Greetings FoxTROT and Friends,
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!! With my use of FaceBook for so much of my communications, It's been awhile since I've updated the blogspot! There is much info I need to get to you so here goes!
The Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride held in the Mount Rogers (Virginia) National Recreation Area, 17-21 June, was a great success! Attendees said that it was the most beautiful and appreciated trail ride in the history of FoxTROT! Considering all the wonderful places we've ridden, that says a lot! We rode high open spaces among the wild ponies and the long horn cattle! There were 19 riders (14 of which were MFTHBA members riding registered MFTs) representing Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri! The photos tell the story!
The 2015 FoxTROT MFTHBA National Trail Ride is now less than two weeks away. We'll camp and ride out of Bandy Creek Campground and Stables in the Big South Fork, 21-25 October. Most of us will be camping in "Section C", which is now full, but there may still be campsites available in other sections of the campground. For campsite reservations, contact 877-444-6777 or http://www.recreation.gov. For stall reservations, contact Bobby York by texting or calling 931-397-1680. Be sure to tell Bobby that you're with the Fox Trotter group. Besides the wonderful trail riding for which FoxTROT is so well known, we'll have a special music concert performed for us by our friend, Adrian Ray (http://www.adrianray.com), on Friday or Saturday evening. Sometime during the event, Lloyd Styles, FoxTROT/MFTHBA member and professional farrier, will do a clinic on proper trimming/shoeing of our MFTs. Of course, as is our custom, we'll do Cowboy Church on Sunday morning before everyone breaks camp to head home. Be sure to bring your MFTHBA Membership Card (or at least have your number) and your MFT's Registration Papers (or at least have the registered name and registration number of your MFT). This helps us in completing the NTR forms. Oh! Each FoxTROT member who comes to ride this NTR with us will receive a special gift in appreciation for your support and participation! We're looking forward to seeing each of you!
As the end of the year approaches, it's time to be thinking about a couple of things related to your continued participation in FoxTROT and the MFTHBA. You'll want to renew your FoxTROT and MFTHBA memberships for 2016. An email with your 2016 FoxTROT Membership Application was sent out on 30 September 2015. Be sure to look for that in your inbox! If you didn't receive that email and are interested in joining/rejoining FoxTROT, send a note to me at smfoxtrotters@hotmail.com. Those attending the NTR will be given an opportunity to renew with FoxTROT at a special rate while at Bandy Creek. The MFTHBA will be sending your 2016 membership renewals separate from us. As always, we encourage all of our affiliate members to also support our breed association through membership in the MFTHBA. It's also time to consider nominations for FoxTROT Board of Directors positions. Rose Walter, our current Central Tennessee Representative, is no longer in Central Tennessee. So, the Central Tennessee Rep position will be open for 2016. If you're interested in serving in that position, let me know. (Rose is interested in serving as our Secretary in the 2016 year and has already been of help to me in that capacity.) While we have a vacant spot for a Western Tennessee Rep on our board, no one has ever shown an interest in filling that position. If you are located in the western side of the state and are interested, let me know that as well. Those who are serving in the other board positions (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Eastern Rep) are content with remaining in place, unless, of course, someone else would really like to take their place! If you'd like to nominate someone to fill ANY of these positions, please consider this as your notice to do so. All nominations must be received by me not later than November 1st, 2015. After discussing these board positions at the Bandy Creek NTR, and after you've had an opportunity to consider this notice and respond, we'll be sending out the 2016 Election Ballot. Be watching for that, as well. Please consider and be attentive to these FoxTROT/MFTHBA things as you head into all of your end of the year activities.
The National Trail Ride Schedule for 2016 has been discussed a great deal among the BoD. The Mount Rogers, Virginia, ride was so well liked that we're planning to return to that area again for the Summer 2016 NTR! If you missed our ride there in June, you'll want to make plans to join us next year! More info will be provided later, but as for now the plan is to camp and ride out of either Rocky Hollow Horse Camp or the Grayson Highlands State Park, 22-26 June 2016. The Fall 2016 NTR is the ride about which we're most excited! We're going to the MFTHBA World Show and Celebration in Ava, Missouri, 4-11 September 2016! We'll camp and stall horses on the Ava Show Grounds; we'll participate in the National Trail Ride (we're working to be "cohosts" of that NTR); and we'll enjoy all of the other activities associated with the World Show and Celebration! If you've always wanted to go to Ava, but didn't want to go alone for the first time, now's your chance! Again, more info will be provided as the details are settled. As you can see, we have much for which to prepare in 2016. Mark your calendars and start making your plans! You won't want to miss out on any of these events!
Well, that's more than enough for now. If you are on FaceBook, be sure to find and "Like" the FoxTROT page and the MFTHBA Trail Programs group. Contact me with any questions or concerns. Enjoy your Fox Trotters on the trail this Fall. We hope to see many of you soon at the NTR!
Happy Trails,
Sam Gerhardt
President, FoxTROT
smfoxtrotters@hotmail.com
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