South Florida Trail Riders - Dade (FlaHorse)

To see video of the SFTR Parades please click on this link.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hopefully each of you had a blessed Christmas time. Once again the Trail Riders have had a very busy year. Among the notables are; the Ozzie Alvarez pavilion at Picayune, the Jingle Bell Jaunt once again had a successful toy drive and the Christmas party was wonderful. Thanks to all who had a part in making each of the above events a success. A special thanks goes to Denise for hosting the Christmas party. She was a wonderful hostess. The Jingle Bell Jaunt found itself at a new site this year. Larry and Penny Thompson Park proved to be a wonderful venue. There was plenty of parking and the residents in the camping area were very receptive to us being there. We are looking forward to returning next year on the first Saturday in December. Mark your calendar now.

The new year that awaits us promises to be a very busy year also. First on the agenda is the Black-Eyed Pea Ride. To start the year right, make sure you have your black-eyed peas. Also in January is the Homestead Rodeo. Preparations for the rodeo are in full swing, so come on down to the rodeo grounds on Saturdays to lend a hand preparing the grounds for this wonderful event. Being a vendor at the rodeo is the club’s biggest fund raiser. We call it “The Funnel Cake Booth”. Making this a success takes a lot of willing volunteers. Please consider helping. Manny will be looking forward to hearing from you.

Wendy Lewit needs volunteers to help with the “Black Stallion” event also. It is exciting to see the reactions of the children as they see the horses and take an interest in reading because of the horses. Don’t have a horse? That should not stop you from volunteering. There is plenty to do without a horse. Contact Wendy for more information.

Each year we do a special ride to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This ride is in February, but you can start collecting money now. No donation is too small. Every penny collected goes to St. Jude’s. This hospital does amazing work in cancer research, especially for the children. Let’s really push this event and collect a
record amount of money for them.

Wishing you a GREAT new year and happy trails,
Wayne Hershberger

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK TRAIL RIDE

What: Everglades National Park Ride- Park admission is $10 per vehicle. If you are 62 or older ask for the lifetime pass for $10.
Trail Boss: Manny Alvarez
Redlandtrail@aol.com 305-469-1742
When:   January 8, 2012 10:30 am ride out
Where: Pine Glades Lake Trailhead in the Pineland Trails

DIRECTIONS: Turn left on the dirt road exactly 9 miles from the toll booth at the park. Follow road until you see the lake. Park on the side of the road as close to the edge as possible. Do not park in front of the lake because that's the only area available for trailers and emergency vehicles to turn  around and exit.
               .
Caravan: If you want to follow me to the trailhead, I'll be leaving from Robert Is Here fruit stand (192 ave and 344 street) at 8:45 am.

Bring water and lunch for the trail. Bring water for your horses for after the ride. There is a clean lake (with gators) at the trailhead. but the banks are too steep for a horse to drink. We will ride for approximately 4.5 hours. Mosquito repellent is not a bad idea, although they should not be a problem in January. This is a beautiful ride bordering a saw grass prairie, riding in a native hardwood hammock, we'll also ride through the new reclamation project in the old agricultural lands. On the way back to the trailhead we will ride through the largest remaining Dade County Pine forest in the world. (over 7,000 acres).
There is no running water, but there are over 40,000 acres of "restrooms".
Bring a snack to share at a short tailgate party after the ride. Club will provide sodas and water as usual. The terrain is rocky (mostly flat rock) and I recommend boots for barefoot horses. Bring your coggins.

ST JUDE SADDLE UP TRAIL RIDE

SAVE THE DATE!!

Saturday, February 4th, is our 19th Annual Saddle-Up Trail Ride for St. Jude Children’s Hospital! Like last year, with a minimum donation of $35, you get a shirt and lapel pin, coffee & donuts, treats for you & your horse at the half-way point along with the announcement of the prize winners for the most money donated!

Once we get back to our trailers, we enjoy a delicious lunch before we embark on a shopping spree at Robbie’s Feed with our 20% discount! So hurry and pester, I mean ask your friends, family, foe and even unfamiliar persons to donate to this wonderful cause!

