FoxTROT's First MFTHBA National Trail Ride!!

On 21-25 July 2010, FoxTROT gathered in the Great Smoky Mountains at Orchard Cove Stables for our first FoxTROT/MFTHBA National Trail Ride. There were 26 riders in all with over 30 horses in camp. Besides our Tennessee folks, the Moore family came down from central Illinois; the Godwins and Kellys came up from LA (that's Lower Alabama); and Don Groh came over from North Carolina. Although there were a few "other " horses welcomed on the ride, most of us were enjoying the smooth, sure footed gaits of our Missouri Fox Trotters.

We were able to make several great rides in the Smokies where the elevation brought us cooler temperatures than in the valley. On Thursday we got an early start and trailered 18 horses to the back side of Cades Cove so we could make the ride up to Gregory Bald (elevation: 4,949 ft). The wild blue berries were coming in and the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys were priceless. Although many were tired and maybe a bit sore after being out for 7 hours, everyone made comments about how much they enjoyed Gregory Bald. On Friday we rode out of camp casually in small and large groups to enjoy the School House Gap Trail and onward to other loops in the area. Everyone was conscious of the need to get back and get ready for Donna and Ray's wedding in the evening. Saturday brought another early start, trailering around 8:00 a.m., to get to the Middle Prong Trail in the Tremont area of the Smokies. About 15 made this loop ride along the creek on up to the Miry Ridge Trail and back down to the trailers. The highlight of this ride was the water crossings, cascades and waterfalls along the trail. The cool breezes along the creek and in the elevation were a welcome break from the summer heat. Sunday morning brought a big camp pot luck breakfast and Cowboy Church, after which most had to break camp and make there way home. As always, new friends were made and old friendships were strengthened as we enjoyed one another and our great Missouri Fox Trotters on the trail and in camp. With a few tearful "see ya' later" and "hope to ride with you again soon", the FoxTROT/MFTHBA National Trail Ride in the Smokies came to an end. Everyone agreed that the Great Smoky Mountains provided us a wonderful place to ride in the summer.

If all this sounds wonderful to you, then make your plans right away to join us on a future trail ride. The next FoxTROT ride is just around the corner. The FoxTROT Fall Trail Ride, along with the Foxtrotter Affair, is set for 8-12 September at East Fork Stables in Jamestown, TN. For reservations at East Fork Stables go to http://www.eastforkstables.com/, then go to http://www.foxtrotteraffair.com/ to register for the Foxtrotter Affair.

Happy Trails,

Sam Gerhardt, President, FoxTROT

P.S. Be sure to check out the slide show presentation prepared by Lea Valentine, FoxTROT VP. You'll find it in the blog below the wedding blog.

FoxTROT's First Wedding!!

On Friday, 23 July 2010, FoxTROT members, Donna Porter and Ray Maurer, were joined in holy matrimony! The ceremony was held on the steps of an old Methodist church in Townsend, Tennessee, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The wedding was planned by the couple to coincide with the FoxTROT/MFTHBA National Trail Ride in the Smokies. Those in attendance were members of FoxTROT who came to participate in the ride. FoxTROT President, Sam Gerhardt, who is an ordained minister, presided over the service. After the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a "wedding supper" at the Carriage House Restaurant where a surprise wedding cake was presented to the newly married couple. The next morning Ray and Donna returned to camp around 7:00 a.m. and saddled up to join the rest on the Saturday trail ride by 8:00 a.m.

The wedding vows recited by the couple were a bit unique to a horse oriented household. " I, (Ray/Donna), take you (Donna/Ray), as my lawful wedded (wife/husband) to have and to hold from this day forward. I promise to love and cherish you, to honor and sustain you, in the bad that may darken our days, in the good that may light our ways, in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, for better or for worse, through horse buying and selling, riding and training (at which point, Ray said, "That's a tough one."), and forsaking all others, to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us." Later, the couple told us that the only real 'disagreement' they'd had in their four years together was over buying or not buying a horse. So, the unique vows proved to be perfectly appropriate!

Our prayers remain with Mr. and Mrs. Maurer. We wish them great success and happiness in their marriage.

ANNUAL SUMMER RIDE at ORCHARD COVE STABLES

Lea Valentine posted the pictures of the FoxTROT annual Summer ride held at Orchard Cove Stables, (Great Smokies) Townsend, TN. Unfortunately, we were not able to attend, but by these pictures, it was beautiful, as usual. Future BLOG posts about this adventure to come soon!

Click on below:

Lea's Pictures

Summer Riding!

Once again we're in the middle of a hot summer. Many are not able to ride because of the heat. Fortunately, those of us who live/ride in the mountains can start early and get into the elevation where it's pleasant. This is part of the reason for scheduling the FoxTROT Summer Trail Ride in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. At last check, Freda tells me that we have 31 horses registered with Orchard Cove. There has been a good response from MFT Trail Riders outside of Tennessee because of the MFTHBA National Trail Ride. We look forward to seeing all of you at Orchard Cove Stables, Townsend, TN, 21 - 25 July 2010.

As usual, Deb and I ride nearly every week end. If interested, you can check out recent updates to our personal blogspot, http://www.ridinghappytrails.blogspot.com/.

Happy Trails, Sam Gerhardt, President, FoxTROT

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