You can RSVP for the ride on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143195722384071&ref=mf

Here are the details for the ride.

Time: Oct 16 – 10 Am to 10 PM
Location: LBJ National Grasslands – Decatur, TX

The Monroe Children ages 8, 10, and 14 lost both of their parents in July. This trailride and chuckwagon steak dinner is to raise money for these kids. Riders and Non-riders are welcome to attend. Ride starts at 10 am and dinner will begin serving at 4pm. Choose your trail and ride at your own pace; or just come for dinner if you don’t ride horses.

We need an accurate headcount for the meal; please rsvp no later than Oct. 7 with a total headcount for your group.
monroefamilymemorialtrailride@yahoo.com

If you wish to make a tax free donation please mail it to

Monroe Family Fund
c/o Demian Salmon
14241 N. Dallas Tollway, Suite 1050
Dallas, TX 75254

Mark Saturday Oct 31, 2009 on your calendar now and start thinking about a horse costume. The TTPA will hold its annual Halloween Trail Ride with a Hamburger lunch.

We’ll meet at Brockdale Park in Lucas, Tx at 9:30. We’ll ride out at 10 AM. We’ll plan to ride in Costume. If you’re coming alone and want to join a group, plan to be ready to ride by 10 AM. We will be welcoming new members or solidary riders in a group so don’t stay home just because your regular riding partner isn’t available that day. Join us and make new friends.

Unicorn and Fairy Princess Costume

After the trail ride, we’ll meet at 12:30 at the trailhead for lunch. For a $5 donation, we’ll be serving hamburgers. At 1 PM we’ll have a Costume Parade followed by Trailer trick or treating. Bring treats to hand out to the kids doing the trick or treating.

Goat in Halloween Costume

Note: We aren’t having a Costume contest this year, but costumes are encouraged for the fun of it. We do plan a costume parade around the trailhead so bring yourselves and kids along in costume. Don’t forget your camera.

Halloween Costume Horse Parade

To RSVP, contact Berdine Eberhart at 214-215-6141. Join the fun. Create a costume and come share memories and good times with friends. See you there.

Artania is a Russian acrobatic/equestrian troupe. They are now performing at Southfork Ranch in Parker and are doing performances on Thurs thru Sundays starting this weekend. Tickets are normally $35, but this weekend and next they are offering a $10 discountfor them.

Awesome horses and acrobatics. Well worth the price! Check out their YouTube Video

Tickets are at Southfork Ranch website and you need to call and request the $10 discount. They are performing Aug 20 thru October 31.

Come watch amazing acrobats and horses. See you there.

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.

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.

Holiday time is parade time in Texas. Horses add excitment and fun to a parade and riding in a parade is a great way to carry on our western heritage.

Tracy Matern sent me some information on upcoming 2008 Christmas Parades where they are looking for horse and rider participation. I wanted to share it with anyone wanting to participate. You are welcome to ride under the Trinity Trail registration, however, please be aware that Trinity Trail Preservation Assn. does not obtain insurance for these parades. If you participate, you are accepting the inherent risk.

Saturday, December 13

Noon Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce “A Coyote Toyland Christmas” Staging at Anna High School starts at 10 AM
Bring a donation to the Anna Food Party
www.greaterannachamber.com 972-704-2935
Personally invited us via a telephone call.
Tracy has registered us for this one. It is a small town parade.

3 PM Josephine “3rd Annual Gilbert Hess Christmas Parade & Festival”
Daniel Jacobs-Josephine Police Department- 214-229-8901
They urged us to come in August so I’d like to do this one. This should be a nice small town parade go for beginners.
Directions:
If you are going south on 78 take it to FM 6 which will be on your left. It will take you right in to Josephine. The staging area will be on your right at the fountain View subdivision.

6 PM Royse City Chamber of Commerce “Texas Country Christmas” Parade

http://.roysecity.com

Parade Line-Up: 5:15 PM at Church of Christ on Front & Bell Streets.
Parking in the large field on Front Street.
Registration forms are available on the website. No fees. Their Fourth of July Parade was a good size parade with lots of spectators and a fairly long route.

6:30 PM Farmersville Chamber of Commerce “Christmas Wishes” Parade
Chad Whitaker 972-784-7714 Cynthia Craddock 972-782-6533.
www.farmersvillechamber.com
Deadline to register is December 12th. The website was down when I checked but you can call on of the people above. If you want to do this parade, you need to register. I will be at Wylie. Be sure to stop in to Saddlebag Debi Jordan’s “Ranch Dressin’” shop on the square for some Christmas shopping.

6:30 PM Wylie Chamber of Commerce “Festival of Lights” Parade
Staging begins at 4:30 PM. Park in the field by the railroad tracks off Brown west of Ballard between Jackson and Keefer. Don’t let them tell you to park at Birmingham Elementary. It was dangerous to get to the parade route from there last year.

Tracy Matern has registered us for this parade. There was a $25 registration fee. This is a large, noisy, boisterous parade with a huge crowd. Make sure your horse is parade ready. It still has the wonderful country feel however and welcomes horses. We need a couple of banner carriers and flag carriers.

Hope to see you at some of the parades!

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.

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.

The Horse and Rider Halloween Costume Contest starts at 5 PM. Dinner will follow at 6 PM. TTPA will provide hamburgers and hot dogs for a small donation. Bring your own beverages and lawn chair. Share dinner and great conversation with other riders. You can adjust your ride to your own schedule.

The Costume Contest will have four divisions: 6 and under, ages 7-12, 13-18, and Adult (over 18). Prizes for all participants in the 6 and under and for the first 3 places in the older divisions. Join the fun.

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 .