Since I like to do long trail rides, I’m thinking the lighter weight of a synthetic saddle might be a big plus for keeping my horse comfortable longer. I know they won’t last as long as leather one, but their ease of care is very tempting.

Here’s an article on the leather versus synthetic saddles debate.

Let me know if there are other reasons you like or dislike leather or synthetic saddles.

The Sweetheart Trail Ride scheduled for Feb 13 is now officially cancelled. We have had so much rain there is standing water on the trails. There is more rain predicted so there is no time for the trails to dry.

Sorry, we didn’t want to do it, but Mother Nature wants us to take a break. We decided it was better to go ahead and cancel the ride now so you could make alternative plans.

No ride this weekend.

Due to the weather forecast of 70% thundershowers, they have officially cancelled the Chili Ride scheduled for 23 Jan (today).

At the moment it is still not raining, but it looks like it could any minute. I rode Brockdale north last night and except for low areas, most of the trail was in decent shape. So, unless we get tons of rain, the trail may be okay for tomorrow. I’ll post an update later after we see how the day shapes up.

For those of you who need your horsey fix and don’t want to get wet, you might check out the Mustang Magic show over in Ft Worth tonight at 6 PM. It is one of the programs under the Extreme Mustang Makeover.

Happy Trails

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/.

A few years ago there were plans to build a equestrian development on Snider Lane that would have direct access to the 25 mile Trinity Trail. Unfortunately that development fell through. The good news is that a new group is putting together new plans for the same 149 acre site to develop a full up equestrian community with 18 lots ranging from 2-20 acres. There are plans for covered and outdoor arenas, jump courses, and a complete equestrian facility with trainers, instructors, etc.

Currently there are three lots available. The available lots are 6.45 acres and are priced at $31,000 an acre.

It took me years to find my place adjacent to the trail and I’ve had many members mention to me how they too would like a place adjacent to the trails, so when I heard about this development I thought I’d share the information. If you want additional information, call Jean Schooping at 972-562-6518.

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.

An important way to support the trails you love to ride and walk on, is to join or renew your TTPA membership. If you’ve been on the fence about it, here’s a huge reason to join – Careflite coverage. That’s right. Starting in 2010, membership in TTPA includes coverage of Careflite. Our membership chair Pat Martin provided the following description of this new benefit to our members.

Trinity Trail Preservation Association
Membership Information

We have entered into an agreement with CareFlite to extend their emergency transportation benefits to our members. You may best know CareFlite from their helicopters air-lifting injured people from an accident scene to the nearest hospital that has the appropriate emergency care facility for their injury.

CareFlite (www.careflite.org) is a non-profit company sponsored by Baylor Health Care System, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland, and Texas Health Resources. They are authorized by the State of Texas to provide air ambulance services in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties. If you are air-lifted by CareFlite and are not a member, it can be quite expensive – the bill can be thousands of dollars, most of which will not be covered by normal insurance policies. However, if you are a CareFlite member, any costs beyond what your insurance covers are absorbed by CareFlite. You pay nothing.

The CareFlite membership will cover you, and all members of your household for any type of emergency CareFlite is called in to handle, anywhere within 150 miles of DFW. It doesn’t matter if you or a family member is riding a horse, hiking a trail, in a car accident, shopping, or dining. If the local emergency responders call for CareFlite because of the nature of the accident or injury, you and your family are covered.

There are more benefits (such as Fixed Wing Air Ambulance within 500 miles of DFW), all explained in the CareFlite membership packet that will be mailed to you when you register with CareFlite as a TTPA member. But first you have to renew your membership with TTPA to receive the TTPA CareFlite membership application form.

From this time forward, TTPA memberships will be based on the calendar year, January thru December; regardless of what time of year you join. You can renew early for the next year, so send in your applications now for the 2010 TTPA membership. The TTPA CareFlite memberships will also be effective for the calendar year, January thru December. There are a few (not many) small-print-type exceptions: Medicaid recipients may not join CareFlite per Texas state laws, and CareFlite will discount the bill by 50%, not 100%, for people who do not have any insurance.

