The Shreveport Regional Arts Council showcased the contributions of African-American cowboys to the Trail Riding culture of Northwest Louisiana in two spectacular exhibitions. LOUISIANA TRAIL RIDERS, an exhibition of powerful black and white photographic images by Louisiana State University Art professor Jeremiah Ariaz, documented the little-known, deep-rooted African-American trail riding tradition born of generations of working farms and raising cattle in Creole Louisiana. SADDLES AND SPURS “Out of the Shadows,” featured the story of the trail riding culture of Northwest Louisiana. Starched shirts, saddles, belt buckles, boots, and memorabilia of the almost 75 Black trail riding clubs that make up the Bayou State and Northwest Louisiana Trail Riders Association were on display upstairs in CoolSpace. Both exhibitions opened Saturday, June 12, noon to 6:00 p.m. in artspace, 708 Texas St. In downtown Shreveport.

Ariaz’s photography captured the bonds between human and horse—the easy comfortable stride as a father handed down a legacy to his son in the same saddle; the intense sullen stare of the trail boss at the front of the pack; the hotly self-assured young cowgirl astride her steed, one hand on her hip and the other on the saddle; the cocky slouch of a teenage boy in the saddle with his little brother sulking below. This was not barrel racing or bull riding—no “showdeo” to see here—only poignant photographs depicting a deep Black culture born of several generations of man and horse working together that much of this country didn’t even know existed.