We are planning our annual January Chili Ride!

DATE: Saturday, January 21, 2012
TIME: Ride out at 2pm
LOCATION: Brockdale Park Trailhead

Sharon Berryman has agreed to cook her excellent Chili for us – this is always a fun ride because as you return from riding, the wonderful smell of chili cooking hits your nose. Chili will be ready between 5 and 5:30pm, and hopefully the Corps will let us have a bonfire to keep warm.

Remember to bring your current Coggins test results for each horse, a chair to sit on, and dress warmly, because it’s usually chilly in the evening, or is that chili ? !

If you are coming, please RSVP via email to Sherry Berryman so we know how much chili to make!

January 7th, 2012 TTPA Work Day

Start the new year off right by volunteering to work on trail maintenance with the TTPA.

The TTPA Work Day is scheduled for this Saturday, January 7
Time: 9am
Location: East Fork Trailhead

We will be marking the trail heading north from East Fork where the water pipeline was installed and crossed the trail. It has become difficult to find the trail at various points. We will also do some clean up along the way, so bring clippers and/or loppers if you have them.
Remember to wear gloves, and a jacket in the morning would be a good idea.

Thanks. Contact Charlie Gaines if have any questions at 972-824-3369

The TTPA 2011 Christmas Party is scheduled for Friday, December 2, 2011. We have made reservations for 60 at the Plano Outback Steakhouse, but if you plan to attend, you should call in YOUR reservation details so they can be sure that 60 is enough. Here are the details:

TTPA Christmas Party

Friday December 2nd, 2011
6:30pm – 11:00pm

Outback Steakhouse
509 N. Central Expressway, Plano, TX
(just north of 15th Street on the southbound Access Road of Central Expressway, aka US 75)

(972) 516-4100

Menu

Special: 6oz. Centercut sirloin.
Temp of Steak (choice): Rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, well done

Chicken on the Barbie: special BBQ sauce

Atlantic Salmon: 7 oz. Seasoned and grilled salmon fillet

All entrees are served with your choice of two sides OR a side and a soup/salad.
Choice of House Salad, Caesar Salad or cup of Potato Soup

Dressings: Ranch, Blue Cheese, Honey Mustard, Mustard Vinaigrette, Tangy Tomato or 1000 Island

And Choice of:
Baked Potato, steamed vegetables, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes

Dessert:
Cheesecake with chocolate or raspberry sauce or carrot cake

According to Jamie (Manager at Outback): The kids menu will be accepted! Kid’s Menu prices start at $4.99

Please call them and tell them:

  • TTPA Christmas Party
  • Your Name
  • The number of people in your party

The cost will be $15.00 per person + $1.00 for desert. Tax and 18% Gratuity is NOT included. All checks will be separate and alcohol is not included in the price of the meal.

We will be having a Gift Exchange, so if you would like to participate, please bring a pre-wrapped gift valued at $20.

This would be the perfect opportunity to pay your Dues for 2012, so bring your checkbook as well. In addition to supporting the TTPA projects, membership in the TTPA also includes a monthly newsletter, details about area rides, and FREE CareFlite insurance. Check out our FAQ for more information

Support Local TTPA Member Val Delana

Val Delana and her horse Little Miss Thundercloud will be on HRTV and on the ACHTA Web Site on 15 November for their turn in America’s Favorite Trail Horse.

Once the episode is over, the public has 48 hours (until Thursday at 8PM Central) to go to the ACHTA Web Site and vote.

Please help them win this honor !

Val Delana & Little Miss Thundercloud
Finalist #241 in America’s Favorite Trail Horse
On HRTV, HRTVLive.com and actha.tv Tuesdays at 7PM Central
Episode #10 on November 15

Vote for Little Miss Thundercloud

December 2011 Holiday Parades – Horse Riding Opportunities

Update: The Wylie parade scheduled for 3 December has been canceled due to weather and will not be rescheduled. Allen will make a decision on their parade by noon Sunday.

The Holiday Season is upon us, and along with the Holidays come holiday parades. Tracy Matern has put together a list of the Parade details for the 2011 season. There are often multiple cities having parades the same day (and sometimes at the same time). The parades likely to have higher participation from TTPA members are flagged in red.

