Due to the (much needed) massive quantities of rain we received in the days before the original ride date, we had to reschedule the Mardi Gras ride. Here are the details.

Sunday, April 5, 2009
Arrive 1:30 pm, ride out at 2:00
Brockdale Trailhead
5:00 Mardi Gras Meal will be ready to serve ($5.00 donation please)
Please be sure to RSVP: dgbourgeois at dfwair.net or call 214-383-0164

For directions and info, see the orginal post on Texas Mardi Gras Trail Ride.

New date is SUNDAY 5 April. See you there.

Below is a reprint of a Yahoo Groups email submitted by Past TTPA President Tracy Matern. I think Tracy provides excellent advice on things we can do to try to protect our beloved riding trail.

From Tracy:

Hanover Homes has purchased the 593 acres that run from Brockdale
Park all the way to St. Paul through a group called Lavon 593 Land
Investment Partners, L.P. They plan to put 2000+ homes on the site.
They are proceeding through all the required steps to obtain water
and sewer. The land lies in the ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdicution)
of Lucas, Wylie and St. Paul. They have been denied by St. Paul and
Lucas and now are requesting that Wylie supply the services. If all
the nearby cities decline to provide service, they can apply to Seis
Lagos to supply service or State Law allows them to form a special
taxing district called a SUD or MUD to fund their own sewage and
water treatment plants. They must request this from the TCEQ (Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality)and a public notice will be
published. There is not a lot the cities can do to stop them. We
can only protest to Wylie and to the TCEQ.

This is a very high density development inconsistent with the
adjacent area. The developers are old pros and are familiar with all
the applicable procedures and laws. They do not care about public
objections. They must have a MUD or attach to a sewer system in
order to build this many houses. Collin County requires developments
with septic tanks to have a minimum of one acre lots.

This would be very detrimental to our trail. Those who live on small
lots do not have the same interests as horse owners and incompatible
activities are highly likely.

To protest with Wylie, send an email to the Wylie Mayor at
eric.hogue at wylietexas.gov or a letter to The Mayor and City Council
of Wylie, TX, 2000 SH 78 North, Wylie, TX 75098. State that you are
opposed to provising water and sanitary sewer services to the Lavon
593 Land Investment Partners’ land. The proposed land use is
incompatible with adjacent cities’ master plans.

Support the Trail and Visit with Friends by Volunteering Time

When: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Time: 9:00 am

Where: Eastfork Trailhead
Details: We will be putting up trail signs so bring gloves, post hole diggers and shovels
Contact: Charlie Gaines at 972-442-6454

Hope to see you there!

Celebrate Mardi Gras with a Trinity Trail Ride and Gumbo Dinner

NOTE: This ride has been rescheduled for Sunday 5 April 2009.

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) will host a Mardi Gras trail ride and Gumbo dinner on Saturday, March 28 at the Brockdale Park trailhead in Lucas, Texas, weather permitting. Arrive trailhead at 1:30 PM. Ride out at 2:00 PM. Dinner at 5:00 PM.

TTPA members Steve and Debbie Bourgeois have offered to make chicken and sausage gumbo for dinner. Please RSVP to Debbie at 214-383-0164 or email Debbie at dgbourgeois at dfwair.net so we can better estimate how much gumbo to make.

TTPA suggests a $5.00 donation to help cover dinner costs. Please bring garlic French bread and a dessert if you can. Join us for some great conversation with other riders. TTPA is encouraging all to wear purple, green and gold for the ride.

The ride will be automatically canceled if it is raining or if there has been so much rain as to make the trail extremely wet, muddy and dangerous. To check on trail conditions call Trail Steward Charlie Gaines at 972-824-3369.

Don’t forget your current negative Coggins Certificate for each horse, as state law requires us to check. You can’t enter the park without one. For safety reasons, dogs will not be permitted on the trail. They must remain tied at your trailer in camp. For more information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at http://www.trinitytrailriders.org.

Directions to Brockdale Park Trailhead

Lucas is northeast of Dallas, TX. From Dallas, go north on US 75 to the Bethany Drive exit in Allen and go east. Take Bethany Drive through Allen into Lucas (about 5 miles). Counting the light at the expressway exit, you will go through nine lights. The ninth light is at Bethany and FM 1378 where Lucas City Hall will be on the left. Go straight. In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see a stoplight and the Lucas Food Mart and Fina station will be on your left. Turn left here on FM 3286 and go less than a mile to Brockdale Park Road. There is a brown Brockdale Park sign on the right just before the turn. It turns off to the right. If you get to the bridge over Lake Lavon you have gone too far. Follow Brockdale Park Road around to the trailhead. You will drive through three 90-degree turns. The trailhead is at the 3rd 90-degree turn on the right and is bordered by white pipe fence. If you get to the boat ramp you have gone too far.

