LET'S GET THE 2015 TRAIL RIDING SEASON STARTED!

Greetings FoxTROT & Friends!

We're coming towards the end of April!  It's time to update the BlogSpot and get everyone actively involved for 2015!

Trail Riding Season 2015 has FINALLY arrived!  Have you checked out our two National Trail Rides?  Have you made your reservations?  You won't want to miss out on these rides.  Make your reservations sooner rather than later.  The information is posted above under Scheduled Trail Rides 2015.

Have you renewed your membership in the MFTHBA and FoxTROT?  Thank you to each of you who have!  You haven't?  Surely you meant to do so!  Take care of these memberships TODAY!  Your membership entitles you enjoy the MFTHBA Member Benefits and receive awards for participating in the National Trail Rides and Fox Trot America.  You may renew your MFTHBA Membership and check out the MFTHBA Member Benefits and Trail Programs at http://www.mfthba.com.  Oh, by the way, have you checked out the new MFTHBA website?  It's much improved!  Contact me at smfoxtrotters@Hotmail.com to renew your FoxTROT Membership.  As you all well know, I strongly encourage membership in our national organization and your local affiliate!

FaceBook seems to have taken over as the preferred way for most to stay connected to all things Missouri Fox Trotter.  If you haven't done so, you may want to consider opening your own FaceBook page just so you can connect to the Fox Trotter groups and pages.  FoxTROT has our own group.  We post pics and information there DAILY!  The MFTHBA Trail Programs page is very informative as well.  Get connected with FaceBook!

Well, that's enough for now.  Let us hear from you!  Make your plans right away to join FoxTROT for all of the excitement that's sure to be ours during this 2015 trail riding season!

Happy Trails,

Sam Gerhardt
President, FoxTROT

P.S.  Congratulations to FoxTROT Members who are accumulating points in the National Trail Ride Program!  Their names were published on page 5 of the last Show and Celebration Catalog!  Tania Herke - 5, Sam Pitz (Riggin) - 5, Rosemarie Walter - 7, Lea Valentine - 10, Debby Gerhardt - 12, Sam Gerhardt - 12.

P.S.S.  Congratulations to FoxTROT Members who have horses who are Leaders in the Fox Trot America Program!  Cindy Fonken - Smokey Joe's Diamond Jim - 1,710 hours! Sam Gerhardt - Katie's Midas Touch - 1,359.5 hours!

2014 Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail - Mammoth Cave Horse Camp

The 2014 Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail was a success.
This year’s ride was held at Mammoth Cave Horse Camp in Mammoth Cave, KY where we rode the trails of the Mammoth Cave National Park. The trail ride took place June 18-22, 2014. While the group was not as large as in years past due to family and work situations, those in attendance had a wonderful time. We had riders from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Virginia.  It was great to finally meet people face to face that have become friends over the internet. While the weather may have been slightly warm, we were able to rise and ride early and had some great trips. The staff at Mammoth Cave Horse Camp allowed us to use several trailers to reach the farther out trail heads.

Our first ride on Thursday left from camp to venture out on the First Creek Trail. First Creek has a small waterfall about 2/3 of the way out to the lake. After a short rest and picture op we headed on to the lake where the large group split into two smaller groups. The shorter ride group completed the loop around the lake and headed back to camp, while the longer riders continued out on the First Creek Loop. On Friday we loaded the horses on the trailer and headed to the Maple Springs trail head. We rode the trails back to camp, and sent a few guys back to get the trucks and trailers. These trails had just reopened this year after being closed for several years due to storm damage. On Saturday we trailered out to Maple Springs again. This time we rode the  Maple Spring Loop and returned to the trailers to load back up and return to camp.

One of the perks of riding early was the opportunity to visit Mammoth Cave itself. Several took the opportunity to take a trip down into the cave and reveal in a different type of awesome.

2015 FoxTROT Officers

Announcing FoxTROT's 2015 Officers!

At the October meeting during the FoxTROT MFTHBA National Trail Ride at Bandy Creek Horse Camp we elected our slate of Officers for 2015!

   President      Sam Gerhardt, Newport, TN

   Vice Pres.     Lea Valentine, Knoxville/Jamestown, TN
   Secretary      Samm Pitz, Greenback, TN
   Treasurer      Tania Herke, Wadesville, IN

   Area Representatives:
      Central TN Rep                 Rose Walter, Ethridge, TN

      Eastern TN Rep                Debby Gerhardt, Newport, TN
      Western TN Rep               This position is still open.
      Big South Fork TN Rep    Lea Valentine, Jamestown, TN

Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride October 9-13, 2013

Once again, the Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride was an overwhelming success. Members of FoxTROT and several affiliates gathered on October 9-13 at the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area near Jamestown, TN. This year we selected Timber Ridge Horse Campground as our base camp. Lee and Josh did a great job of welcoming everyone and getting them settled into their camping spot and the horses in their stalls or corrals. We were fortunate to have the best weather ever for this year’s ride. We had sunny days and cool crisp nights with nary a sight of rain! We had riders from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Connecticut and Tennessee. The MFTHBA administration was even represented with the presence of the Region 10 Representative, Mr. John Brandreth. We had members show up as early as Monday the 7^th, while others stayed until Monday the 14^th.

