Hi all, I’m at home recovering from surgery so I am living vicariously through you. I just wanted to let you know everything is going well and I’ll be back in the saddle in about 6 weeks. I’d love to here your stories of tomorrow night’s ride if the weather holds.

Near the FM 3286 bridge we got about one inch of rain last night so I think the trail will soak it up quickly. This is my first blog here so forgive me if the format doesn’t seem right. A group of us rode the trail from our area south to Brockdale Sunday and had a great time. Moonshine was gaiting well.

We found that there was blockage on the unofficial lower trail just north of the FM 3286 bridge. A storm came through and twisted and broke several fairly large trees which have obstructed the trail. Carole Kowitt and I went back Sunday afternoon and cut a crude alternative path through the rubble.

Watch for the stake fashioned as an arrow to tell you where to turn. As soon as I can get the pictures of the trees downloaded, I will post them. We also talked to the construction forman for the Blackland Prairie Rehabilitation Center and they are making great progress on the bird cages for rehabbing.

They have moved two trailers onto the site temporarily and are renovating them for an office and a bird hospital while they build a permanent building. They had boy scouts out cleaning up the area which will eventually be a public information area. They have promised us a visit before they close the rehab center to the public and horses.

The birds cannot have human or horse contact while in rehabilitation. Paul, the forman, said that they could plan a “bird release” at one of our events in the future. How cool is that?

The 4th of July holiday is famous for fireworks and parades. Despite the heat, TTPA members participated in parades in Weston, Melissa, and Royce City. Since pictures tell the best story, here are some pictures from the parade.

Tracy Matern and her beautiful horse Moon won 1st place in the Equestrian category at the Weston parade. Moon was in his glory with streamers in his mane and tail, star-spanneled leg wraps, and tack adorned with red, white and blue. Tracy did an awesome job of coordinating and spreading the word about the parades to TTPA members.

Ruth Blom and Solo were the 2nd place finishers in the equestrian category at Weston.

Marathon paraders Tracy Matern, McKenzie Martin, Carole Kowitt, and Carole’s grandkids participated in all three parades despite the hot weather.

Karen Clardy and her miniature donkey Boy George were a hit with the crowd. It was interesting watching the horses puzzled reaction to the donkey before the parade. Many had never seen a miniature donkey before.

New TTPA members Jessica and Locke Lansford rode in both the Weston and Royce City parades. This was their first parade, but they did it like pros. Their horses wore spray sparkle in their mane and tails, glitter stars, and red, white, and blue flowered leis.

Carole Kowitt snapped this picture of mother and daughter paraders Chris Churchill and daughter Kaitlin. Kaitlin riding her horse Ranger had the honor of carrying the American Flag.

TTPA participates in parades in the North Texas area several times a year. The organization also has monthly group activities such as trail rides, horse clinics, and informative talks. Our next activity is a horse campout and a presentation by local veterinarian Dr Charles Kerin scheduled for 18 July at East Fork Campground. See this post for more information.

Below are other photos from the 4th of July parades.

There are several parades in the area scheduled for the 4th of July. Here’s an update.

Weston Tx Parade – Staging area is in the field on the corner of HWY 543 and 455 across from the church.
Arrive between 8-830. Decorate your horse with red, white, and blue. Wear a red shirt (TTPA shirt if you have it) and dark pants (black preferred). Wear a black cowboy hat.
Judging starts at 9 AM
Parade starts at 10 AM
Contact Tracy matern at 214-495-7493 for more information. Tracy, myself and a group from TTPA plan to ride in this parade.

Melissa Parade – Staging area is the park off HWY 5 in Melissa. Parade starts at 2:30.

Royce City Parade – staging area is along railroad tracks along front street. arrive 5:30, parade starts at 6 PM.

See other post at http://www.trinitytrailsblog.org/2009/06/4th-of-july-parades-with-horses-in-north-texas/ for additional information.

Mark July 18th on your calendar for a summertime horsey campout at Eastfork Campgound in Wylie. We’ll have a potluck dinner and an educational presentation by Dr Kerin on horse health.

