COLUMBUS — The Harris County Sheriff's Office Junior Mounted Posse gathered on the Colorado Courthouse square in Columbus last Saturday to help kick off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). The West Side Relay Ride includes Columbus, Weimar and Hallettsville. They will perform in the HLSR.
Harris County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Adolph, the coordinator of the Harris County Mounted and Jr. Mounted Posse for the past eight years, says, “There are not a lot of traditions anymore and it’s great that this is still going on.” Lt. Adolph noted the Colorado County history of the posse and the first Texas Rangers Unit formed in Colorado County in 1882. Part of that history is the Jr. Mounted Posse has been coming to Colorado County for many years as a jumping off point for the relays.
Harris County Sheriff Buster Kern formed the Junior Mounted Posse in 1952 as goodwill ambassadors for the sheriff's office, and has been going strong ever since. The group practices horsemanship, citizenship responsibilities and performs in parades.
The Junior Mounted Posse uses horses to help break down barriers and open communications. Lt. Adolph says, “No one wants to go up to a patrol car and pet the patrol car. Horses break down barriers.”
The riders are Lainey Voiles, Katherine Mickelis, Lauren Arrington, Haybob Soper, JoJo West, Peyton Williams, Cash Bussey and Elle Pittman.
