The TTPA Board has canceled the May 2011 Trail Ride. This decision was based on recommendations from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

Here is the latest statement from TAHC that is posted on their web site. http://tahc.state.tx.us/

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials are continuing to trace exposed horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championships event that ended on May 8 in Ogden, Utah. There are currently 26 known horses in Texas that attended the event. Those 26 horses and a total of 323 more cohorts (stablemates) of the 26 are currently being held under movement restrictions across the state.

Texas has currently only detected one confirmed case. That horse sought treatment at a veterinary clinic in far West Texas and has subsequently returned to New Mexico where it originated. A second horse located in Jack County has been classified as “suspect” and is pending further diagnostic testing. The TAHC is following the U.S.D.A. guidelines for clinical and suspect cases which have very specific criteria to meet the case definition, and for now suspect and confirmed cases will be the two types of cases reported.

The epidemiological investigation of all 300+ plus horses that reportedly attended the event continues nationwide, and the number of Texas horses identified as exposed may increase in the following days. Although mandatory cancellation of future events is not anticipated, the TAHC suggests that horse owners consider the risk of participating in upcoming events scheduled for this weekend and/or co-mingling their horses with other horses and equipment (trailers) of unknown history. Because the incubation period is usually about 4-6 days or less, even a one week voluntary stop movement may be enough to nip the cycle of transmission between horses before it grows in scope.

Horse owners should contact event organizers in advance to ensure that scheduled events have not been canceled. Some other states have established emergency rules for entry as a result of this situation, so if interstate travel is planned, owners and/or veterinarians writing health certificates should check in advance to ensure they meet all entry requirements. Finally, it is recommended that all newly purchased horses or introduced horses to a premise should be isolated to help prevent the accidental introduction of EHV-1 (and other diseases) onto the premise.

We will regroup and ride in June after the crisis has been contained.

Workday
Date: May 14
Location: Brockdale Park Trail Head
Meet: 9:00 AM
Bring water, clippers, and gloves.

Trail Ride
Date: May 21
Location: Brockdale Park Trail Head
Arrive: 9:00 AM
Rideout: 9:30 AM
This is an informal trail ride with no organized lunch. After riding we plan to have a simple gathering to visit and eat sack lunches.
Bring sack lunch, beverage, and a chair.
Don’t forget your coggins!

Don’t forget the TTPA Trail Ride and Cookout this Saturday.

Join your fellow trail riders and TTPA friends for a trail ride and cookout on 23 April 2011. Shelley Van Duran will be treating the group to homemade hamburgers cooked over the fire pit, baked beans, chips, watermelon, and yummy cupcakes. Come out and enjoy the day.

Arrive at Brockdale Trailhead in Lucas, TX at 9:30.
Ride out at 10 AM.
Lunch will be served at 1 PM. Come eat like the cowboys and join us for a relaxing time.

Please RSVP to Lana Gilstrap at lanagilstrap@sbcglobal.net so we know how much food to make.

There will be a $5 donation to cover drinks and paper goods. Lunch will be served at 1 PM after the ride. 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.

Directions to Brockdale Park TrailheadLucas 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. 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 (also called East Lucas Road) 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.

Join your fellow trail riders and TTPA friends for a trail ride and cookout on 23 April 2011.

Arrive at Brockdale Trailhead in Lucas, TX at 9:30.
Ride out at 10 AM.
Lunch will be served at 1 PM. Kurt and Sheeley Van Doran have offered to once again treat the club to a dutch oven lunch. Come eat like the cowboys and join us for a relaxing time.

Please RSVP to Lana Gilstrap at lanagilstrap@sbcglobal.net so we know how much food to make.

There will be a $5 donation to cover drinks and paper goods. Lunch will be served at 1 PM after the ride. 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.

Directions to Brockdale Park TrailheadLucas 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. 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 (also called East Lucas Road) 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.

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) will sponsor a trail ride and Dutch Oven Cookout, Saturday, 19 March 2011 at the Brockdale Park trailhead in Lucas, Texas, weather permitting.

Trail Ride: Arrive trailhead at 9:30 AM. Ride out at 10 AM.

Lunch: Dutch oven lunch scheduled for 1 PM. Once again Kurt and Shelley Van Doran have volunteered to treat TTPA riders to a delicious meal cooked authentically in a Dutch oven. This month the menu is homemade tacos, beans and a dessert.

Please RSVP to Lana Gilstrap at lanagilstrap@sbcglobal.net so we can get a head count and know how much food to make.

There will be a $5 donation to cover drinks and paper goods. Lunch will be served at 1 PM after the ride. 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.

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. 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 (also called East Lucas Road) 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 (TTPA)

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association is an all-volunteer equestrian organization whose main purpose is to maintain the 25.5-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 nearly 200 member families from the nearby communities. The trail runs from Highland Park in the north through Brockdale Park in Lucas through Collin Park in St. Paul to East Fork Park in Wylie.

