Horse parade to travel through Battlefield Park at 10 mph

Ranchers from Nevada could cause delays for the morning commute Thursday in Prince William County.

The Grass March and Cowboy Express is expected to wind its way down Route 234 where it meets busy Route 29 at Manassas Battlefield National Park. The march will begin at 4 a.m. and marchers will travel about 10 mph down the roadway on their way to the nation’s capital.

The group of ranchers from Nevada left California on Sept. 26 and have marched their way east. They’re going to Washington, D.C. to present politicians a petition to fire an employee of the Bureau of Land Management.

“The parade of horses and vehicles can only travel at about 10 mph, so motorists are advised to use caution and expect potential delays,” said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

Many drivers use Route 234 to connect to Route 29 to commute into Fairfax County. A signal light at the intersection of the two major routes sits in the heart of the park and already does a fair job of backing up traffic in the mornings.