I will have forms at the next general meeting on TUESDAY Jan. 3 and it will also be in the January newsletter.

Thanks and see you there!!
Debi Catarineau-Priest

SFTR’S ANNUAL YARD SALE
FEBRUARY 11th

Robbie’s Feed & Supply pasture to the North. Set up at 7:30 AM $10 per space.
Contact Andrea for details 305-216-2461.

Sunshine Committee

Did you know our club has a Sunshine Committee?

The idea is to let our members know that their SFTR family is thinking of them! So if you know someone who needs a card to congratulate them, encourage them, help them heal quicker, or let them know they’re in our thoughts & prayers, please let me know so I can send a card. It can be a family member, friend or one of our four-legged family members, but they must be a SFTR member.

Please supply me with their full name and the reason for the card.

Thanks!
Debi Catarineau-Priest
305.274.7484 or dlc@miamidade.gov

PICAYUNE FUNDRAISER, CAMPOUT & POKER RIDE

This fundraiser was thought up as a necessity to raise money to help us build the pavilion.

This pavilion has been very difficult to get started between permitting, surveys and finding a contractor to help us build it in Naples. The most difficult thing has been the weather. Just when we think we are going to move forward, it rains and then rains some more. Those of you who know Naples, it gets very wet and under water when it gets a lot of rain. The holes we drilled, caved in from the rain and flooded. They now have to be re-drilled when the water level recedes.

BUT, soon we will have this pavilion built in memory of Ozzie Alvarez and be able to reminisce the days of Ozzie and enjoy having a roof over our head for our nightly covered dish dinners.

I arrived on Thursday to get things organized and laid out for the arrival of campers on Friday. My trailer and truck were so loaded I had to unload all the prizes and supplies before I could even sleep in my trailer.

Friday morning came too soon as I was woken up at 4:00 AM by a Florida Panther (not the hockey player) He/She was very talkative and growling / meowing for a good 15 minutes and getting closer to my trailer the whole time. I decided to go ahead and get up and see what was making this noise. I grabbed my spotlight and headed out towards the back of my trailer and looked in the woods. The spotlight caught the panthers eyes about 30’ away from me and he just stared while I stared back in awe. I took the light from his eyes and he slowly turned around and hopped off into the woods. What a beautiful sight. I think he was a youngster as he wasn’t real tall but his tail was thick and long.

Campers started arriving with Willy being the first one. He brought the beautiful bench that he donated for the raffle. Thank you!

After Willy settled he helped me set up the tables and tents. Augie drove in but minus a trailer. He just came over for a few hours to help and visit. That afternoon most everyone else arrived.

Friday afternoon Willy, Linda & I went out to hang the baskets and cards for the Poker ride the next morning. So we got to check out the I-75 trail. It was very nice with a little water in the ditches. We had a rhythm going with Willy holding the basket and either him or I tying the rope and Linda putting the cards in. We had the cards in a plastic bag so they would not get wet overnight.

Wayne and Carrie came in late that night and got settled in. The next morning Wayne was climbing around his truck and noticed that one of his tires on the trailer looked funny. He got down out of the truck and you have to look at the picture on the next page to see what he saw. He must have rode on the blown tire for a hundred miles and not even known! The trailer and horses were fine.

Saturday we set up the raffles and the food tables as Mike was bringing our lunch over from Miami, thanks to Denise for cooking all the Boston Butt and to JC Vina for donating the 75lbs of meat.

We had over 40 people sign up for the Poker Ride. Renee Reynolds won the Poker hand and turned around and bough raffle tickets with the money. We raised $4,500 for the Pavilion. Thank you to all of you. Without you, we would not have been able to raise this money.

I had a lot of fun and met a lot of really nice people. Thank you all for coming and I can’t wait until we get this pavilion up.
Andrea Sante

JINGLE BELL JAUNT

We did it again! A wonderful team effort allowed South Florida Trail Riders to accomplish another successful toy drive this Christmas Season. We relocated our Jaunt to the beautiful Larry and Penny Thompson Park. The site of the first dedicated horse trail in Miami Dade County.