Tracy also offers a couple of tips:

We decorate with Christmas garlands and bows and with battery operated lights for the night parades. The rule we enforce the most is “Please do not speed up to go back to your trailers after the parade…no trotting, cantering,etc. as this has resulted in accidents and injuries in the past.”

Save some “Parade energy” for the Fort Worth Stock Show Parade. It is the largest all equine parade in the world. Last year, four of us rode in it and we had a fantastic time.

Also take a look at the Parade Riding Tips on the Trinity Trails Blog site.

Please let Tracy know if you plan to attend any of these by email at bobtracy@dfwair.net or via home phone at 214-495-7493 or cell phone 214-392-2288.

We will need a utility vehicle or golf cart to pick up poop for some of these parades. If you (or perhaps a non-riding spouse) would like to volunteer to help out, please coordinate with Tracy.

Pooper Scooper requirements are indicated under the parades that require it (so far Melissa, Wylie and Allen). Last year, Brian Collins of McKinney Stables and a friend were a huge hit with the crowd. Brian drove a golf cart and his friend scooped the poop on the fly with a shovel and placed in a muck bucket in the back. They weaved in and out of the different horse groups and seemed to be having a great time. We can borrow the TTPA gator but we need a couple of volunteers to drive it.

November 19

Watters Creek Lighted Carriage Parade
Start 6 PM
Line Up 5:30pm
We stage in the parking lot just off the west side service road south of Watters Creek and Bethany Street

December 1 (Thursday)

Denison
Start 6 PM
Line Up 5 PM
Contact: Denison Area Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 903-465-1551
Fax: 903-465-8443
Entry Form on-line by Friday, Nov 18
Staging: On Crawford Street
After registering, they will send us a line up position
No entry fee; cash prizes

December 3

Rockwall
Start 9 AM
Theme: “My Favorite Christmas Movie”
Registration Form
Contact: 972-722-6001
Route: Old Downtown Square behind Courthouse

Melissa
Start 10 AM
Theme: Sleigh Bells Ringing
$10 Entry Fee & Entry Form (already paid and sent)
Must have “pooper scooper vehicle”
(there is also a Holiday Bazaar at Melissa High School from 11am-4pm)

Van Alstyne
Start 4 PM
Theme: “A Reason for the Season”

Wylie

2 Dec Update: Rainout decision will be made at 3pm. Contact Tracy for results after that time. If canceled, the parade will not be rescheduled for this year.The parade has been canceled.

Start 5:30pm
Staging 3:30pm
Judging 4:45pm
Theme: Festival of Lights
$25 and entry form by 11/23/11; prizes
Contact: First Baptist Church of Wylie
Debra Tobolka, Administrator to Missions Pastor
Phone: 972-442-2261
Fax: 972-442-6154
(Wylie Arts Festival also starts at 10 AM)
They would like us to have a pooper scooper vehicle.

Whitewright
Start 5:30 PM
Judging: 5 PM
Line Up 4-5 PM
Theme: Santa’s Workshop
Contact: Cathy Pierce at the Whitewright Chamber of Commerce
mailto:chamber@whitewright.org
Phone: 903-364-2000
Staging: American Legion Hall

December 4

Allen
2 Dec Update: Rainout decision will be made by noon Sunday
Start 2 PM
Last year needed pooper scooper vehicle

December 10

Flower Mound
Start 10 AM
Registration form due December 2; no fee; non-cash prizes
After registration form is received, they will send additional information the first week of December
Contact: Kimberly Cheek at the Town of Flower Mound
Phone: 972-874-6276
KIMBERLY.CHEEK@FLOWER-MOUND.COM
Fax: 972-874-6471
Action item: Make sure they allow horses

Royse City
Call for Start Time
Contact: Royse City Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 972-636-5000

Josephine
Start: 3pm
Staging: 2:15pm
Contact: Police Chief Daniel Jacobs
Phone: 214-229-8901

