Shavon Wolfe fixes her horse Serenity’s mane before riding at a Cowboys and Creatives event in Winston on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Boots on the ground: Black trail rides are the new family reunion

Two events depict the evolving state of the current trail-riding scene in Georgia.
Shavon Wolfe fixes her horse Serenity’s mane before riding at a Cowboys and Creatives event in Winston on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) (Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
By Jewel Wicker - For the AJC
May 3, 2025

When more than 2,000 people showed up on April 19 for the Cowboys and Creatives trail ride and bonfire hosted on a farm in Winston, Georgia, organizers were ecstatic. The attendance showcased a growing interest in Black cowboy culture amongst metro Atlanta residents.

The event offered an opportunity for attendees to ride their horses around the farm (although organizers say extreme temperatures meant they couldn’t have a lengthy trail ride). Local vendors also provided a variety of food options, ranging from vegan offerings and fresh pressed juices to lemon pepper wings.

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City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy during a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy during a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, talks with attendees of a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025.   Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, talks with attendees of a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025.   Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Country Family Reunions

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Participants embark on a trail ride hosted by Atlanta Saddle Club Association.

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Saddle Club Association

Participants embark on a trail ride hosted by Atlanta Saddle Club Association.

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Two women stand on horses at a 2025 event organized by Atlanta Saddle Club Association.

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Saddle Club Association

Two women stand on horses at a 2025 event organized by Atlanta Saddle Club Association.

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Participants in a trail ride hosted by the group Cowboys & Creatives gather around a bonfire in April 2025.

Credit: Courtesy of Cowboys & Creatives

Participants in a trail ride hosted by the group Cowboys & Creatives gather around a bonfire in April 2025.

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”,sdoow ot ot eseht meht eht smelborp tuo deen tsuj ni .sesroh ereh eh gniog og t’nod kcab .dedda eW m’I

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy as attendees of a Cowboys and Creatives event gather around him and take photos Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy as attendees of a Cowboys and Creatives event gather around him and take photos Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Traditions vs. The Future

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eW“ t’noD‘ uoy ew dnatsrednu liart ,noitidart ot s’ereht meht eht eht gnillet ecaps ,sedir tcepser retomorp yalp s’elpoep ruo fo ton .ti si noitnetni ni yrotsih ”’.ereh s’puorg og rof .ecaf dragersid gnitaerc ,ytinummoc neeb dna dna .dedda a a ev’eW er’eW ehT

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy and talks with sisters Yolanda Wilson, left, and Sylenna Wilson during a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

City Mungin, who owns The Outpost West in Winston, sits atop his horse Hennessy and talks with sisters Yolanda Wilson, left, and Sylenna Wilson during a Cowboys and Creatives event Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

nrut“ pu liart ot ot ”ynomitset .ecaps sedir derrefer mialcer gnikool yoj rof sklof sa dna dna a a kcalB srebaB

liarT“ .ydnert noitidart eht ylneddus ehs .dias sedir trap gniogno fo won ton deniatniam tsuj ni evah yllaicepse ,seitinummoc gnieb era era dna na ”,deifilpma yllautca er’yehT ,htuoS kcalB

nI“ — — ot siht ”.smret ecaps nees ,hcraeser mialcer gnihsup sgnisirpu-tsop ,0202-tsop nwo ruo no ym tnemom ,yoj si woh egatireh sklof dna ev’I kcalB

er’eW“ saw gniyrt liart ot ot ”,sgniht eht eht taht taht ecaps dekcohs ehs ehs ,dias sedir etacilper tuo ro fo gniton ton yllaretil nrael si tseretni desaercni ni .sah sah noisuf etacilpud noisivid tnereffid .desuac gnivrac era gnihtyna ydobyna .deerga tuoba a a eW enopaC

er’eW“ htiw er’ew emoclew ew .su ot ot ot ot .taht .ecaps ”.elpoep nwo ruo ruo on deen ,evol yoj .ereh gnilaeh gnilaeh evah evah gniog gniog gniog rof rof enoyreve ,amard eunitnoc esuaceb eb dna er’eW eW s’tI s’tI kcalB


siht seirots ruo rehto fo rettelswen erom pihsrebmem rebmem ekil ni eerf rof .stifeneb dna a LTAU emoceB

no no dna ,X LTAU koTkiT .margatsnI wolloF ,koobecaF

About the Author

Jewel Wicker is a native Atlantan who has covered hip-hop in the city for publications such as GQ, Pitchfork and Vice.