How to Join TTPA And Get CareFlite Coverage
The renewal/new membership process will be: you send in a completed TTPA membership form with the $35 TTPA annual membership fee. Pat Martin, our TTPA Secretary, in return will send you the TTPA CareFlite membership application form. You fill out that form and mail it directly to CareFlite. You do not send them any money, your CareFlite membership has already been paid by the TTPA. Your CareFlite benefits are in effect from the date of the postmark on your CareFlite application form if received after January 1. Business members will be able to apply the CareFlite benefits to one family associated with the business. If you have questions, please call or email any Board member and we’ll get the answer(s) for you

We, your Board, consider this to be a very beneficial benefit to being a TTPA member, and a very inexpensive form of insurance for what could be a catastrophic bill. The normal CareFlite membership for a household is $49 per year and doesn’t include a TTPA membership!

The holiday party is also a good time to renew your TTPA dues for 2010.
Call Berdine Eberhart at 214-215-6141 or e-mail bteberhart@gmail.com

The Highland Park trail going north is closed while a pipeline is installed. This is a temporary closure. If you park at Highland park, you can ride south, but the trail is extremely muddy and tough going in places.

For up to date trail conditions, call Charlie Gaines at 972-824-3369.

Thought I’d pass on information about Holiday Parades in the north Texas area. Tracy Matern is the lady in the know and our primary coordinator on parades. Tracy has been riding in parades for years and has many good tips if you’re new to riding your horse in parades. Here is an article that includes some of her parade riding tips. For specific parade questions call Tracy at 214-495-7493. IF you think you might want to participate and want to use one of the TTPA covers (that hook on to the back of the saddle), RSVP with Tracy.

Since many folks are interested in parades I thought I’d post the information here for reference. The starred parades are ones Tracy will handle the registration for TTPA. The recommended attire for parades is a TTPA T-shirt, a black hat or helmet and black pants. Most people put the TTPA shirt over a warmer shirt.

Sunday, November 29, 2009 Parade

*Watters Creek 7 PM
Last night, Nov 29 was the Watters Creek Parade. It was an evening lighted parade. Tracy Matern, Carole Kowitt, Ruth Blom and others participated. If anyone has pictures, please send them to me and I’ll add them to this post. Since it was a night parade, there may not be too many photos.

Thursday, December 3, 2009 Parade

Denison 6-8 PM
registration form
no fee
Could win $75 for best Equestrian group

Saturday, December 5, 2009

This is a busy parade day with numerous parades in different towns.

*Melissa, TX
9:30 line-up 10 AM start
Melissa Tx Christmas Parade Info

Rockwall, TX
9 AM
www.rockwallkiwanis.org
registration form
fee $15

Van Alstyne 5 PM

*Wylie
Staging 4 PM Line up 5:15 PM 5:30 PM
Festival of Lights
Registration form
Fee $25

Whitewright
5 PM
“Christmas Memories”
www.whitewright.org
Cathy Pierce 903-364-2000 wacc@isp.com
Starts at American Legion Hall

Blue Ridge
6 PM Staging 5:30
Registration form
No fee
Staging Area-Elementary School
Army, Red Cross, State Representative, Congressman, Sheriff, County Judge

Sunday, December 6, 2009

*Allen 2 PM
www.asrotary.org
Registration form
Fee $40
The Songs of Christmas

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Another busy parade day

*Anna 9 AM
www.greaterannachamber.com

Josephine 3 PM Line Up 2:30
Daniel Jacobs
Josephine Police Department
214-229-8901

Royse City 5:30
www.roysecitychamber.com
Registration form
$10 fee
“Bells on Main Street”

*Farmersville 6:30 PM
www.farmersvilletx.com
Cynthia Clark 072-782-6533

January 16, 2010

Ft. Worth Fat Stock Show Parade
Sent for information
Everyone must individually fill out a release and they are due Dec 31, 2009
I will have them available at all the parades or you can contact me for one.
Fill one out if you are even remotely interested. Then you will be covered.