RIDING AT HIGH COUNTRY HORSE CAMP

My sister and I arrived at High Country Horse Camp Sunday evening and got our horses settled in.We met some of the fellow campers then drove to town, 25 miles away to eat dinner.

Monday morning two happy horses greeted us at breakfast time. They loved the large stalls at HCHC and Tango even laid down in the night.
We saddled and packed our lunches and cameras in our saddle bags and headed out up the road. We traveled an old county road for two or three miles then crossed the paved road again and entered the Mt. Rogers area. We were still traveling on the wide cinder road which was a constant climb since leaving camp when we came upon a network of tubing strung around trees. It looked like children had been there playing and left their "toys". As we continued on we came to another area of the same tubing and couldn't imagine what it was until we noticed a faded sign telling this was a Maple sugar water collection area. Having come from an area in Indiana where Maple trees were tapped and sugar water was drained into a bucket this tubing network leading to a large plastic tank was quite a labor saving system and quite interesting to me.

We continued another two miles or so and came into an open area which was Mt. Rogers, the highest point in Virginia. Here we found the Appalachian Trail, this section for hikers only and the VA Highlands Horse Trail. The plan for the day, because I had only been riding about a month and only short rides due to herniated discs and of course Tango who'd had a long vacation due to my health wasn't in top condition either.

Our plan was to take a short loop and return to camp early. On our short ride that took a total of 6 1/2 hours we experienced some beautiful scenery and even encountered a bear cub on the trail who quickly retreated to somewhere, probably a tree nearby. The trail we met him on opened to a small bald with wild cherry trees that had fruit on them and the bears had mutilated the small trees by trying to climb them to retrieve the fruit.

Many places we had to open gates, which normally wouldn't have been a problem on our handy fox trotters that do side pass and back but the gates weren't well designed to be opened from horseback. Still we managed to open about half of them without dismounting.
The riding is rugged and rocky but beautiful and I hope to return again when my fox trotter and I are both in better physical condition.

Kate Shaner
Jamestown, TN
www.mtnmajestyminiatureschnauzers.com

INSPIRATION!!

Among new members to FoxTROT and the MFTHBA are Bob and Betty, my wife's mom and dad. Dad, who will be 75 in August, rode as a young man but hadn't been on a horse in 25 - 30 years. Mom had NEVER had an interest in riding. Deb says she can't remember her mother even touching her horse. Well that's all changed now! Dad, who had triple bypass surgery last year, started talking last winter about wanting to ride again. So, on a warm day earlier this spring we invited him to ride with us. He rode the Big Creek Trail on one of our MFTs for about nine miles on a Saturday. Well, you know the MFT motto, "To ride one is to own one". By the next Saturday he had bought his own MFT (Surprise, from Terry Messex) and a new Tucker trail saddle! He's ridden with us many times since and has been to horse camp with us twice. It has all come back to him and he rides like a seasoned trail rider. He'll go wherever for however long you want to go! With Dad's renewed interest, Deb's mom started talking about wanting to learn to ride. So, she began to come ride in our arena for about thirty minutes a day for three weeks. She rides Rebel, Deb's MFT gelding, right now but Dad bought her a two year old quiet palomino MFT gelding, Trigger (also from Terry), who we're getting ready for her. She's been to horse camp with us and has ridden several times. Naturally, Mom likes to ride the easier trails for about two hours. She's doing wonderfully! I wanted to share this story to encourage each one to saddle up and hit the trails! If mom and dad can do it, so can you! Come ride with us and meet Bob and Betty! Happy Trails,

Sam Gerhardt

President, FoxTROT

FOXTROTTER AFFAIR

A full-page ad about the upcoming Foxtrotter Affair is featured in THE TRAIL RIDER, Special Edition June, 2010; page 33. This exciting event will be held at East Fork Stables, this September, as posted above. Looks like it will be very interesting, fun, and educational. Our FoxTrot member, Jaime Whiteaker is spear-heading this event.
Make your reservation NOW!
For additional info, call Jamie 941-416-3935 or got to: www.FoxtrotterAffair.com

Spring Trail Ride at Circle E

Our VP, Lea Valentine, put together a great slide show from the Spring Trail Ride which is posted below. If you haven't taken a look, be sure to do so. Although it has taken me too long to make this post, I wanted to write a few lines.