Blue Ridge
Start 7 PM
Staging 6:30 PM
Theme “Christmas Movies”
Contact: Danna Amaya, Water Secretary, City of Blue Ridge
Phone: 972-752-5791

Dannaa.blueridgecity@lemkepc.com

Farmersville
Start 6:30 PM
Theme: “A Very Frosty Christmas”
Contact: Cynthia Clark at the Farmersville Chamber of Commerce

c.clark@ci.farmersville.tx.us
Phone 972-782-6533
Fax 972-782-6603
Staging by the old cotton mill

January 14

Fort Worth Fat Stock Show Parade
Start 11 AM
Contact: 817-877-2410

5 Horses Stolen

On the night of Wed Nov 2, 2011 5 horses were stolen from the Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark. The trailer they were stolen in was found in Oklahoma.

The horses stolen were:
Grey mare 15.1 hands
Buckskin Mare 14.3 with black and silver mane
Black Gelding with a Rocking M brand and blaze face
Sorrel Gelding with a Rocking V on left front Shoulder branded with a backwards L and a K Black Mare

If you have information please call Ty Lester 501-454-5774.

You can read about the theft at http://www.bannernews.net/blog/?p=7010&mid=51

If you want to put up a flyer on the missing horses, you can download a pdf with pictures at http://www.trinitytrailriders.org/StolenHorses.pdf.

Please be on the alert and report any horses matching the descriptions. Time is critical.

TTPA Halloween Fun Day and Parade- Sat 29 Oct 2011

Kids and Costumes are great fun!

Dig out your costumes for you and your horse, its time for some Halloween fun!

Saddle up and attend the combined TTPA and City of Lucas events Saturday October 29, 2011.

TTPA will celebrate a Halloween Fun Day in conjunction with the City of Lucas Founders Day Parade and Fall Fest.

Join fellow horse riders for some Halloween Fun. TTPA will ride in the Lucas Founders Day Parade (in costumes) and then we will have a trail ride at Brockdale Park for the truly hardcore who want to ride more.

TTPA will hold a horse and rider costume contest starting at 10 AM in the parking area behind Lucas City Hall. Create your best horse & rider costume and have a chance at winning prizes from both TTPA and the City

TTPA Costume Contest Divisions are: Youth, Adult and we will have special awards at the judges discretion for other divisions (could be things like most authentic, most original, most comic, etc)

Here are the details:

When: 29 October – Saturday
Where: Meet at Lucas City Hall and Pavilion, 665 Country Club Road, Lucas TX – This is the NEW Lucas city hall building.
Time:
10 AM TTPA Costume Judging-Young, Adult, Judges Special Awards
11 AM Parade Lineup
12 AM Founders Day Parade
1-4 PM Complimentary burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks
Stick Horse Rodeo
Bounce Houses and Local Community Booths
Pony Riders & Petting Zoo
2:30 PM Trailride at Highland Park
4-5 PM Trunk or Treat Halloween Tailgate Event
Treats for all and Prizes for Best Costumes
Bring your spooked out vehicle

After the parade we will go to Brockdale Park Trail head and do a ride or just hang out and visit.

This should be a fun day for everyone.

TTPA Obstacle Competition

Buckskin horse

Beautiful Buckskin horse on Obstacle Course

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association is sponsoring an Equestrian Obstacle Competition during Wylie, TX’ Weekend Celebration which features the annual Rodeo and the “Wylie is H.O.P.E” Country craft & Vendor Fair.

The Obstacle Competition will take place on the trail beginning at the East Fork trail head in Wylie, TX on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Registration will open at 8 AM and close at 9:30 AM. No registrations will be accepted at 9:30 AM. A participants meeting will be held at 10:00 AM.

