Mark your calendars with the following dates for evening trail rides:

June 26 – Brockdale Park. Meet at 6:30 for Potluck dinner and educational speaker. After the dinner and presentation we’ll mount up and head south on a evening trail ride. This is a potluck dinner so bring a dish to share and some lawn chairs. Dinner is planned at 6:30 PM.

July 24 – Details will be posted later….mark the date.

August 21 – Details will be posted later.

Join the fun and your fellow horse friends for equine filled evenings. See you on the trail.

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.

Please RSVP to Cliff Martin (email cliffmartin2@verizon.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 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. 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 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. To support the trail and get emails of the monthly newsletter, send $35 to Trinity Trail Preservation Association, c/o Pat Martin, 4040 Avion Drive, Wylie, TX 75098. 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/.

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.

Hamburger lunch at 12:30 after the trail ride. The club requests a $5 donation to cover the cost of supplies.

We will have a Costume Parade and will do Trailer Trick or Treating after lunch. (There will be no costume contest).

Please RSVP to Berdine Eberhart at 214-215-6141 so we’ll have a head count.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.