25 Miles/9 Hours...Memorial Day Ride!

Deb and I, with our friend, Ron Munn, rode the Burnett Gap Trail and Brush Creek Trail in the nearby Cherokee National Forrest on Memorial Day. The ride was outstanding covering mountain ridges and river roads, but ended up being longer than planned! Probably some of the roughest trail we've been on, not sure we'll ride Brush Creek again. To view more pics of this ride go to http://www.ridinghappytrails.blogspot.com/.

Remember, Deb and I would be honored to host any of you FoxTROT members who want to come ride the Eastern TN and Western NC area. We have a full hook up site for your trailer and/or extra rooms in the house. I promise I won't take you on any longer or tougher ride than you want to do! Just contact us and we'll set aside some dates. Sam Gerhardt, President, FoxTROT

A DAY AT WORK??

James walking away from this moment!
James working on Lilly--Karen still laughing~

Today James "let" (men never learn, do they ladies!) me tag along on an Equine Therapy call, which just happened to be with one of our own FoxTROT members--Karen and her very patient, understanding of the wife's horse habit, Howie Gagliano.

It was such fun talking with Karen and Howie. I had the pleasure of swapping horse stories and discussing numerous topics, including one of Howie's most favorite hobbies: bush-hogging with the 'ol Kabota on some of those steep embankments Tennessee is so infamous for having. Meanwhile, James did have to work his magic fingers on three horses while we were enjoying each others' company (we did let James get in a few words).

Karen and Howie have such a lovely and welcoming home for their eight equine pals and the rest of the clan--three dogs and not sure what else was around---too busy yakking!

What is most special is the fact we, more than likely, would never have met them had it not been for our MFT organization!!



Moira

Dale Hollow Lake

James and I took off on one of those impromptu rides. Deciding on Dale Hollow Lake (not a hard choice for us), we loaded Bear and Rowdy and took off for what was to be a most enjoyable "perfect riding weather day" with our MFT's.

If you have the opportunity to ride at Dale Hollow, you won't be disappointed. The main trail is quite wide, and follows terrain of hills and then back along some of the water. We have never ridden the complete main trail out to the very end, but I do believe there is a really nice overlook when you get there. The trails that loop off the main one go more inland, with the terrain changing from tree limbs cascading gently over the trail, to sparse cedars.
If you can go during the week, you have a great chance of being the only riders on the trails (we had the whole place to ourselves). If you choose to camp, you will need your generator or you will have to really rough it. There are no facilities except for a couple of porta toilets in a couple of spots on the trail, no running water, power, etc. There is a small corral with about four stalls once you get into the trail head area. If you kept your horses there, you would not be able to hear or see them unless you pitched a tent right at the corral. But, the parking area has ample room for trucks and rigs and makeshift corrals.

Well, we did not see any bear this outing (not saying they didn't see us), no snakes; but we did scare up a turkey that took flight right in front of James and Rowdy---Ha! At least this time I was in back~~

One word of WARNING!
Don't go after heavy rainfall (we made that mistake last year). You spend your time sliding down descents and mucking your way back uphill.

Getting to the area of Dale Hallow Lake is an easy trek. Once you turn off the main highway to start getting back to the trail area and grounds it gets a bit tricky. You will think you have made a wrong turn; so please feel free to phone or email us for some tips on that matter.

Happy Trails,
James and Moira

Click the arrow for pictures!

SEFTA ST. Jude Trail Ride

Here you go FoxTROT members---a chance to partake in a Beneficial Ride AND meet sister affiliate members of the SEFTA!

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South Eastern Fox Trotter Association (SEFTA), St Jude Trail Ride

In an effort to accommodate all the people that may want to come I chose the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, which connect to the Moses Cone trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trails are nice and wide and have beautiful views of the valley below.

If you would like information on the preserve go to www.blowingrockequestrian.com

St. Jude's Saddle Up ride will be: Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 AM.

Location: Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, Blowing Rock, NC

For reservations for camping and stalling your horse you can call 828-295-4700 or you can email them at info@blowingrockequestrian.com I have been told that if you state you are with a group St. Jude's Ride they will make every effort to make sure you are in the same area.

