August 6, 2011 | 
Author TTPA Obstacle Competition
Beautiful Buckskin horse on Obstacle Course
The Obstacle Competition will take place on the trail beginning at the East Fork trail head in Wylie, TX on Saturday, September 17, 2011.
Registration will open at 8 AM and close at 9:30 AM. No registrations will be accepted at 9:30 AM. A participants meeting will be held at 10:00 AM.
Registration Form (Word Document)
Sat., Sept 17th 2011 (Rain Date Sept. 24)
East Fork Trailhead, Wylie, TX
Registration 8-9:30 AM
Participants Meeting 10 AM
Pre-Registration TTPA Members – $20.00
At the Gate for TTPA Members – $25.00 (closes 9:30)
Pre-Registration Non-Members – $30.00
At the Gate for Non-Members – $35.00 (closes 9:30)
Equestrian camping available at adjacent East Fork Campground
www.recreation.gov Sites:horse sites Near:Wylie State:TX Park Name: East Fork
Divisions:
Pleasure-Adult
Pleasure-Youth (16 yrs and younger)
Advanced-Adult
Advanced-Youth (16 yrs and younger)
Ribbons for First-Sixth Place, Prizes for First-Third Place
Concession Stand
Mail registration form with check payable to TTPA by Sept 13
To: Kris McFarland
1512 Evergreen Drive
Allen, TX 75002
For further information contact Tracy Matern at 214- 495-7493
or 214-392-2288 or e-mail bobtracy@dfwair.net
• All Contestants should wear a helmet, or sign a waiver.
• Under the age of 16 yrs. must wear a helmet.
• 16 yrs. and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• Must have negative Coggins.
• Please no dogs
Directions to East Fork Trail Head in Wylie, TX
To get to East Fork Trail Head from US 75:
Take the Parker Road exit and go east.
When it T’s into FM 1378, turn right,
go to the next stoplight and then turn left onto Parker Road again.
Follow the directions below.
From Lucas:
Take FM 1378 south to Parker Road:
Turn left (east) on Parker Road (aka FM 2514) and follow it past Dr. Kerin’s (Parker Road Veterinary) office.
Turn left on Paul Wilson Road by the cabinet shop and the Wylie Veterinary Hospital. This becomes CR 384.
Follow CR 384 (may change street name) around to the trail head on the left, marked by the white pipe fence.
From north and east of Wylie on TX 78:
Come south on TX 78,
shortly after the Wylie Municipal Complex and the new Wal-Mart,
turn right (west) on Eubanks Lane (CR 389).
When the road forks, bear right on Forrest Ross Road (CR 389)
When it T’s, turn left on Skyview Drive (CR 384) and
then shortly turn right into the East Fork trail head which is bounded by a white pipe fence.
Equestrian Campground Information
The trailhead is adjacent to the East Fork Equestrian Campground. Register early to get one of 11 pull-through, large rig spaces each with water, electric and two pens. This facility includes bathrooms, showers and a pavilion and is a short ride to the trailhead. This is the only full-service equestrian campground within 50 miles. Register at www.recreation.gov and use the following: Sites: horse sites Near: Wylie State:TX Park Name: East Fork. Early registration is advised as sometimes the horse sites are used for overflow from the regular park. Stay over after the event and enjoy our 26 miles of trail.
Everyone loves Evening Trail Rides
Stay Cool – Ride with the Moon
Join your fellow horse friends on an evening trail ride. On July 9th, the moon will rise at 3:24 PM, be at top of arc at 8:47 PM and set at 2:05 AM. It is a waxing gibbous moon with 66% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated.
Its the perfect time for an evening trail ride.
Join us if you can. This is an informal evening ride, no food will be served.
When: Saturday 9 July 2011
Time: Ride out at 8 PM
Where: Brockdale Trail head in Lucas, Texas
Evening rides are relaxing and are a great way to beat the hot Texas summer heat. Join your friends and have a great time.
4th of July Parade Riders
Celebrate the 4th of July by Riding Your Horse in a Parade
If you live in North Texas region and are looking for a fun way to spend the 4th of July, join your horsey friends in a local parade.
