Foxtrotting Trail Riders Of Tennessee: Summer & Fall National Trail Rides, 2012!!

A small but faithful group joined FoxTROT for the Southeastern MFTHBA National Trail Ride held at Many Cedars Campground near Hohenwald, Tennessee back in June 2012. It was HOT but we rode early and enjoyed the rides anyway! Friday, while out on the trail, I received a phone call telling me that my Dad had just passed away. The kindness everyone there demonstrated to Deb and I after receiving this news was overwhelming. This is proof that FoxTROT is a great group of caring people we are honored to know and with whom we love to ride. Because of my Dad's passing, we cut this ride short and everyone went home on Saturday morning. Here are just a few of the many pictures that were taken at Many Cedars...

Felix at Many Cedars

The "Inner Circle" at Many Cedars

Rose, Lea, Deb, Sharon & Steve at Many Cedars

Terry at Many Cedars

We had a much larger turnout for the MFTHBA Region 8 National Trail Ride, 3-7 October 2012. Twenty-three riders registered! There were seven from Ohio, two from Indiana, two from Arkansas, and twelve from Tennessee! Nineteen of the horses were registered Missouri Fox Trotters, two were Tennessee Walking Horses, one was a Kentucky Mountain Horse, and one was a gaited grade horse. This ride was held at True West Campground (http://www.truewestcampground.com) in the Big South Fork. True West has an outstanding facility with excellent customer service! We would recommend them to anyone coming to ride the BSF. The trails of the BSF are second to none! Wednesday, the early arrivers took an easy ride to the Laurel Creek Overlook and back. Thursday was an easy ride around Spruce Creek (an equine community with private trails across from True West) and then a wonderful meal and good times at Bacara's, a one of a kind German restaurant tucked away in the area. The highlight of the event was Friday when we rode the O&W Trail over to the old railroad bridge! This was a twenty plus mile out and back ride with opportunity for lots of "fox trotting" along the White Oak Creek to the bridge. Twenty-two riders divided into three groups (fast, medium and slow) so that each one could enjoy the trip at a pace comfortable to them and their horse. After a full day of riding, we cared for the horses, cleaned up, ate supper, and gathered around the campfire to discuss FoxTROT business and the trail ride schedule for 2013. Saturday morning was a little drizzling rain, so we loaded into several trucks to hit the local saddle and leather shop in Muddy Pond. Muddy Pond is a Mennonite community a few miles out of Jamestown. Jay's Saddle and Leather shop is a favorite place to shop on a rainy day. After we returned to camp we did an easy out and back ride. Saturday evening we enjoyed a catered meal arranged by True West of bar-b-cue and 'nana puddin'. We finished Saturday night with more good times of fun and teasing around the campfire. With Sunday morning came Cowboy Church at the covered deck. True West had graciously posted a sign by the road announcing Cowboy Church and allowed me to post my banner as well. As a result we had a great crowd of over thirty people, many from the campground and several from the community! The message was centered around "water". We've all said, "You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink". As horse people we think about water! When we consider a trail ride we ask the question, is there any water along the way? After a ride we like to rinse our horses off with water. (Some of us even bath our horses in water!) Jesus is the Living Water! Those who are believer's in Christ have experienced the "washing of regeneration (personal salvation)". Growing Christians are sanctified and cleansed "with the washing of water by the word (the Bible)". We concluded the message with the encouragement to think of spiritual water whenever we think about water for our horses. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. However, you can sure salt his oats!" My message was an attempt to "salt the oats". After Cowboy Church we broke down our campsites, loaded horses, shared hugs, and headed for home. What a great time! Enjoy the pics below!!

Dates have been set for next year's National Trail Rides and the requests will be sent to the MFTHBA Trail Committee for approval soon. These dates and locations for 2013 have been posted at the top of the blogspot page. Be sure to check them out and make your plans to join us next year!!

Happy Trails,

Sam Gerhardt

President FoxTROT