SAN ANTONIO • Las Misiones launched its “Our Living History” Lecture and Culture Series with a trail ride barbecue lunch at Mission Espada Feb. 3 celebrating ranching in Texas.
    The International Laredo Trail Ride stopped off at Mission Espada on their way to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo to celebrate the contributions Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada have made to the rich cultural heritage of the ranching, cattle and horse industries in Texas.
    “Las Misiones is privileged to host the riders of the International Laredo Trail Ride and La Grande Trail Ride here at Mission Espada,” said Msgr. Balty Janacek, archdiocesan director of the Old Spanish Missions. “The trail ride and the mission churches represent the roots that make up the fabric of San Antonio.”

    The Spanish explorers ventured into South Texas in 1693 with settlements reaching as far as East Texas.
    Between 1718 and 1731 the five missionary-led towns were established: Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada and Mission San Antonio de Valero (now known as the Alamo).
    Each mission had its own ranch, raising cattle and sheep, plus horses for use of the mission vaqueros, or cowboys.
    These ranches reached out into what are now Atascosa, Wilson and Bexar counties.
    Records show that as many as 10,000 head of cattle were sold to the army of Bernardo de Gálvez in his victory over the British at Baton Rouge and Natchez during the American Revolution.
    The mission ranches were the beginning of the cattle and horse industries in Texas.
    
    According to the book The Missions of San Antonio, by Mary Ann Noonan Guerra, “Spanish mission cattle had long, gracefully curving horns. Allowed to roam the range, they reverted to primitive instincts and became wild cattle, developing into a sturdy new breed, the Texas Longhorn.”
    “We understand the integral part the missions played in the history of the ranching industry here in Texas,” stated Jerry Chessher, trail boss of the International Laredo Trail Ride. “It is important that we preserve the mission churches along with the customs and traditions our ancestors passed down to us.”
    The International Laredo Trail Ride is in its 43rd year and travel on an average of 25 to 30 miles per day.
    The trail ride begins in Artesia Wells and travels up through Cotulla, Dilley, Pearsall, Devine, then to Moore, where they meet up with the La Grande Trail Ride.
    From there, the two trail rides travel from Devine to Lytle into the Alamo city and arrive at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo on Feb. 4.
    For more information on the Las Misiones campaign, which seeks to raise $15 million to preserve and restore the Old Spanish Missions, visit their Web site at www.lasmisiones.org.