We paraded through the beautifully kept camping area of the Miami-Dade park. Wendy announced the names of the people giving gifts and money to our toy drive on the route with the help of Jane Brown the Activities Coordinator for the camp ground. (We collected 60 toys from the winter residents and campers)

Jane was a blessing all the way around. She made us feel welcome and even composed, printed, and posted the announcement for the upcoming event of the toy drive through the park. She acted as a contest Judge along with some of the winter residents of the camp/RV area of the park. Helping her as judges were Charlotte Parrish, Eric Lewis, Gary Bailey and Christine Baker from the park with Jessica Brown from Robbie’s Feed & Supply rounding out our Judging panel.

A special thank you goes out to Head Park Ranger and Manager, Marvin Garwood who graciously allowed us to conduct our event in the park on such short notice.

Trail rider buddies and friends the list of thanks goes on. Thank you Andrea for the Email blast and for getting the info into the club news letter. Thanks to Manny Alvarez and Bonny George for talking it up on FaceBook. Wayne and John were great pooper scoopers. Wendy Sue Lewit, as a super announcer and toy collector, Debi and Ben did a fabulous job driving the trucks. Andrew was a marvelous cook, Bonny, Trish and Sandra took beautiful pictures, Alyse and Bonny brought contributions to our lunch, Ben brought the doughnuts, Debi and I delivered the toys, without “My Wayne Dear” we never would have been able to get all the stuff to the park for the lunch (heavy lifting and grunt work).

Thanks again everyone. This is a labor of love. Thanks for all the toys! We were able to donate 165 toys to the fire Department for the children and families they help each Christmas season and $180 worth of gift cards and cash. Great job everyone!

CONTEST WINNERS

Fantastically Festive - AnnLouise Oudin riding Polemico
Holiday Hysteria - Heidi Stibitz driving Charlie the mini and Cowboy the dog as Santa.
Outrageously Original - Jackie Suarez riding Chico
Delightfully Decorative - Alyce White as Made in America Christmas
Holly Jolly Walker - Ellen Peaceman as a Singing, Dancing candy cane

SFTR ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

As usual Denise did an awesome job. Her house looked great, lights everywhere. She cooked the turkey and ham from scratch along with a delicious sweet potato casserole. Had her tree decorated, music and all the tables set up with help from Ruben.

Thanks to all the people who came and brought some excellent side dishes, appetizers and dessert. It was all so delicious.

The gift exchange went very well. We had some really nice gifts this year. Willy & his wife received a beautiful cattleya orchid and turned around and gave it to Denise for hosting the party. What a nice couple.

I can’t wait until next year and we have already told Denise book us!!
Andrea Sante

PARADE TEAM NEWS

The next parades will be Jan. 2, the Jr. Orange Bowl Parade and Jan. 28, the Homestead Rodeo Parade. Get your horses ready! RSVP if you will be attending either of these parades.

The Homestead Rodeo Parade will be an OPEN parade to all club members. Dress code is black pants and long sleeve white shirt and a cowboy hat. Dark tack.

If you would like to join the SFTR Parade Team, please contact Andrea at (305) 216-2461. Start making your plans for the 2011-2012 parade year. We will post any upcoming parade team practices in the newsletter.

There are 5 parades a year. We look awesome and want to continue this. We hope you and your friends will join up. If you like to show off your horse this is the event to do it.

We have parade equipment in stock at this time, call Andrea if you need the equipment at 305-258-7780.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Ride the Annual Cross-State Ride! Florida Cracker Trail Assn. Mark the dates! 25th Anniversary. February 18-25, 2012. See website for more info: www.CrackerTrail.org or email: Contact@CrackerTrail.org

FOR SALE: Fresh daily green-blue-brown shelled free range chicken eggs $2.50 doz. Emu eggs, fresh & natural. $7 each or 2 for $12. Emu egg shells $6 each or 2 for $10. Bonny 305-233-1897.

