programs director, (225) 771-2242.
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