December is the time of the year when we reflect over the past year and give thanks to the people who contributed their time to work on the trails so all of us can enjoy them. Considering the trail system grew to a whopping 25.5 miles in 2009, that is a lot of trails to maintain and enjoy.

Thankfully TTPA is made up of caring passionate people who give freely and ask nothing in return. TTPA is grateful to everyone who has helped out to make the organization and our trails a success.

TTPA Volunteer of the Year
At the TTPA holiday party we took a moment to recognize members who have been especially generous of their time over the last year. The club is lucky in that it has many wonderful volunteers, but the Volunteer of the Year Award went to Jean Schooping who owns and runs Woodhaven Stable. Jean contributed 126 hours and her equipment to improve the trail north from Highland Park to the giant Sycamore and Wilson Creek.

TTPA Business Supporter of the Year
The TTPA Business of the Year award went to Dr. Chuck Kerin of Parker Road Veterinary Hospital. Dr Kerrin has been a long-time strong supporter of the TTPA and this year gave a seminar on horse health and care at our East Fork camping event. At the seminar Dr Kerin spent hours answering members questions and concerns on horse health issues.

TTPA Youth of the Year
The TTPA Youth of the Year award went to Boy Scout Grant Barratt who built the display kiosk at the Highland Park trailhead. The kiosk is used to provide information about the trail to riders and hikers using the trail. Thanks Grant and thanks to your dad Mark for bush hogging the trail behind your farm.

TTPA Volunteers Honored
TTPA President Duke Munson presented medallions to our volunteers who worked more than 20 hours during 2009. In total, 50 volunteers contributed more than 1001 hours of time to maintaining and improving the trail. This works out to about 40 hours of effort per mile of trail, which is a large number considering that any work party session is only 2-3 hours in duration, once a month.

The following volunteers worked more than 20 hours and received a medallion:
• Charlie Gaines, 289 hours (Charlie is the Trail Steward and also
works on the trail during the week)
• Jean Schooping, 126 hours (this year’s Volunteer of the Year)
• Jimmy Shackelford, 68 hours (Jimmy was last year’s Volunteer of
the Year)
• Carole Kowitt, 49.5 hours (Carole laid out much of the path for the new trail north of Highland Park)
• Jack Gilstrap, 47.5 hours
• Tracy Matern, 41 hours (also worked with Carole on the new trail extension)
• Tom Eberhart, 27 hours
• Berdine Eberhart, 24 hours
• Duke Monson, 23 hours
• Joe Wilson, 22 hours

Other Thanks
Special thanks to Hank Copeland for emceeing the gift exchange at our annual TTPA holiday party. And speaking of the party, we want to add a thank you to Tom and Berdine Eberhart for organizing and planning our annual holiday party as well as many of the activities over the past year.

We would also like to recognize Tracy Matern for being the lady in the know for the TTPA parades. Parades are fun and a TTPA tradition. Tracy has done an amazing job of providing information about the parades to all who might be interested in participating. She has also taken new parade riders under her wing and given them suggestions on how to prepare their horses for parades. Thanks Tracy for all that you do.

Frank Hall is another member who repeatedly helped TTPA out this year and donated 10 hitching posts to the club.

We would also like to thank Pris Darling and ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship for their generous donation of mounting blocks. If you’ve used the mounting blocks at the trail heads you’ve enjoyed the generosity of ManeGait. I heard one member exclaim the mounting blocks were the nicest he’d ever seen.

Want to get involved?
Maintaining the 25.5 miles of trails will be a challenge. It will take all of us working together to keep the trails in good shape. Whether you’re a hiker, a runner, or a rider, please consider donating a few hours this year to help the trail system. We hold monthly work days, but you can also volunteer at other times. If you want more information on trail work activities, contact our Trail Steward Charlie Gaines at 972-442- 6454. Our next TTPA work party is scheduled for January 9. Join us if you can.