FOR SALE OR LEASE: Kids and Trail safe horses available. Priced from $1,000-$2,800 obo! 4 to choose from: 10 y/o Palomino AQHA Gelding; 6 y/o AQHA Sorrel mare, white socks, blaze; 15 y/o Paint Gelding 15.3 hands flashy; Black QH 16 hands, worked at the Dixie Stampede. www.RedlandRidingAcademy.com or call 305-323-4038.

BOARDING: Full or Part Board. Excellent care, daily turn out on acreage, quality feed and hay, $400 month full, $150 part, Redland area, lots of trails, round pen, trailer parking, obstacle course, jumps and more.12X12 stalls, CBS barn (2 stalls available) Chosen Acres 305-522-1407.

BOARDING: Full board. Daily turnout - $400.00 per month. Please call Augie 305-582-1557.

FOR SALE: Border Collies puppies, available at the end of December. AQHA mare. 6 years old 14.2 hands, trained in reining, cutting, good trail horse, no bad habits. $10,000 305-775-8028.

BOARDING: $400 for Stalls and $350 for Paddocks. 150' Ring, 50' ring, lighted. 305-775-8028.

FOR SALE: English 16.5" Courbette Saddle. Like NEW ($1200 new) w/ leathers & stirrups. $600 obo 305-559-7868.

FOR RENT: Two-bedroom apartment in the Redlands. Private entrance. Central A/C. $650 month plus partial electric. Boarding for your horse at an additional cost. Will be available Jan. 1st. For information please call Jose at (305) 642-9306.

FOR SALE: 15” custom made Trail/Barrel Saddle, by Palm Beach Saddlery. Light color w/ Rawhide, oak leaf pattern, semi-Quarter bars for narrow withers. $995 new, will sell for $495. Marsha at 352-669-6449, or marsha29915@gmail.com

FOR SALE: Camping cooking table with sink and various lights that run on batteries. $60 for all, if you pick up. All in great shape. Andy or Donna 321-632-3495.

FOR SALE: Reg. Mini paint colt 4/4/11. Mature under 31", UTD on shots, coggins, feet. Do anything with this colt, show breed or just as a companion horse. Great starter for little kids to learn about horses at their level. $800 obo. 305-794-1257.

BOARDING: FULL/PART. Quality feed and hay, daily turnout am/pm, 12x12 stalls, large sand ring w/ lights (jumping, barrels, mounted shooting), big pastures, wash racks, trailer parking, lots of trails. Owner lives on premises. 305-794-1257.

FREE TO GOOD HOME: American Bulldog 2 years old. Gets along well with other animals, neutered, UTD on shots. Very sweet male dog. 786-260-1835 Giovanni. A good home a must.

FOR SALE: 2007 AQHA stallion by Indian Artifacts. Bay, 16.3 hands and very stout. Green broke and never bred. Joanne 239-404-3376 xraychevrolet@aol.com

FOR SALE: CURRIO CABINET. Solid Oak, Broyhill, display your treasures. 15"deep x 40" wide x 79" high. 4 glass shelves, lighted. $350 obo; DINING ROOM SET. Solid Oak, Broyhill, table w/2 leaves, protection pads; 4 chairs; China cabinet base and glass enclosed topper; Buffet side cabinet. Great cond. $450 obo for set. Call Jackie Suarez (305) 979-4533.

FOR SALE: POOL PUMP. Above ground pool pump and salt water system. Brand new, was on my pool for about 2 months. Asking $300 for the entire system and all the attachments. Please call Jackie Suarez (305) 979-4533.

FOR SALE: Noritake China Set; Crystal Glass Set; Wedding Dress with Veil and other "starting a new life" items. Know someone GETTING MARRIED? If interested, please call Jackie Suarez (305) 979-4533.

FOR SALE: Gifts or personal horse items. Matching Halter/lead rope sets $30, Reins-split or barrel $25, Matching bridle and breast collar $50, tack set-Matching bridle, reins, breast collar, lead rope/lanyard and halter all for $100. You choose the colors. Carrie Hershberger 305-206-0317 or chersh0317@aol.com