The attire for TTPA members is to wear your red TTPA T-shirt, black pants and a black hat. Tracy Matern has Tshirts for sale and will have them available at the parade.
Decorate your horse with red, white, and blue bows, garlands, and ribbons. It is really a fun experience. The crowds always love horses in parades so please come if you can.
Tracy Matern has registered the TTPA in two parades.
Melissa
July 2nd 6 PM Staging next to Cardinal Stadium
McKinney
July 4th 10 AM Staging at old Collin County Courthouse parking lot
If you are interested in participating and want more information, please contact Tracy Matern 214-392-2288 or email at bobtracy at dfwair.net
.
See you in the parade!
Looking for something fun to do with your horse this weekend?
Grace Lake Ministries Therapeutic Horsemanship
Beat the heat and bring your horse to the Obstacle Course Fundraiser to benefit Grace Lake Therapeutic Horsemanship. This promises to be fun for both you and your horse. This is not a competition, but a learning and training experience to enjoy with no pressure.
When: Saturday, June 18, 2011
Time: 9 AM to 1 PM
What: 20+ Challenging Obstacles & a Tack Sale
Location: Cowboy Church of Collin County, 2800 FM 3364, Princeton, TX
Cost: $25 Entry Fee (Additional Donations Welcomed)
Special Feature: In addition to an exciting obstacle course, Mustang Trainer Jerry Jones will be providing an obstacle training demonstration using newly trained mustangs at approximately 12 noon.
Negative Coggins Required
Lunch Included
RSVP to Suzanne Creel at 972-548-2016 or 205-807-2681
All donations are tax deductible and benefit Grace Lake Ministries a 501c3 that provides a Christ-centered NARHA therapeutic horsemanship program in the Anna/Blue Ridge area.
Directions to Cowboy Church of Collin County From 75:
Exit on Bethany Drive in Allen and go east.
Take Bethany Drive through Allen into Lucas (about 5 miles).
Continue straight through on Bethany Road, the road changes its name to East Lucas Road and intersects with FM 1378.
Go through the traffic light straight on Lucas Road.
In about ½ mile, when the road makes a sharp curve, you will see the Lucas Food Mart and Fina station on your left and a traffic light.
Turn left here at stop light on FM 3286 (aka Lucas Road) .
Go across two bridges and continue on Lucas Road until the road tees into FM 928. Turn left (north) and to until FM 3364 (there is a gas station on right corner). Turn right onto FM 3364 and go about 1/2 mile and you’ll see Cowboy Church of Collin County. This is the location of the obstacle course.
Note: This is not an official TTPA event, but it is a horse event with many TTPA members attending.
TTPA Night Trail Ride, Dinner and Raptor Presentation – Sat 11 June
It is the time of the year where we try to beat the heat and host night rides in the light of the moon at Brockdale Park. This Saturday 11 June promises to be a fun filled evening.
Where: Brockdale Trail head in Lucas, TX
When: Sat 11 June 2011
What: Dinner, Pavilion Opening Ceremony, Raptor Presentation and Evening Trail Ride
Here are the important times:
Pavilion Opening Ceremony at 5:30
Dinner: 5:45 PM – We are having a chuckwagon dinner, $5 donation Potluck – please bring a dish to share with others.
Raptor Center Presentation: 6:00 while we are eating
Ride: 7:00 Start The moon rises early and it will be nearly full so this is a great night for a evening ride. There will be moon shadows and the Brockdale South trail is open so you’ll have a lot of moonlight on the trail.
Bring your coggins, water to drink, bug spray, folding cars, a flashlight and your horse.
18 June 2011 – Workday at Highland Park
Join TTPA members at Highland Park Trail head at 9 AM on Saturday 18 June.
We need weed eaters, tractor with mower, riding mower and clippers. We need to reclaim the trail after all the rain.
Also bring gloves, bug repellent and plenty of water to drink.
Contact Charile Gaines at 972-824-3369 for details.