About Trinity Trail Preservation Association

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association is an all-volunteer equestrian organization whose main purpose is to maintain the 17-mile long trail on the Corps of Engineers land along Lake Lavon and to network with other trail riders. Besides maintaining the trail, the group sponsors trail rides and cookouts and has quarterly meetings with speakers on horse-related issues. The group is truly regional and has over 130 member families from Addison, Allen, Aubrey, Blue Ridge, Celeste, Celina, Dallas, Fairview, Farmersville, Forney, Garland, Josephine, Lavon, Lucas, McKinney, Melissa, Mesquite, Murphy, Nevada, Parker, Pilot Point, Plano, Pottsboro, Princeton, Quitman, Richardson, Rockwall, Rowlett, Royce City, Sachse, Sanger, St. Paul, Van Alstyne, and Wylie. In addition, riders and hikers from all over the Metroplex come to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the trail. The trail runs from Brockdale Park in Lucas through Collin Park in St. Paul to East Fork Park in Wylie.

The TTPA members are currently working with the Lake Lavon Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks & Wildlife to extend the trail northward to Fairview. They are also working with Collin County Parks and Open Space and the Lake Lavon office of the Army Corps of Engineers to build an equestrian campground at East Fork Park in Wylie, Texas. Officially organized in 1997, all funding has been from 50% matching grants awarded by Texas Parks & Wildlife and Collin County Parks and Open Space, cash donations from members, thousands of volunteer hours and the help and support of the Corps of Engineers, and the Cities of Lucas and Wylie. The group publishes a monthly newsletter filled with upcoming events and dues are $25 per year.

For more information, call Membership Chairman Ruth Blom at 214-418-4106 or contact her via Email at frblom@tx.rr.com. To support the trail and get regular delivery of the monthly newsletter, send $25 to Trinity Trail Preservation Association, c/o Pat Martin, 4040 Avion Drive, Wylie, TX 75098. For more information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at www.trinitytrailriders.org and the TTPA Blog at http://www.trinitytrailsblog.org.

Please Come join us this Saturday morning !
TTPA Work Party

Saturday, February 21, 2009
9:00 am
Highland Park Trailhead
Gloves, clippers, trimmers, water for yourself. We will be cleaning up the trailhead and replacing some wire fence
Tom Eberhart 214- 632- 0969

Hope to see you there.

Charlie Gaines, Tracy Matern, and other members of the Trinity Trail Preservation Association were recently walking the proposed route of the new northern extension for Trinity Trail. They came across something that put them in awe – enormous sycamore trees.

One tree in particular looked to be the granddaddy tree. They contacted the Texas Forestry service who came out to officially measure the tree. The giant tree measured 25 and a half feet around and had a crown spread of 126 feet. The tree is estimated to be 101 feet tall.

Check out the articles in two local papers.

http://www.farmersvilletimes.com/articles/templates/news.asp?articleid=371&zoneid=3

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/States-Largest-Known-Tree-Found-in-Metroplex.html

Bring Your Sweetheart For a Trail Ride on Valentine’s Day

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) will host a Valentine Day trail ride, Saturday, February 14 at the Brockdale Park trailhead in Lucas, Texas, weather permitting. Arrive trailhead at 2:00 PM. Ride out at 2:30 PM. This is a brown bag event so bring your own food, beverages, and lawn chair. Join us for some great conversation with other riders. You can adjust your ride to your own schedule. No RSVP needed.

The ride will be automatically cancelled if it is raining or if there has been so much rain as to make the trail extremely wet, muddy and dangerous. To check on trail conditions call Trail Steward Charlie Gaines at 972-824-3369.

Don’t forget your current negative Coggins Certificate for each horse, as state law requires us to check. You can’t enter the park without one. For safety reasons, dogs will not be permitted on the trail. They must remain tied at your trailer in camp. For more information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at www.trinitytrailriders.org.