Registration Form (Word Document)

Sat., Sept 17th 2011 (Rain Date Sept. 24)
East Fork Trailhead, Wylie, TX
Registration 8-9:30 AM
Participants Meeting 10 AM

Pre-Registration TTPA Members – $20.00
At the Gate for TTPA Members – $25.00 (closes 9:30)
Pre-Registration Non-Members – $30.00
At the Gate for Non-Members – $35.00 (closes 9:30)

Equestrian camping available at adjacent East Fork Campground
www.recreation.gov Sites:horse sites Near:Wylie State:TX Park Name: East Fork

Divisions:
Pleasure-Adult
Pleasure-Youth (16 yrs and younger)
Advanced-Adult
Advanced-Youth (16 yrs and younger)

Ribbons for First-Sixth Place, Prizes for First-Third Place

Concession Stand

Mail registration form with check payable to TTPA by Sept 13
To: Kris McFarland
1512 Evergreen Drive
Allen, TX 75002

For further information contact Tracy Matern at 214- 495-7493
or 214-392-2288 or e-mail bobtracy@dfwair.net

• All Contestants should wear a helmet, or sign a waiver.
• Under the age of 16 yrs. must wear a helmet.
• 16 yrs. and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• Must have negative Coggins.
• Please no dogs

Directions to East Fork Trail Head in Wylie, TX

To get to East Fork Trail Head from US 75:
Take the Parker Road exit and go east.
When it T’s into FM 1378, turn right,
go to the next stoplight and then turn left onto Parker Road again.
Follow the directions below.

From Lucas:
Take FM 1378 south to Parker Road:
Turn left (east) on Parker Road (aka FM 2514) and follow it past Dr. Kerin’s (Parker Road Veterinary) office.
Turn left on Paul Wilson Road by the cabinet shop and the Wylie Veterinary Hospital. This becomes CR 384.
Follow CR 384 (may change street name) around to the trail head on the left, marked by the white pipe fence.

From north and east of Wylie on TX 78:
Come south on TX 78,
shortly after the Wylie Municipal Complex and the new Wal-Mart,
turn right (west) on Eubanks Lane (CR 389).
When the road forks, bear right on Forrest Ross Road (CR 389)
When it T’s, turn left on Skyview Drive (CR 384) and
then shortly turn right into the East Fork trail head which is bounded by a white pipe fence.

Equestrian Campground Information
The trailhead is adjacent to the East Fork Equestrian Campground. Register early to get one of 11 pull-through, large rig spaces each with water, electric and two pens. This facility includes bathrooms, showers and a pavilion and is a short ride to the trailhead. This is the only full-service equestrian campground within 50 miles. Register at www.recreation.gov and use the following: Sites: horse sites Near: Wylie State:TX Park Name: East Fork. Early registration is advised as sometimes the horse sites are used for overflow from the regular park. Stay over after the event and enjoy our 26 miles of trail.

Everyone loves Evening Trail Rides

Stay Cool – Ride with the Moon

Join your fellow horse friends on an evening trail ride. On July 9th, the moon will rise at 3:24 PM, be at top of arc at 8:47 PM and set at 2:05 AM. It is a waxing gibbous moon with 66% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated.

Its the perfect time for an evening trail ride.

Join us if you can. This is an informal evening ride, no food will be served.

When: Saturday 9 July 2011
Time: Ride out at 8 PM
Where: Brockdale Trail head in Lucas, Texas

Evening rides are relaxing and are a great way to beat the hot Texas summer heat. Join your friends and have a great time.

4th of July Parade Riders

Celebrate the 4th of July by Riding Your Horse in a Parade

If you live in North Texas region and are looking for a fun way to spend the 4th of July, join your horsey friends in a local parade.

The attire for TTPA members is to wear your red TTPA T-shirt, black pants and a black hat. Tracy Matern has Tshirts for sale and will have them available at the parade.

Decorate your horse with red, white, and blue bows, garlands, and ribbons. It is really a fun experience. The crowds always love horses in parades so please come if you can.

Tracy Matern has registered the TTPA in two parades.

Melissa
July 2nd 6 PM Staging next to Cardinal Stadium

McKinney
July 4th 10 AM Staging at old Collin County Courthouse parking lot

If you are interested in participating and want more information, please contact Tracy Matern 214-392-2288 or email at bobtracy at dfwair.net
.
See you in the parade!

Gallery Snippets
Cooling off in the shade Shelly Taking a break at Collin Park Charlie Gaines on Spirit Back from a ride Tom Pollard relaxing after the ride
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