Sunday morning we’ll have a pancake breakfast.

We’ll be trail riding and socializing with horsey folks. Join us if you can. A fun time is guaranteed.

The TTPA Spook Clinic was a resounding success. Horse and riders had a great time. The clinic was focused on making your horse safer by de-sensitizing the horse to items that the horse might encounter on the trail.

Hank Copeland introduced the riders to common sense safety rules for trail riding. He talked about the proper way to pass other riders and trail etiquette. For example, if riders are passing you, you move out of the way and face the passing riders – don’t put your horse’s rear pointing to where another horse will pass. While this seems logical, most riders don’t think about it unless they have been taught.

Many horse trails share the path with hikers. Sometimes large packs can look frightening to a horse. As part of the Spook Clinic horses were acquainted with back packers with large packs.

Riding in hot weather in Texas means your horse needs to drink from different water sources. An unfamiliar water trough can appear frightening to a horse on the trail. Here a horse reacts to a simple water trough. Once the horse processed what it was, this horse was happy to take a sip from the trough.

On the trail bikes can look like strange monsters to a horse. In the clinic, Hank and a volunteer introduced a bike to a participant’s horse.

One of the fun articles horses were introduced to was Hank and an umbrella. Umbrellas are just not things horses learn about in the wild. So, horse must learn not to fear umbrellas and flapping ponchos through conditioning.

In addition to the Spook Clinic, the TTPA ran a silent auction to help raise funds. Volunteers from the Trinity Trail Preservation Association ran the auction. Donations were from local businesses and from TTPA members. Items included saddles, artwork, as well as horse themed lawn ornaments.

There was a good number of people who turned out to audit (watch) the clinic. Since there was only room for eight participants with horses, auditing is a great way to learn the techniques and then you can work with your horse at home. Apparently people weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the clinic. This gorgeous paint stood at the far end of the arena captivated by all the goings on. He watched most of the clinic.

My favorite obstacle the horses were introduced to was the flying plastic bags. Selena Copeland with the help of an oversized fan, blew a series of plastic garbage bags into the arena. Garbage bags are an unfortunate, but frequent item we encounter on the trail. Getting the horses to not over-react to moving bags makes a horse safer and more fun to ride.

Since the Spook Clinic lasted about four hours, a hotdog lunch was offered. Here Trail Steward Charlie Gaines enjoys a delicious hot dog cooked by Tom Eberhart. Gotcha Charlie. 🙂

Other pictures of the clinic are shown below.

Berdine will have more pictures in the upcoming Trinity Trails Preservation Newsletter due out in early July.

Our sincere thanks to Hank and Selena Copeland for hosting and running the event. Also want to thank all the hardworking souls behind the scenes who made it happen. Thanks Berdine and Tom Eberhart, Pat Martin, Charlie Gaines, Tracy Matern, Duke and Pat Monson and everyone else who pitched in to help out. I apologize in advance to anyone I didn’t mention. Please let me know who I accidently left off so I can add them. Everyone who volunteered their time should get the credit they deserve. The event was a huge success thanks to the volunteers.

Summer Nights Are Made For Camping Out

Join the TTPA for an Overnight Campout at Eastfork – Saturday and Sunday, July 18 & 19, 2009

Meet at Eastfork Campground
We will be having an Educational Speaker
7 PM Saturday – Potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share and your camp chair – Speaker after dinner
Pancake breakfast Sunday morning
Call Berdine Eberhart at 214-215-6141 (or) eberhart@flash.net for more information

Directions to East Fork Trail head in Wylie, Texas
Wylie is northeast of Dallas. From Dallas, go north on US 75 and take the Parker Road exit in Plano. Go east until Parker Road T’s into FM 1378. Turn right on FM 1378 for a short distance and then turn left (east) again on Parker Road. Follow it past St. Paul City Hall on the curve and past the Parker Road Veterinary office on the right. Turn left on Paul Wilson Road by the cabinet shop and the Wylie Animal Hospital. This becomes CR 384. Follow CR 384 to CR 388. Turn right on CR 388 at the stop sign and follow it to the trailhead on the left, marked by the white pipe fence.