Directions to Brockdale Park Trailhead

Lucas is northeast of Dallas, TX. From Dallas, go north on US 75 to the Bethany Drive exit in Allen and go east. Take Bethany Drive through Allen into Lucas (about 5 miles). Counting the light at the expressway exit, you will go through nine lights. The ninth light is at Bethany and FM 1378 where Lucas City Hall will be on the left. Go straight. In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see a stoplight and the Lucas Food Mart and Fina station will be on your left. Turn left here on FM 3286 and go less than a mile to Brockdale Park Road. There is a brown Brockdale Park sign on the right just before the turn. It turns off to the right. If you get to the bridge over Lake Lavon you have gone too far. Follow Brockdale Park Road around to the trailhead. You will drive through three 90-degree turns. The trailhead is at the 3rd 90-degree turn on the right and is bordered by white pipe fence. If you get to the boat ramp you have gone too far.

See you at the trail ride!

Donate While You Shop To A Great Cause

Longtime TTPA member Karen Bander, let us know that the horse rescue, Throwaway Ponies, can now receive a donation every time you shop on-line at Apple, Dell, Blockbuster, Target, Staples, and Best Buy.

Just connect to the site below, sign in, and choose your store. The stores listed will donate up to 25% of your purchase to our cause.

http://www.supportyourcause.com/charity/Throwaway-Ponies/75-3201156.

Throwaway Ponies provides a safe haven for horses who might be abused, neglected or possibly euthanized because of their age or physical condition. It also provides equine assited therapy to women and children who have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused in order to build self confidence, self-esteem and physical strength.

For more information on Throwaway Ponies, contact Karen Bander at 214-202-1390
www.throwawayponies.org

Tracy Matern got a nice note from Janice Hirmon this week complimenting the new Highland Park trail. Janice and her husband had a chance to ride the new trail recently and loved it.

For those who don’t know the history of Trinity Trail, Janice Hirmon is responsible for starting Trinity Trail in the very beginning. All of us who use the trail owe Janice a great deal of gratitude for her foresight and hard work.

Janice mentioned how great it was to see that the trail was being used. She saw 20 to 25 trailers in the parking lot the day she was there. Hopefully Janice will be back to ride with us again soon.

Note: Janice lost her cell phone while on the trail. It is yellow with flowers all over it. Please contact us here at the blog if you find it. 972-429-1222. Thanks.

Technorati Profile

If you’re not already actively conditioning your horse, its time to start.

I’m looking for input on how people condition their horses. I’ll start the article by listing a few conditioning techniques I’ve always used. Feel free to add comments about what has worked for you.

1, Start slow. Almost any trainer will tell you its best to start slowly and condition over a period of time. You’ll have less injuries if you build muscle slowly.

2, Work out regularly. If you make riding a habit, you’ll be more likely to do it. It becomes part of your ritual.

3, Get a training parnter. If you have someone who is also conditioning their horse to ride with it will help you stay committed to your goal.

Okay, let me hear your conditioning secrets.

If you haven’t renewed your Trinity Trial Preservation Association membership for 2009, its time!

There is a membership application on the Trinity Trails web site here.

Membershipo is only $25 for the whole year. We need your support. Send your membership dues in today.

Ready to meet fellow TTPA members and do a good deed? Join us Saturday, January 24 at the Collin Park Trail Head to help do maintenance on Trinity Trail. Interested parties should arrive at 9 AM.

Charlie Gaines, TTPA Trail Stewart, is the point of contact. You can reach him at 972-442-6454.

Don’t be shy. The group is very friendly and really appreciates everyone’s help. TTPA is a grassroots community association and it takes all of us to keep Trinity Trail in good shape.

Please bring gloves, clippers, trimmers, and water for yourself.

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) will sponsor a trail ride and Chili Cookout, Saturday, January 10 at the Brockdale Park trailhead in Lucas, Texas, weather permitting. Arrive trailhead at 2:00 PM. Ride out at 2:30 PM. TTPA will be providing a bonfire, beverages, and cooking chili. Sharon Berryman will cook her wonderful Chili for the ride. Bring cornbread to share and a lawn chair.

Please RSVP to Tracy Matern (214-495-7493 or email bobtracy at dfwair.net) if you are coming to the ride and want chili – that will help us know how much chili to make.

There will be a $5 donation to cover chili and paper goods. Chili Dinner will be served at 5 PM. Join us for some great conversation with other riders. You can adjust your ride to your own schedule.

The ride will be automatically cancelled if it is raining or if there has been so much rain as to make the trail extremely wet, muddy and dangerous. To check on trail conditions call Trail Steward Charlie Gaines at 972-824-3369.

