The Fort Worth Herd cut its cattle drive schedule through the streets of the historic Stockyards this summer due to potentially dangerous temperatures.
The group announced in a Facebook post on June 23 that the afternoon cattle drive would be temporarily halted through the end of July.
“The Longhorns will not be walking down the street during the afternoon at [4 p.m.],” reads the post, which noted that the morning leg of the local tradition would still occur.
Typically, the twice-daily procession of Texas longhorns down East Exchange Avenue attracts crowds of Fort Worth visitors and residents alike.
Since being established in 1999, the attraction honors the historical legacy of Fort Worth, which was put on the map by the Chisholm Trail, which saw approximately 10 million longhorns pass through it.
Until August 1, spectators wanting a free taste of the cattle drives of the 1860s will have to attend the Fort Worth Herd’s morning procession at 11:30 a.m.
Procession organizers routinely watch weather conditions ahead of the cattle drives, with severe thunderstorms and heat sometimes driving cancelations.
“We’re constantly monitoring their condition to make sure [the cattle] are safe, to make sure the staff is ok as well as our guests,” Trail Boss Kristin Jaworski explained, according to WFAA. “When we see these heat advisories, we’re watching the temperature, the humidity.”
Still, the Fort Worth Herd’s recent move marks the first time it has made a sweeping weeks-long cancellation.
As The Dallas Express previously covered, triple-digit temperatures and high levels of humidity have recently set in across the metroplex — weeks earlier than the typical warm weather peak of July.
Extreme temperatures pose serious health risks to people and animals alike, with temperatures exceeding 80 degrees capable of causing heat stress in cattle, according to Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
While there are many ways to beat the heat this summer, the importance of hydration cannot be understated.
Although the 4 p.m. drive is suspended, afternoon visitors to the Stockyards can still gain a unique behind-the-scenes experience from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the shaded Longhorn pen just behind the Livestock Exchange Building.
“You get to interact with the drover. You get to learn about life on the trail, the utility of the horse,” Jaworski told WFAA. “They’ll do roping demonstrations and the best thing is you get to ask them questions.”
The Old West Gunfight is still scheduled for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. The twice-daily historical reenactment takes place at Stockyards Station and is free.
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