Throughout the week, we had several small groups venturing out on rides of varying lengths and destinations. On Thursday, we assembled almost 30 riders for a group picture to start the day. After starting out together, we broke into two groups with the large group riding to Christian Cemetery and the other group riding Proctor Ridge to the Teepee loop through the Spruce Creek Area. On Friday, we gathered 44 riders for the picture to start the morning and together we rode the yellow loop of the Ridge Top trail Area. On Saturday, a hearty group of 24 long distance riders gathered, including some friends from Spruce Creek, and rode a 26 mile loop via Darrow Rd, Christian Cemetery, a portion of the O & W railroad bed trail, Laurel Fork Overlook, Teepee Loop and Proctor Ridge. Needless to say a lot of tired riders missed supper on Saturday.

Along with the trail riding, the fellowship that occurs at our gatherings is outstanding. On Wednesday we had cake and ice cream for Chris Moore’s 11^th birthday. On Friday, Josh and Lee smoked Ribs, Brisket, Chicken and Pulled Pork while everybody else brought dessert and side dishes. I don’t think anybody went away hungry. On Saturday we had reservations for 30 at 6:00 pm for Bacarra’s, but due to the length of the trail ride it changed to 18 at 7:30. It was still a good time with great food and conversation.

On Friday, the yearly organizational meeting for FoxTROT took place. The majority of the officers were re-elected with Tania Herke being the lone newbie in assuming the Treasurer’s position. The selection of base camps for next year’s Eastern States National Trail Ride in June and the FoxTROT National Trail Ride in October were discussed and voted on. We selected Mammoth Cave Horse Camp in Kentucky for June and Bandy Creek in Big South Fork for October. Negotiations and reconnaissance are currently underway with these locations. Confirmed dates and locations will be announced as soon as possible.

The big hit of the Trail Ride other than the riding may have been the Raffle which raised $425.00 for FoxTROT!  Terry Messex had obtained a head stall donated by Bedford Tack, while Sam & Debby Gerhardt obtained an oil skin horn bag and a MFTHBA Trailer Decal (Large Scale). The lucky winner of these prizes was John Brandreth.

We also had several 2 night and 2 stall gift certificates donated from several of our campground sponsors and those lucky winners were:

True West - Kelly Collins

Timber Ridge - Earl Hughes

Big South Fork Lodge - Art Moore

Saddle Valley - Sam Gerhardt

Many Cedars - Rose Walter

Scarlet Oak - Ronald Munn

Fom even more pictures like the FoxTROT page on Facebook!

2013 Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride

Ready to Ride Thursday

Ready to Ride Friday

Mrs. Weaver, Earl Weaver, Rose Walter,Shirely Vicchito & Lea Valentine at Fiddler's Arch

Sam and the Ohio Posse

Lea, Tania and Rose at Laurel Creek

Sandy, Gene, John B. and Johnnie

Johnnie, Gene, Lea

Sam and Surprize

Ron Munn on Duke

Lea Valentine

Heidi

Sam Gerhardt

Rose Walter

Ashlyn Herke

Chris Moore

Gayle Vautaw

Leslie Bever

Art Moore

Mickey Walker

Kevin Roberts

Allen Herke

Amanda Walker

Gina Roberts

Issac Russel

John Brandreth

Sandy Nix

Johnnie Chester

Debby Gerhardt

Heidi

Lea & Rose

Karyn Case & Ashlyn at Hippie Cave

Tania, Bill Case, Ashlyn & Karen at Hippie Cave

Sam at Cowboy Church

 

Preview of 2014 Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride

!!!!!!! ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!

The 2014 Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride sponsored by FoxTROT and other Affiliates Has been scheduled for June 18-22, 2014 at Mammoth Cave Horse Camp at Mammoth Cave State Park in Kentucky. Go to the website listed below for reservations or call 888-682-3958. If you do Reservations on-line, put "Eastern States MFTHBA National Trail Ride" in the Comments box. If by phone, let them know this is the ride you are attending. More information will be passed along as it becomes available.
http://www.mammothcavehorsecamp.com/index.html


Sites we will see on the trails!