Year Established: 

Established in 1959 and 1st ride in 1960

Nick Name:

The Champagne Trail Ride

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Trail Rides Ridden: 

65 Year

City Based out of: 

Simonton, TX 

Former Trail Bosses:

Sam Olsen 1960- 1964
Don Zapp 1964- 1972
Mac Goldsby 1972- 1979
Gary Garrison 1979- 1980
Chris Black 1980- 1983
Tom Walne 1983- 1986
Burns Turner 1986- 1989
Bobby Schmidt 1989- 1992
Ken Caldwell 1992- 1995
Roland Fulton 1995- 1998
Ted Bland 1998- 2001
Bill Fry 2001- 2004 
Tim Braunagel 2004- 2007
Mike Murphey 2007- 2010
Randy Pharr 2010- 2013
Jim Hubbard 2013- 2016
Wheat McKinney 2016- 2019
Nancy Schmidt 2019- 2022
Michael Murphey Jr. 2022- 2025
Willie Fry- 2025- 2028

HLS&R Best Trail Ride Years Awarded

1984- Division 2
1985- Division 2
1990- Division 2
1991- Division 2
1993- Division 2
1994- Division 2
1996- Division 2
1997- Division 2
1998- Division 2
2000- Division 2
2002- Division 1
2003- Division 2
2005- Division 2
2008- Division 2
2009- Division 2
2023- Division 2
2024- Division 2
 

Scott Baumann Spirt Award

2020- Mac Goldbsy

Mr. Mac Goldsby's Written History

Click to ready Mr. Goldsby's written history.


Address


Houston, US

About us

The Valley Lodge Trail Ride Association, known as the “Champagne Trail Ride” is one of the oldest trail rides sanctioned by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. VLTRA’s mission is to promote family values, friendship, and western heritage. The trail ride is scheduled In late February each year to ride over 75 miles to downtown Houston and requires several days on the trail. In the off season, members often participate in local trail rides and parades for community events.