From north of Wylie on State Highway 78, come south on SH 78 and turn right (west) on CR 389. When it T’s, turn left on CR 388 and then shortly turn right into the East Fork trailhead which is bounded by a white pipe fence

Mark your calendars – the 4th of July is Parade Day.

Tracy Matern, our horse parade ambassador, has been collecting information on the upcoming 4th of July parades in the North Texas area.

Here is the list of Fourth of July parades coming up:

Weston 10:00 AM information to follow on judging time
Melissa 2:00 Line up 2:30 PM step off
Requires a release available at www.melissatx.org. Each equine participant must have signed one. Please print it off and bring it with you. Tracy has paid the fee and registered us under the TTPA banner. Tracy will have extra releases should they be needed.

Royse City Parade Check in 5:30 Parade Start 6:00 PM Winners announced at opening ceremony at 7:00 PM Tracy will register TTPA for this parade.

Tracy also has a call into the Blue Ridge Riding Club to find out when their rodeo parade is scheduled. It usually follows the Fourth by about a week.

We now have 10 TTPA Parade Covers–first come, first served. We wear our TTPA Tshirts, black pants and black hats and decorate our horses as much as we like. We need a couple of banner carriers and two flag carriers.

Parades are a lot of fun and horses are a magic ingredient to any parade. If you want some tips on riding your horse in a parade, read our Parade Horse Training Tips article.

Want to join the fun? Contact Tracy Matern at bobtracy@dfwair.net for more information. I will also be posting more information here on where to meet and helpful tips on the parades.

Cone and Join the Moonlight Fun

Join TTPA at Brockdale Trailhead on Saturday June 6th for a moonlight trail ride. Meet at 7 PM for potluck dinner then ride out at 9 PM. Moon peaks at around 11 PM.

Bring a dish to share and your own chair (Pot Luck) TTPA to supply paper goods and drinks
Contact Ruth Blom at 214-418-4106 for more information.

Due to the tremendous rain this week, the Spook Clinic fundraiser has been postponed until 30 May.

Join us if you can. We’ll also be auctioning horsey items as part of the fundraiser.

Spook Clinics are a FANTASTIC way to bond with your horse and understand how your horse processes problems. Its not too late to sign up. Auditors are welcome. Detail on Spook Clinic here.

TTPA Fundraiser Spook Clinic 2 May 2009 Princeton TX

Note: Spook Clinic has been Reschedule to 30 May
Tired of your horse spooking at every stick on the ground? Want to improve your relationship with your horse?

A de-spooking clinic can transform your spooking nervous horse into a safer trail partner you can enjoy more. Hank and Selena Copeland have graciously volunteered to hold a Spook Clinic as a Fundraiser for TTPA.

Spook Clinics are a fantastic way to desensitize your horse to common obstacles and to transform your horse into a safer trail horse. There will be a limit of 8 participant slots in the Spook Clinic, but observers are welcome to audit.

Time: Arrive at 9:30 am and Clinic starts at 10:00 am
Location: Spirit of Texas Arabians Ranch
Hank and Selena Copeland
9797 Prairie Flower Tr.
Princeton, Texas 75047

Look for Trinity Trail Ride sign, on HWY 380 and FM 490
on the south side of the road

Clinic will be conducted by Hank Copeland
Cost: $50.00 to participate
$15.00 to audit
Participants must register their horse with Berdine at 214-215-6141
Auditors please RSVP Berdine at Eberhart@flash.net or call.
Only 8 spots for clinic participants so don’t wait.
Participants must wear a helmet, sign a waiver, and show negative coggins.

There Will Be A Silent Auction !!
Meals will be available from the TTPA chuck wagon
There will be a lunch break and a horse water break

Join the fun and support TTPA.

If you’ve never been to a Spook Clinic and want to see some pictures from one, I put up some pictures of one that Crystal and I went to a few years ago over at the Grasslands. You can see the photos at Grasslands De-Spooking Clinic.