TTPA Trail Ride, Dinner, Raptor Event and Pavilion Opening – 11 June 2011
June 11 is a busy day for TTPA members. We will host a dinner, an evening Trail Ride (or hike), celebrate the opening of the new Pavilion, and have a presentation by the Raptor Center. This should be a fun event.
The exact times will be announced later, but for now mark your calendars and plan to spend the evening of 11 June at Brockdale Park Trail head.
May Trail Ride Canceled
Due to the recent outbreak of the EHV-1 virus in western States, the TTPA is canceling the May Trail Ride that was scheduled for Saturday 21 May.
The consensus of the TTPA Board is to err on the side of caution and cancel the ride scheduled for Saturday due to weather and statements issued by Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
Here is the latest statement from TAHC that is posted on their web site. http://tahc.state.tx.us/
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials are continuing to trace exposed horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championships event that ended on May 8 in Ogden, Utah. There are currently 26 known horses in Texas that attended the event. Those 26 horses and a total of 323 more cohorts (stablemates) of the 26 are currently being held under movement restrictions across the state.
Texas has currently only detected one confirmed case. That horse sought treatment at a veterinary clinic in far West Texas and has subsequently returned to New Mexico where it originated. A second horse located in Jack County has been classified as “suspect” and is pending further diagnostic testing. The TAHC is following the U.S.D.A. guidelines for clinical and suspect cases which have very specific criteria to meet the case definition, and for now suspect and confirmed cases will be the two types of cases reported.
The epidemiological investigation of all 300+ plus horses that reportedly attended the event continues nationwide, and the number of Texas horses identified as exposed may increase in the following days. Although mandatory cancellation of future events is not anticipated, the TAHC suggests that horse owners consider the risk of participating in upcoming events scheduled for this weekend and/or co-mingling their horses with other horses and equipment (trailers) of unknown history. Because the incubation period is usually about 4-6 days or less, even a one week voluntary stop movement may be enough to nip the cycle of transmission between horses before it grows in scope.
Horse owners should contact event organizers in advance to ensure that scheduled events have not been canceled. Some other states have established emergency rules for entry as a result of this situation, so if interstate travel is planned, owners and/or veterinarians writing health certificates should check in advance to ensure they meet all entry requirements. Finally, it is recommended that all newly purchased horses or introduced horses to a premise should be isolated to help prevent the accidental introduction of EHV-1 (and other diseases) onto the premise.
While no local horses have been identified as sick or exposed to the virus, the TTPA Board feels it is prudent to be safe and keep horses at home for the next two weeks until the situation is under control.
As a second precaution we will be dumping the communal water troughs at trail heads until the crisis passes. This is a temporary measure for the next two weeks only.
Hope to see you all next month.
Notice: East Fork Park Closed for Sewer Upgrade – Trail Head Remains Open
East Fork Park, including the horse camping area, is currently closed. The East Fork Trail Head southwest of the main park remains open.
The City of Wylie is working to upgrade the sewer facilities at East Fork, tying the main restroom facilities directly into the Wylie sewer system. No firm dates are available on the duration, but the work is expected to take about two weeks, which would be until around the end of May 2011. You can check on status by calling the office during regular business hours: 972-442-3141.
If you are looking for horse-camping alternatives, there is nothing particularly close. Two options are:
Platter Flats, OK on Lake Texoma. Note that a current Health Certificate is required when crossing state lines.
Lake Ray Roberts State Park Isle du Bois Unit near Pilot Point, TX offers primitive camp sites for campers with horses.
Beware of the new water line trench at Highland Park Trail Head
TTPA recently put in an additional water line at the Highland Park Trail Head. The line runs from the water trough to the new water spigot. There is dirt covering the trench for the water line, but after rain the trench becomes very soft and horses can sink down several inches if they step where the trench is located.
To see the trench, cross the white gate like you were going on the trail, and then look down. You will see deep horse tracks in the ground where horses have stepped in the trench.
Until we can bring out additional fill, please use caution.
Update: Jack Gilstrap has fixed the trench problem! Thank you Jack for your prompt attention to this issue.
