Land Bridge Near Completion

Construction on the land bridge has taken longer than first predicted but plans for completion are now set for September 30th. Time and weather will tell if that date comes to be. As in all construction unforseen things cause unforseen delays. The sides are being lined with field stone and it is looking quite nice at this time.

September 30th will be the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the land bridge. Come join the festivities being held at the Florida Horse Park, Riders will be taken on a lead ride across the bridge after the ceremony is over. Camping is available contact Tom Guadagno555-555-1234 or Doug Shear 555-555-1234 for more info on camping.

For those that want to ride the ride scheduled for that day it will start at the horse park. Riders need to sign in by 9:00 AM and be sure and bring your coggins. No access to the bridge area will be allowed till after the ceremony. Don't think you will meander through the woods and go up there on your own that day because the area will be patrolled by legal officials till after the ceremony.

Come join the celebration and have a good time starting at the Florida Horse Park.

Meetings are taking place with emergency officials, Greenway officials, and Marion Co. Recreational Dept. to place markers along the main trail for location use and to help in aiding rescue units to find persons when needed. The Greenway officials will be placing numbers on the red gates which are spaced throughout the trail system where the greenway intersects roads. If you have a problem try to make it to one of these gates. The numbered gates will be a help for rescue and law officials for locating injured parties on trails.
The Greenway officials are working with the county rescue units in enabling them quicker access to emergencies by placing the numbers on the gates, installing combination padlocks, and in the near future location markers.

When this all comes together there will markers on the maps to show you where the gates are, and hopefully in the future all the trails for all users will overlay each other on one map so everyone can relate to how the trail system looks and help give you bearings in case you are lost.

In the near future you will notice some changes along the trails. There will be markers labeling the main through trail that will run from Santos west over the land bridge and on through Christmas and Shangri-la.

The trails east of I-75 that run off of the main trail will become named trails and they form loops back onto the main trail. This will make it easier for people to find their way and also enable us to use less markers on the trails which will help to keep the trail area of less environmental impact on the landscape.

Donations for funding of the new signs and posts for intersections of the trails is greatly needed. There are a few who have provided all the funding for this trail system so far but to improve and make things even better it takes funds. So you can help even if you don't have time to actually do the work by donating materials and funds to enable us workers to make the trails even a better trail system than it is.

Due to all the activities and the preparation for the opening of the land bridge ceremony we felt it best

Trivial Question: How many uses can you name for a BANDANA??? (Answer will be in November issue)

to postpone fun days till February as our main purpose is to do trail work and promote the development of trails and when trail work is needed it comes before play days.
We will reschedule the Bass day for in February and it will be worth your wait. A fun filled day.
You say your horse won't go near water, don't worry be happy come and try your luck at the Bass Fishing Tournament. It is a day for fun!!!
This is going to be a fun filled day for all who enter. Prizes and food!! Pre entry is recommended as entries are limited. Full details will be sent out in flyers in December and January with entry forms. Be sure to get your entry in for that day to assure y yourself a spot on the bass tournament.

Trail etiquette something all horsemen should learn before ever getting on the trail or leaving their home.
Public riding calls for etiquette to other users, not only those in your group but for others you meet on the trail, including bikers and hikers.
The only way we can turn around years of bad feeling amongst the users groups is for someone to take the imitative WE AS RESPONSIBLE HORSEMEN SHOULD> lets start something good. Try to mend years of bad feelings amongst trails users. It will make trail life for all much more pleasant and ensure us all we will have trails to ride in the future.
Riding many hours on the trails throughout life it never ceases to amaze me how many people have no trail etiquette at all. Think about your actions when in public. Learn proper trail etiquette.

Fall is just around the corner as this newsletter comes to print and with it many horse events to participate in. We feel that with so many to choose from this month some of our activities are being postponed.

POSTPONED TILL FEBRUARY
September 24-- Bass Tournament on
Horseback

Some of the following events may be camp out, we are working on proper insurance's to allow camping by the club at certain locations will update you the matter as it progresses.

October 20-22-- Halloween Ride
Location to be announced
November 22-26-- Wild Turkey Ride-
Campout-Thanksgiving Feast—
Location to be announced.

December 16--Christmas Present Ride-
Location to be announced.

Sept. 30: Land Bridge Opening Ceremony-Florida Horse Park contact
Tom Guadagno 555-555-1234
Oct. 1: Marion Therapeutic Riding Ride-A-thon 9 AM at Utopia on the Florida Greenway. For info call Betty Gray 555-555-1234
Oct. 13,14,15: AQHA Ride 2000 to be held on the Greenways and Florida Horse Park. For more info call 555-555-1234
Oct. 21: Little Manatee 3rd Annual Mystery Ride. For more info and camping reservations call 555-555-1234.

What has happen to the newsletters the last couple of months?? With the heat of summer and many other unforseen circumstances we did not make monthly newsletters and we sincerely apologize. Things are back on track and though busy trying to do maintenance work on the horse trails for the fall riding season we will be back to sending a monthly newsletter out. Thanks for your patience during the summer.

 KEEPING FOCUS

The purpose of the Trail Riders for Green Trails, Inc. is to help develop and maintain public equestrian trails throughout the areas. This takes funding and over the past year personal monies has been poured into this corporation to help it along its way. Trail maintenance takes time and materials, providing info and maps costs money for printing, nothing is free. Beside funding for the above we try to put on events for those members who are helping support public trails. These events are costly and take money which has come out of the officers own pockets so that we could show appreciation to those who belong to the corp. We need to keep our focus on trail work at this time and building funds for future trail needs and events. Working together we can all help make the horse trails a success.

About Trail Riders For Green Trails, Inc.

Trail Riders For Green Trails, Inc. is a Not For Profit Corp. formed to help develop Public Horse Trails and Education for the Horsemen who are seeking to learn about safe Trail Riding. We have been working with the Greenways and Trails of Marion Co. for over four years helping develop and mark Horse Trails. We have memberships available and offer monthly trail rides and or clinics for learning more about trailriding and your horse. Memberships ensure us all that there will be Horse Trails for Public Use. The funds received from memberships are used for trail markers, tools, outings and educational material. Your membership plays an important part in ensuring future trails and keeping the existing trails. Memberships are $1500 single $25.00 family. For more information contact us at our email site ben@dickey.com or call us at 352-288-5571 or check out our web site www.lesalt.com/vhosts/trail-riders. Our mailing address is Trail Riders for Green Trails, Inc.

P.O. Box 240, Waynesboro, GA 30830

T-SHIRTS- the shirts to speckle grey with forest green lettering. They are 50/50 t-shirts instead of all cotton. The cost is $12.00 each. We are also taking orders for-- forest green with white lettering -they are 100% cotton..Place your orders now for the forest green t-shirts (we need twelve orders before sending to printer). Place your order now for the next batch. PLEASE contact us if you want to order forest green t-shirts-we need twelve to send in the order.

Happy Trails Till Next Month