Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) Blog - Texas Trail Riding Information » Tracy

AgriLife Lone Star Horse Committee Trailride

Tracy — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:05:09 +0000

The Lone Star Equine Council of Collin County is sponsoring a trailride on May 22 at the Brockdale Trailhead of Trinity Trail on Lake Lavon in Lucas, TX. Ride out at 10 AM or ride on your own. Lunch will be available at 12 noon for a $5 donation.

The Lone Star Equine Council is a committee of the AgriLife Extension Service dedicated to promoting the interests and intercommunication of all horse-related groups and businesses within the area. Check out their website at www.lsec.homestead.com.

Please RSVP to Donna Carmickle at 214-882-0833 or via email at babycarm@aol.com. Donna is also ready to answer any questions you may haw.

A negative Coggins will be required. Dogs must remain at your trailer and the Council does not provide horses. A map of Trinity Trail and the area can be found at www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/lavon or at www.trinitytrailriders.org.

From Dallas, go north on US 75 to Allen. Exit on Bethany Drive 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. Go straight. In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see a stoplight and the Lucas Food Mart and gas 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.

Riders pause by Lake Lavon

Status of East Fork

Tracy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:29:24 +0000

Berdine and I rode East Fork today and there is no standing water all the way to Collin. A couple of areas were a little muddy and the Volkswagon Crossing was VERY muddy but otherwise everything is ok. Not able to gait much however as the whole trail is rutted and needs to be scraped. Aw…the ongoing problem of trail maintenance, especially after all the rain.

Does anyone else have a report on other areas of the trail?

J-D Trailriding Camp in Octavia, OK

Tracy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:12:45 +0000

A group of 13 TTPA members just got back from a trip to J-D in Octavia, OK. We had two great 13 mile rides in beautiful cool weather up and down mountains and along babbling creeks. The folks and facilities are J-D are wonderful. It made coming back into the rain more bearable. I’ll post some pictures soon.

Wilson Creek rising

Tracy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:07:47 +0000

I just drove the back way to McKinney and Wilson Creek is up to the bottom of the bridge on CR 317 and is spilling over its banks in each direction. Our northern trail is probably very wet right now and more rain is expected.

I decided to drive north to where the East Fork of the Trinity crosses FM 546 and it is full but doesn’t appear to be overflowing yet.

Update from Tracy – Back in the Saddle Soon

Tracy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:30:09 +0000

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?