Christmas Campout and Party

View lot's of pictures HERE !

The Christmas Trail Ride and Party at 7BarL was a great success. Fifteen members enjoyed the down-home comfort of the ranch and spent lots of time on the trails. Saturday morning part of the group headed out early and explored the riverside trails to the main Suwannee Spring recreation area. Of course the weekend would not be complete without Wildcat taking her traditional plunge, so Busta got that out of the way on Day 1! We rode about 3 1/2 hours and made it back to camp just as another group was going out for an afternoon ride. Everyone got in some good riding and then enjoyed some training time on the obstacle course. Marilyn could not quite convince Spirit that the horse-eating shower curtains would not crush her to death, and some of the horses were afraid of the bubbles, but overall, the afternoon provided some good training time for the horses (and riders!). Chef Cathy outdid herself and brewed up a tasty Low Country Boil with giant shrimp, sausage, taters, onions, and corn on the cob. The side dishes were equally outstanding and everyone probably ate way more than they should have. Following dinner, we shared quality time around a beautiful fire. We all retired with full bellies and heavy eyes, looking forward to another good day of riding. Sometime during the night, Antler Man tried to claw his way into Susan's trailer, and Pinky suffered some bruised knees during her escape. Sunday morning we enjoyed Marilyn's famous Christmas breakfast quiche and pastries. We headed out to the Mattair Springs trails and spent 4 hours enjoying the sights. Unfortunately, Pinky's horse Doc got a case of colic and had to see the local vet before going home. He has recovered from this incident and is looking forward to his next trail ride, just like all his other horse buddies. Thanks to everyone for coming and making this the best Christmas party ever!

Fun Day at the Cartwright's

Cathy and KD made the 2-1/2 trip to Axon, GA to visit and ride with Darcy and Mike and their friends. It was a beautiful day for the drive and the ride....sunny, bright and breezy. Mike was cooking hot dogs and hamburgers when we got there and we had a nice lunch before starting our on our 3-1/2 hour ride. 12 people enjoyed the ride on the Georgia clay roads, with lovely views of farms, cotton fields and quaint homesteads and churches. Only one mishap when KD tested the value of a helmet after a horse eating cable grabbed Stylin's front foot and wouldn't let go. Here are pictures of the day.

San Felasco Ride

Once again San Felasco provided a perfect ride for FCTB. The crisp weather was a welcome change to the heat that has chased us throughout the summer. Skies were clear and blue and the bugs have gone elsewhere. We enjoyed a 4 1/2 hour ride on our favorite creek-side trail. After two hours we arrived at the creek crossing and took a rest and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Busta could not resist the gently lapping waters, and took his obligatory wallow in the creek. Cathy tried to ride it out on top, but ended up with wet feet anyway. Good try Cathy! There were several young horses on the ride, and all did remarkably well. We saw plenty of deer, and even one nice sized buck. Good friends, beautiful weather and fine horses made the day a memorable outing. Here's a SLIDESHOW of the other photos taken.

A Busy Weekend for FCTB

Once again, the weather worriers missed out on several good opportunities to participate in club events. The Breast Cancer Ride at Tidewater was a huge success. Several members arrived early and camped for the weekend, and some came on Saturday to enjoy the festivities. The weather Saturday was beautiful, and we were able to enjoy a five hour ride on some new trails that we had not seen before. We got back from our ride just in time to enjoy the BBQ lunch and the raffle drawings. Sunday was overcast and cool, and the weather only allowed for a two hour ride, but it was also a treat to get out in the forest and try some new trails.

The Hospice After-Care Fundraiser in Middleburg was also a great event. There were assorted presentations that showcased different breeds and disciplines. Member Mike Woodard gave a well-received mini clinic on ground manners. The hospice officials were on site, and commended our club on our dedication to the cause. Thanks to everyone who supported these events, both financially and by attending. Together we can make a difference! Update - Hospice Aftercare raised over $7500 for their worthy cause !

SLIDESHOW

Upcoming Events

• October 20-21-Breast Cancer Ride and campout at Tidewater Trailhead /Goethe State Forest
• October 20 - Fundraiser for Hospice Aftercare - Middleburg
• November 3 - Day ride at San Felasco - ride time 10:00 am
• December 8-9 - Christmas party and ride at 7BarL (RSVP to twoodard@stellar.net)

Hospice Aftercare - Donation

We are pleased to announce that FCTB was able to send a check for $140.00 to Hospice Aftercare Services. Thanks to all who were able to contribute. The club's name will be listed in the Day of Show Program for their fund raising event "The World of Horsemanship" on October 20th. I'm sure this will be a very special presentation. Those members who will be unable to attend our club ride in Goethe State Forest on that day may want to attend this event in Middleburg.

OLeno - River Rise Camping Trip

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE

Our September ride at Oleno was enjoyed by only four members. Not sure if weather or fuel prices kept everyone else away, but you really missed out on a wonderful weekend. We enjoyed shady bug-free trails with a nice breeze to keep us cool. We saw plenty of deer, enjoyed the view at River Rise, and scoped out a special spot along a briskly flowing section of the river. Busta injured his hoof so he was able to enjoy a nice relaxing weekend of not being ridden, while his stall buddies went out and explored the great trails. Tucker got the duty of toting Wildcat for the weekend, while Traci introduced a 3 year old training horse named Diana to the life of a trail horse. Nobody got bucked off or run away with, so let it be said that all horses (and riders) were in top form for this ride. Wildcat and Sista Sara were our cooks for the weekend and we lived the gourmet lifestyle of campfire cookin!

Saturday was a state park clean up day, so in addition to the crowd on Friday, there were many volunteers at the trail head in the morning when we were saddling up. They went out by the truck load to trim the trails and clear away fallen debris. We saw signs of their handiwork along the trails as we rode, and appreciated their clean up efforts. With all the publicity at Oleno, we felt like celebrities with all the reporters and television crews!

An update on the tree girdling/killing at Oleno River Rise..... One of our goals for this outing was to see the project first hand and get better understanding of the situation, both politically and environmentally. Friday was a media day at the park, and our members participated in a large demonstration to express the equestrian's displeasure with the girdling project, which is well under way. TV news crews did an excellent job of interviewing and taking opinions from all sides. Standing united is a key factor in addressing issues such as this one. We were told that only Laurel Oaks were being killed. The target trees are scattered, so there is not mass destruction in a concentrated area at this time. However, we were disappointed to see that Sweet Gums, Turkey Oak and numerous other trees were being girdled in addition to the Laurel Oaks. The areas are plainly visible from the trail, and only about a half hour ride from the trail head. Members present decided to seek more information regarding this situation. It seems possible that some internet magnification may be taking place. While we hate to lose the shade and scenic views, the project may not be accurately portrayed by the accounts we have read so far. We are hoping to find an ecologist(rather than a politician) to inform us of the goals for this project and the extent of the tree killing.

It was an informative and relaxing weekend. Sorry not all of our members could make it!