Don’t forget your current negative Coggins Certificate for each horse, as state law requires us to check. You can’t enter the park without one. For safety reasons, dogs will not be permitted on the trail. They must remain tied at your trailer in camp. For more information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at www.trinitytrailriders.org.

Directions to Brockdale Park Trailhead

Lucas is northeast of Dallas, TX. From Dallas, go north on US 75 to the Bethany Drive exit in Allen and go east. Take Bethany Drive through Allen into Lucas (about 5 miles). Counting the light at the expressway exit, you will go through nine lights. The ninth light is at Bethany and FM 1378 where Lucas City Hall will be on the left. Go straight. In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see a stoplight and the Lucas Food Mart and Fina station will be on your left. Turn left here on FM 3286 and go less than a mile to Brockdale Park Road. There is a brown Brockdale Park sign on the right just before the turn. It turns off to the right. If you get to the bridge over Lake Lavon you have gone too far. Follow Brockdale Park Road around to the trailhead. You will drive through three 90-degree turns. The trailhead is at the 3rd 90-degree turn on the right and is bordered by white pipe fence. If you get to the boat ramp you have gone too far.

Hope to see you all there!

Request for Comments

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association has obtained a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Recreational Trails Program to extend the equestrian and hiking trail near Lake Lavon another ten miles. The current trail runs from the East Fork Equestrian Campground in Wylie, TX north to a trailhead at Highland Park in Lucas and is 17.5 miles long. The next section will run from Highland Park to Wilson Creek on U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s land approximately another 10 miles. The Corps is now requesting comments on the extension of the trail until December 12, 2008. These comments will be reviewed and analyzed in order to determine if permission will be given to proceed with marking a route and construction of the trail.

Please send your emails of support, including your town and state, to:

Lake Manager James Murphy
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake Lavon Office
3375 Skyview Drive
Wylie, TX 75098-5775

Or email your support to James Murphy at james.a.murphy@usace.army.mil.

You might want to include some of the items below in your letter/email.

1) Trinity Trail has the only full-service equestrian campground within 50 miles. This new campground will increase the likelihood of horseman from a wider area visiting and spending money in Collin County. A longer trail increases the likelihood that equestrian campers will stay overnight at the campground so they can ride the entire trail.

2) Trinity Trail is the only trail in Collin County which allows both horses and hikers, adding to the diversity of recreational opportunities for the public.

3) Provides a place for hiking, bird-watching, trailriding, dog walking, and nature study in the most rapidly developing county in the country.

4) Makes the Corps land more accessible to the public for recreational use.

5) A longer trail will make additional types of equestrian events such as endurance and competitive trail rides possible, bringing more people to Collin County for recreation.

6) This is the next link in the trail which will connect with a proposed equestrian trail in McKinney. Eventually the trail will link Wylie, Lucas, Fairview and McKinney….approximately 35 miles of trail.

7) The extension is consistent with both the Collin County Strategic Parks and Open Space Plan and the City of Lucas Comprehensive Plan. Both entities enthusiastically support the TTPA and the trail extension.

8) The trailriding public is a rapidly growing segment of the recreational community. They have discretionary income they can spend for camping, riding, equestrian equipment and local services which will bring dollars to local merchants.

9) The trail will increase access to the shores and views of Lake Lavon and will offer a place of quiet and relaxation in our busy world.

10) The 200 member Trinity Trail Preservation Association has a long history of developing and maintaining the existing trail and has pledged to maintain the trail.

11) According to the American horse Council, those who own horses for pleasure rather than profit have determined recent horse industry growth and the pleasure rider makes up the majority of the market.

12) An equestrian/hiking trail will not have high impact on the environment. The trail is a natural surface about 12 feet wide cleared of vegetation. The route will undergo rigorous analysis of environmental impact and will avoid sensitive historic sites.

In this era of rapid land development, we must stand together as horseman to protect some precious land for equestrian use. Please join me in making this next section of equestrian and hiking trail a reality. You can send your comments until December 12th. Please include your town and state.

Horsin’ Around,
Tracy Matern
Past President
The Trinity Trail Preservation Assn.
214-495-7493

Hey All You HorsePeople!

Share your stories, images, videos, with other Trinity Trails Preservation Association members. Have you discovered a new trail, had a fun adventure on a trail recently, or maybe you just want to share horse tips with your riding buddies? The blog can be your microphone.

If you’re interested in writing for the TTPA blog, contact chris at horsecove.com (you’ll need to put in the @ symbol where the “at” is).