Piedmont Trail Riders Photo Gallery

2010 TRAIL RIDE EXPANDED CALENDAR FLYER(to print off)

Piedmont PFHA Trail Ride Online Videos
Biltmore Trail Ride Video by Galopandotv.com
Blake-Cliff Trail Ride by Galopandotv.com
Sandhills State Forest Trail Ride by Galopandotv.com

From The Trails - July 2010

At the moment it looks like the Blowing Rock Ride will be cancelled due to weather 50% chance of rain and non participation. My horse is also having an allergic reaction to something causing skin irritation. She looks like someone beat her with a stick! I will be making the call this evening as to whether to cancel the ride.

August 7 & 8 Virginia Highlands & New River Trail, Ivanhoe, VA

Please note that there is a change of venue for base camp and camping! See info below. This campground is cheaper and offers direct access to both the Virginia Highlands & New River Trail eliminating the need to move the trailers on Sunday for the New River Ride.

This is a two day ride. Horseshoes and/or boots suggested. Camping/Stalls: J & K Horse Camp, Owners: Ron & Penny Jones – 276-699-6315 (home) or 276-620-9195 (cell) This is a private campground and they do not advertise or have a website. They have wonderful campsites, bathhouse, stalls and corrals available directly on the New River . Level parking and easy access approx. 13 miles SW off Ext. 80 (Fort Chiswell-Max Meadows Rd.) on I-77. I have stayed at this campground so feel free to contact me with questions. We will ride the Virginia Highlands Trail on the 7th and New River Trail on Sunday the 8th. Website: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml Shoes are not required for the New River Ride on the 8th. Footing is rock dust. However, if you plan to ride the Virginia Highlands Trail your horse will need shoes and need to be in reasonably good shape due to elevation changes.

Trail Host: Candace Link, 336 413-5204 C, 336-940-2936 H, Email: pasolink@yadtel.net

From The Trails - May 2010
April 17th proved to be a beautiful day for a trail riding in Cheraw, SC. Out of a potential number of 6, only one member -Sue Yearwood came to ride. Those that missed the ride missed picture perfect weather and a great trail ride. On my way back on Sunday, I took the opportunity to scout trails at the Walthour Moss Foundation in Southern Pines, NC proving to be a great location and place to ride. Hopefully, this can be an add in for the fall or winter.

May 1st is the Latta Plantation Park Ride in Huntersville, NC Plans are to ride at 10:30 out of the horse trailer parking lot. The weather is looking good for this ride. Remember shoes are recommended for your horse. Be sure to call the trail host, Candace Link at 336-413-5204 or email: pasolink@yadtel.net to confirm that you will be riding.

Don't forget to make plans for the Dupont State Forest Ride, June 5th. Please refer to the website for camping/stall information and contact your trail host Candace Link, for information and to sign up for the ride.

New Piedmont Pathfinder Chairperson
Congratulations to Paulette Denault-Bryce who is the new Piedmont Pathfinders Chair! She needs your help to track records of the Piedmont members that have signed up in the past for the Pathfinders program. Contact Paulette at riofino@yahoo.com if you have joined Piedmont Pathfinders previously with this info: (1) who you are, (2) your contact information, and (3) hours logged. Her mailing address is: Paulette Denault-Bryce, 2235 Old Georgetown Rd. W.
Cassatt, SC 29032.

Take Advantage of PFHA’s and Piedmont’s Recreational Rider Programs

Piedmont Pathfinders trail program is similar to Pasos For Pleasure at the National PFHA level, but is Piedmont’s own regional trail riding program. Award hours start at 50 hours and go to 1000 hours. For a one time join PP program fee of $25, you will receive a T-shirt and log sheets to track your hours.

The hours log form is on Piedmont’s website: www.piedmontpasofino.org on the trail rides’ page: http://www.piedmontpasofino.org/forms/PATHFINDERS_LOGweb.pdf.

Pasos For Pleasure is a PFHA member program where you log in your hours ridden on a registered Paso Fino, and then turn in the hours for hour award levels. If you are already in this program (one time $25 fee), you can visit www.pfha.org, log-in and see how many hours you have turned in before your next award level: http://www.pfha.org/includes/html/members.pasos.for.pleasure.asp?

The hour award levels start at 50 hours, and increase from there – 100, 250, 500, to 5000. Here is the Pasos For Pleasure log form: http://pfha.org/documents/pdf/forms/pasos_for_pleasure_log.pdf

The Ticket to Ride program is FREE for all current PFHA members. Get your region’s trail ride hosts to sign off on your “ticket” when you attend a regional group’s official trail ride or non-show event. When your ticket is full (5 events signed off on), send it to PFHA, to be elegible and included in the drawings for prizes at the National Show in September each year. You do not have to be present to win. You must be a member of the PFHA at the time of all rides and at the time of the drawings.

Here is the online ticket form to download and print: http://pfha.org/documents/pdf/forms/ticket_to_ride_card.pdf

A member can complete as many tickets as they wish. The more tickets a member completes the better their chances are for the drawing. The tickets will be held at the PFHA until time for the drawings. The ticket has five spaces to have completed before the ticket can be returned to the PFHA. Every time you participate in a PFHA sanctioned trail ride it will count for two rides. A non PFHA sanctioned ride is worth one ride. You may use organized trail rides (must have a Ride Manager and be advertised) or any other event you participate in with your registered Paso Fino. Backyard pleasure riding/exercising can not be used for the Ticket to Ride program. Have the ride manager initial the spaces and sign off on the back of the ticket.

Happy Trails!
Candace Link
336-413-5204
pasolink@yadtel.net.

Trail Riding Buddies
If anyone would like to be a Riding Buddy, or if you want a Buddy to ride in a Park you are interested in exploring, please let us know! Remember to be courteous enough to give all these folks at least a day or two’s notice! If anyone else would like to volunteer to be a Riding Buddy, or if you want a Buddy to ride in a Park you are interested in exploring, please let me know so I can put the information in the Newsletter. Contact Marcia Carrico at (336) 998-1111 or casacarrico@yadtel.net.

Marcia Carrico has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy”, if anyone wants to come to Salem Lake Park in Winston-Salem and needs someone to ride with them. Call (336) 998-1111 or email her at casacarrico@yadtel.net.

Brian & Jill Smith have volunteered to be “Riding Buddies”, if anyone wants to come to Moses Cone Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Call (828) 268-0608 or email them at brian@blowingrockrealestatenc.com.

Valerie Fox has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy”, if anyone wants to ride at Cane Creek Park in Waxhaw, NC and needs someone to ride with them. Call (704) 243-0113 or email her at vfox@alltel.net.

Candace Link has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy” if anyone wants to come to Pilot Mt, Latta Park, New River Trail and Sand Hills State Forest and needs someone to ride with them. Call (336) 940-2936 or email her at pasolink@yadtel.net.

Piedmont Trail Ride Requirements
You must be a Piedmont member or Trail Ride Member, and contact the Trail Ride Host prior to Trail Ride deadline to participate.

Trail Etiquette
Be a courteous trail rider. If you horse kicks, please tie a red ribbon its tail so others will know to stay clear. If you are riding a stallion, please ride in front of the group so as not to annoy mares. Do not run up on horses from behind trying to catch up or take off in front without warning those around you first. Pay attention to your Trail Host instructions! Remember, you are there to make sure everyone has a good safe ride.

Online Horse Trail Directory
Check out the website called www.horsetraildirectory.com. It is a growing website where trail riders can critique trails and facilities all over the country.