The City of Lucas and Mayor Bill Carmickle have always been big supporters of TPPA and once again they have come through to help TTPA and the community in a big way.

The City of Lucas and Mayor Carmickle graciously tapped the water line across Snider Lane, bored the road, and gave us a water meter at the new Highland Park trailhead. TTPA then ran a water line from that meter to a new spigot by the trailhead gate. Now thirsty horses and hikers can have water at Highland Park.

Thank you City of Lucas and Mayor Carmickle for your continued support of TTPA.

TTPA is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to maintaining the multi-use trail along Lake Lavon. While TTPA is made up predominately of horse trail riders and hikers, the entire community and surrounding area is enriched and better because of the organization and trails. In our crazy busy modern lives, finding ways to stay in touch with nature and involved in the community keeps us sane and grounded.

If you are looking for a way to get involved in your community and want to “give back” – consider joining the Trinity Trail Preservation Association. See official web site for membership appkication form. The more you give, the more you get back.

TTPA is blessed with wonderful supportive members who quietly do things behind the scenes to make it better for the rest of us. Some people like Charlie Gaines, Tracy Matern, Berdine Eberhart, Carole Kowitt, and many others generously donate hours of their free time to work on the trails and countless other necessary tasks that make the club run.

Since joining the Board last summer, I’ve been impressed with how many people give of themselves and don’t expect any special recognition. It’s this volunteer spirit that makes TTPA a very special organization. For example, when some evil self-serving person stole our water tanks from the Brockdale trailhead, David Tucker donated and installed a new 100 gallon tank.

Thank you David for your thoughtfulness. I know I share this sentiment with many members – I will have kind thoughts of you every time I water my horse.

Membership to the Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) brings many benefits. You meet wonderful people who share your love of horses and trail riding. You expand your social network and meet new friends.

However, did you know that many businesses in the area also provide discounts to TTPA members?

For example, Lucas Foods – the gas station on the corner of Lucas Road and Country Club – offers TTPA members discounts on equine and dog food. Lucas Food gives you $2 off a bag of Purina Dog Food and $4 off with a free bag for every 10 bags purchased of Nutro Natural Choice Dog Food.

On horse feed, they give you $1 off for every bag of equine
feed up to $100.

Something else you might not know is that the Lucas Food store will special order food if they don’t currently carry the type of feed you want.

Thank you Lucas Foods for your generous support of TTPA.

Charlie Gaines, our hardworking Trail Stewart, has announced the dates for the upcoming Work Days – April 11 and May 9

Work Party Days will start at 9 AM. Bring gloves, clippers, trimmers, and water for yourself to drink.

I’ll update this post with locations once they are finalized. For now, put the dates on your calendar.

Work parties are a great way to get to know other members and help out the club. Be an active TTPA member and help improve the trail. Join us at a Work Party.

Call Charlie Gaines at 972-442-6454 for details.

Trinity Trail Fundraiser Spook Clinic Saturday, May 2, 2009

Spook Clinics are a fantastic way to desensitize your horse to common obstacles and to transform your horse into a safer trail horse. There will be a limit of 8 participant slots in the Spook Clinic, but observers are welcome to audit.

Time: Arrive at 9:30 am and Clinic starts at 10:00 am
Location: Spirit of Texas Arabians Ranch
Hank and Selena Copeland
9797 Prairie Flower Tr.
Princeton, Texas 75047

Look for Trinity Trail Ride sign, on HWY 380 and FM 490
on the south side of the road

Clinic will be conducted by Hank Copeland
Cost: $50.00 to participate
$15.00 to audit
Participants must register their horse with Berdine at 214-215-6141
Auditors please RSVP Berdine at Eberhart@flash.net or call.

Only 8 spots for clinic participants so don’t wait.
Participants must wear a helmet, sign a waiver, and show negative coggins.

There Will Be A Silent Auction !!
Meals will be available from the TTPA chuck wagon
There will be a lunch break and a horse water break

Join the fun and support TTPA.