Camping: $25.00/night, per site (water and electric included) I have been told the best camping is by the new barn. BUT ALL CAMP SITES ARE ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS

Stalls: $25.00 per night (bring your own hardware, buckets, muck buckets & pitch forks)

For those of us that need a hotel there are plenty of hotels in the town of Blowing Rock, which you can access via internet at www.blowingrock.org/hotels.html .

Should you have any questions about the ride please feel free to call or email SEFTA President, TerryMcMichael, at 864-703-0990 or mcdicken@aol.com.

Going to AVA? Here's member Bill Adams offer!!!!

I own two stalls at the show grounds in Ava, Mo. If anyone is going out for the Spring show or Fall Celebration and is in need of stalls I would like to rent them.

There will be some great trail riding!

I would rent them at a reduced rate for any of our members only.

Barn 11 which is one of the best locations on the grounds.

Thank You,

Bill Adams

Bill & Jimmie Ann Adams
946 Grandmere Rd.
Lawrenceburg, TN
931-762-8187 Work
931-762-0670 Home

MFTHBA First Annual National Trail Ride, Performance and Sale in AVA

Here is a note from our MFTHBA Board Member, Joyce Graening:

Hi Affiliate Chapters,

I realize that some of you have changed presidents since this list was put together, but would you please pass this information on to the appropriate person to publicize these events to your affiliate. Thank you very much.

We are planning the first annual national trail ride and performance/versatility/trail foxtrotter horse sale to be held at the MFTHBA show grounds on July 23-25, 2009. We are planning to make it a very festive and fun event for everyone. The attached flyer will give you the planned events for the week-end. Also attached is a consignment form from Adam's Auction Company who will be conducting a very professional sale for us. All horses consigned must be at least 3 years old and under saddle. RV spots and stalls will be available. All contact information for both the sale and other events are found on the attached flyer. The MFTHBA will be receiving 1/2 the net profits from the horse sale.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact me. I hope that everyone will plan to come. We are trying to get some more fun events scheduled for the membership at the MFTHBA headquarters.

Thanks for helping to spread the word.

Joyce Graening
MFTHBA Board Member

FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL TRAIL RIDE

& PERFORMANCE/TRAIL/VERSATILITY
FOXTROTTER SALE AT MFTHBA SHOWGROUNDS
AVA, MISSOURI
JULY 23-25, 2009

Join us for 2 days of trail riding:
July 23 Go on the popular and exciting ride to Brown's Cave
July 24 The ride will be the Grounds ride
Riders will meet across from the MFTHBA headquarters on Hiway 5 both days 8 a.m. There is plenty of parking and help with transportation to the trail head from the show grounds if needed.
For additional information, contact Paul Martin at 417 683-3069.

Join us on Friday, July 24 at 2 p.m. in the main arena for free instructional clinics on "modeling your horse", "preparing your horse and hints for the show ring", and "identifying and help with foxtrotter gaits" presented by Johnny Miller, Mike Owens, and Geno Middleton, with compliments from the MFTHBA Trainer's Committee.

Join us on Friday night July 23 for a BBQ dinner served by D & L BBQ*
Stay around and enjoy the music after dinner.

Join us on Saturday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m. for a great foxtrotter horse sale of approximately 100 registered Missouri Foxtrotters, 3 years and over, already under saddle. The sale will be held under a big tent rain or shine on the show grounds. Sale catalogs will be available after July 1 and consignment information can be obtained from

Adam Jokisch, Auctioneer at toll free 1 877 566-8751.

RV Spaces are available for $25 per night
Stalls are available for $15 for 1 night + $10 night for each additional night. Call Donna Watson at MFTHBA 417 683-2468 for reservations.

Concessions will be available Friday & Saturday.
*There will be a charge for the BBQ.
There will be a $5 gate charge Friday for those coming for the day, not staying on grounds.

Reponse to Sharon's email 5/18/09

Wow!!


Forty Five (45) members and growing---that is just terrific! Here we thought we would struggle to get enough members interested to become an official affiliate of AVA---and look at us now!
It's nice to know that President Sam is keeping up with all of the Association's happenings, as we are now, a very interested participating group. Not being into showing, I know James and I use to "just read" the Journal, then kind of toss it aside. I think we take more pride, now, on what is transpiring.
Don't forget the summer July ride at Zenith Stables. Again, we are all there to help one another. Learn more about your MFT, enjoy the company of great people, and don't be shy.
Moira