Thanks to Louise and Richard Burney from  Waco, longtime TETRA members, the Texas Equestrian Trail Rider’s were well represented at the annual Fort Worth Stock Show “All Western” parade, which took place Saturday, January 19, 2013 in downtown Fort Worth. Louise and Richard have ridden in this parade several years, and Louise’s hard work coordinating and serving as the parade “liaison” helps the TETRA members enjoy participating in a historic event, approximately 126 years old. As TETRA members gathered from four regions of Texas, they were proud to display beautiful custom designed and hand sewn (by Louise) TETRA red saddle blankets displaying clearly the TETRA logo.

This year, two lovely young ladies joined the group, Louise and Richard’s granddaughter, Linzey Heidemann, a college student from Waco, and Maria Chiara Nedomova, a Junior at Burnet High School and exchange student from Slovakia, residing this school year with Glenna Bell Orman, Region 7 Director from Burnet. This parade was a “FIRST” for both young ladies, and you could see the excitement sparkling in their eyes as the members waited for the parade to begin. Linzey rode her grandfather’s Registered APHA mare, Candy Jo, that she decorated with pink glitter. Louise rode her registered APHA Mare Midnight and Richard rode his roping gelding, Buckshot. Also riding with the TETRA delegation were Scottie Moriss, from China Spring, on his striking and well trained grey mare. Wesley Tryon from Waxahachie carried the TETRA flag, and his son, Christopher, carried the Texas flag. Glenna Bell Orman, Region 7 Director, rode her dappled grey Registered Quarter horse, Rapha. This was Glenna’s second time to ride in the parade as an adult. As a teen, she rode in the FWSS parade several times with The Crowley Riding Club. Although it was forty-six years since she had ridden in the parade, she vows to participate in it the rest of her life!

The Fort Worth Stock Show “All Western” Parade does not allow any motorized vehicles. With over 2,000 horses, and 100,000 viewers, it is the kick off to the annual Fort Worth Stock Show. This year, the Parade Committee offered reserved bleacher seats for a nominal fee. The parade route starts with participants lining up at LaGrave Baseball Field, then the parade route proceeds North on Main Street, across the Trinity River Bridge and around the Tarrant County Courthouse, and going South on Commerce Street, then across on 9th Street in front of the Tarrant County Convention Center and continues At the end of the parade, the parade entries are greeted by a line of street sweepers, ready to clean the streets of Downtown Fort Worth from the pounds of horse and mule “refuse”. Some of the horses don’t know what to think about those unusual looking machines, and give their riders a little “commotion” when they see them.

Winners of this year’s 2013 Fort Worth Stock Show Parade were: HORSE DRAWN DIVISION – 1. Harris Stageline and S.R.Y. Coaches – Paso Robles, CA; 2. Sons of Confederate Veterans, Robert E. Lee Camp #239 – Fort Worth, TX; 3. Panther City Carriage Company –

Fort Worth, TX . RIDING CLUBS DIVISION – 1. Ghost Riders Rodeo Drill Team – Van, TX; 2. Glory Riders – Denison, TX ; 3. Hardin Simmons Six White Horses – Abilene, TX ; SHERIFF POSSES DIVISION – 1. Parker CountySheriff’s Posse – Weatherford, TX ; 2. Rockwall County Sheriff’s Posse – Rockwall, TX ’ 3. Tarrant County Sheriff’s – Fort Worth, TX ; MARCHING BANDS DIVISION – 1. Trimble Tech High SchoolMarching Band – Fort Worth, TX ; 2. Diamond Hill Jarvis High SchoolMarching Band – Fort Worth, TX ; 3. R. L. Paschal High School Marching Band – Fort Worth, TX (Note: Glenna’s Alma Mater), MOST COLORFUL DIVISON – Banda Zacatecas – Zacatecas, Mexico; CHAIRMAN’S AWARD – Wells Fargo Stagecoach – Fort Worth, TX; WESTERN HERITAGE AWARD – Cleburne’s Division of ReEnactors – White Settlement, TX.

Next year’s Fort Worth Stock Show Parade will be Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM in Downtown Fort Worth. Make plans to ride with the TETRA delegation or at least attend and cheer them on! Maybe RFD Cable Network will televise it “live”! For more information, call Louise and Richard Burney at: (254) 875-2225, or a TETRA Director.