For more information about TTPA, call Membership Chairman Ruth Blom at 214-418-4106 or see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website (http://www.trinitytrailriders.org) , the TTPA blog (http://www.trinitytrailsblog.org/ or the TTPA Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-Trail-Preservation-Association-TTPA-Texas-Trail-Riding/111429362218053).

TTPA Member Tom Pollard Riding On Trinity Trail

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association (TTPA) will sponsor a trail ride and Dutch Oven lunch, Saturday, February 19th at the Brockdale Park trailhead in Lucas, Texas.

Trail Ride: Arrive trailhead at 9:30 AM. Ride out at 10:00 AM.

Lunch: Dutch Oven lunch is scheduled for 1 PM. Kurt and Shelley Van Doran have graciously volunteered to prepare an authentic Dutch oven lunch of stew, bread and cobbler. Bring your lawn chairs and appetite.

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

Please RSVP to Lana Gilstrap at lanagilstrap@sbcglobal.net so we can get a head count and know how much Stew to make.

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.

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 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.

About Trinity Trail Preservation Association

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association is an all-volunteer equestrian organization whose main purpose is to maintain the 25.5-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 nearly 200 member families from the nearby communities. The trail runs from Highland Park in the north through Brockdale Park in Lucas through Collin Park in St. Paul to East Fork Park in Wylie.

For more information about TTPA, call Membership Chairman Ruth Blom at 214-418-4106. For additional information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at http://www.trinitytrailriders.org or the TTPA blog at http://www.trinitytrailsblog.org/.

We were hoping the sun would come out and dry up the trail, but it does not look like the trail conditions will be good enough by Saturday to hold the ride. Our next ride is scheduled for 19 Feb at Brockdale.

Trail Ride: Arrive trailhead at 2:00 PM. Ride out at 2:30 PM.

Dinner: Chili dinner scheduled for 5 PM. TTPA will be providing a bonfire, beverages, and Texas chili. Bring cornbread to share and a lawn chair.

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

Please RSVP to Lana Gilstrap at lanagilstrap@sbcglobal.net so we can get a head count and know how much Chili to make. Sharon Berryman will be making the chili with assistance from the TTPA chuckwagon folks.

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.

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 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.

About Trinity Trail Preservation Association

The Trinity Trail Preservation Association is an all-volunteer equestrian organization whose main purpose is to maintain the 25.5-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 nearly 200 member families from the nearby communities. The trail runs from Highland Park in the north through Brockdale Park in Lucas through Collin Park in St. Paul to East Fork Park in Wylie.

For more information about TTPA, call Membership Chairman Ruth Blom at 214-418-4106. For additional information, see the Trinity Trail Preservation Association’s website at http://www.trinitytrailriders.org or the TTPA blog at http://www.trinitytrailsblog.org/.

Over 50 horses and riders participated in the parade representing the horse community in the surrounding area.

Following the parade, riders and horses moved to Brockdale Park Trailhead for a costume contest and trail ride. After the trail ride the TTPA hosted a hamburger dinner. It was a relaxing fun day for all.

Thanks to EVERYONE who volunteered their time to make it happen. We all had a blast.

Below are a few of the photos from the events.

Tom Pollard and Ghostie as the Lone Ranger and Silver

Halloween Fun with your Horse!

Halloween is extra fun this year if you’re a horse person in North Texas. On Saturday Oct 30 start out the day with riding in the Lucas Founders Parade starting at the Lucas City Hall. Riders need to assemble behind Lucas City Hall at 665 Country Club Road, Lucas, TX starting at 11 AM. There is plenty of room to park your trailers there. The Parade starts at 1 PM.

After the parade haul your horse over to the Brockdale trailhead for a costume contest at 3 PM. This is a favorite event for all ages. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in 3 divisions—adult (over 18), young adult (14-18) and youth (under 14). After the contest there is a trail ride and a dinner at 6 PM at the trail head. Lucas will also be offering trunk or treating for the littlest citizens at 6 PM back at Lucas City Hall.

If you want to participate, even if you don’t have a horse or you’d like to walk in the parade, contact Tracy Matern (bobtracy at dfwair.net) at 214-495-7493. You can attend any and all of these events. Please RSVP to Tracy for the Parade and the dinner at the email and telephone number above so we are sure we have enough food for you and can give an estimate to the Lucas Parade organizers. Remember to bring your Coggins papers for the activities at Brockdale Park.

Directions to Brockdale Park (location of costume contest, trail ride and dinner)

To get to Brockdale Park/Trailhead from US 75: exit on Bethany Drive in Allen and go east. Take Bethany Drive through Allen into Lucas (about 5 miles). Continue straight through on Bethany Road, the road changes its name to East Lucas Road and intersects with FM 1378. Go through the stop sign straight on Lucas Road. In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see the Lucas Food Mart and gas station on your left and a stop light. Turn left here at stop light on FM 3286 (aka W. Lucas Road) . Go less than a mile to Brockdale Park Road. 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.