The ride at Circle E Guest Ranch was unique in several ways. First, we had members to join us who have not been able to camp at our previous rides! Jaime Whiteaker and her trainer, John, brought 3 MFTs. They experienced what I call, "horse biscuits and butterflies". The "horse biscuits" was that Jaime's truck broke down on the long pull up the mountain on the way to camp. We were able to get the horses onto another trailer while she waited for a tow to the local Ford dealership. The "butterflies" was that Jaime and John were able to ride all week and enjoyed their time on the trail and around camp. Of course, getting the truck repaired and back to her was "butterflies"as well! Samara Riggins was able to camp with us, as well. She brought her dog, her rescue TWH (yes, we let her ride with our MFTs) and stayed in her new trailer. New FoxTROT members, Bob and Betty Wills, My wife's parents, also joined us. They came with one MFT and went home with two! They bought a 2 year old palomino gelding from Terry Messex. As Roy Rogers fans, they call him "Trigger". Of course the usual suspects were present, Terry Messex, Lea Valentine, The Crossville Bunch (Roger and Rhonda Wyatt, Freddie Whittenberg), and Deb and I. The second thing unique to the Spring Trail Ride was that this was our first organized ride at Circle E Guest Ranch. Last year we had to cancel out of Circle E because of the rainy weather. We were concerned about too wet trails again this year with all of the rain Nashville received. Fortunately, Circle E missed the rain and the trails were over all in good shape. You can ride at just about any preference level you like at Circle E. They have a great camp with lots of space. There are pics on the slide show posted below. Thirdly, the TWHBEA held an Extreme Cowboy Competition on Saturday. It was fun to watch the competitors navigate the osbstacles in the arena as shown in the photo. A young lady who won the Craig Cameron Extreme Cowboy Race was a competitor on her TWH black stallion. I think she placed second. We all had a wonderful time. I hope that all this info encourages you to come ride with FoxTROT so that you do not miss out!

Happy Trails,

Sam Gerhardt
President, FoxTROT

SPRING RIDE/FUN AT CIRCLE E

Our V.P., Lea Valentine, sent a fun link to some pictures of the FoxTrotters having a good time at Circle E.
Click on the link below. This will take you to where the pictures will load (while it is loading, click on "Full Screen" mode in the upper right hand corner). There is a short animated introduction, and then the FoxTrot pictures will start going.
The pictures will keep repeating, so when you are through viewing, you can just hit your "back arrow" on your address bar, and it will bring you back here.
Enjoy!!!!

http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d5459334e5441334d7a46384d7a63774e5451344e7a673d0d0a&sb=1

"YEP, I DO RELATE"!

You need to read through into the "Rest of the Story" to get your "Yep, I Do Relate"!

WHAT OWNING A HORSE MEANS:

When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.
When you are short sighted, let me teach you to see.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful.
When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.
When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.
When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you humility.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion.
When you are tired, let me carry the load.
When you need to learn, let me teach you.
After all, I am your horse.

And now... The REST of the STORY!

When you are tense, let me teach you that there are dragons in the forest and we need to leave NOW!
When you are short-sighted, let me teach you to figure out where exactly in the 40 acres I am hiding.
When you are short-tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you can catch me.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you that herbivores kick MUCH faster than omnivores.
When you are angry, let me teach you how well I can stand on my hind feet, because I don't FEEL like cantering on my right lead today, that's why.
When you are worried, let me entertain you with my mystery lameness, GI complaint and skin disease.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that, mostly, you are the maid service.
When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to PAY ATTENTION. I told you about those dragons in the forest.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you what 1200 lbs of yipee-yahoo-gotta-go horse can do when suitably inspired.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion. Let's do lunch. Breakfast and dinner sound good, too.
When you are tired, don't forget about the 600 lbs of grain that needs to be unloaded.
When you are feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of "veterinary services".
When you need to learn, hang around the barn, Bud, I'll learn ya.

ZENITH STABLES RIDE

There was an abundance of fun this past weekend at Zenith Stables and riding in BSF.
Some members arrived on Thursday, and then Friday and Saturday. Lots of good riding, scenic adventures, smiling and laughing along the way. For a couple of the days, we shared the campgrounds with a bunch of "Mule People". Now, not to say anything against a good mule, except they are very vociferous, which is a good thing if you want to know if anything and anybody is coming into the campground.
I urge all of you to come and join us at any of the rides, being scheduled or not. We are there to help you in any way---from setting up your campsite to riding the trails--no matter your experience level. You will enjoy your ride, and you will not go away hungry---ohhhh, especially if the "Munn Family" is around. Man, they are set up to cook for a crowd, and do so very expertly.
This trip, we not only had the Munn's cooking, but Deb's Mom, Betty, was there to do her share of the "Meal Presentation" while Deb's 75 yr. young Dad rode out on the trails.
Have a favorite place to ride?? Let us know and we'll send it out to all the members. You never know who might show up!
M