What a great day for a trail ride! The weather forecast was sunny with a high of 86 degrees. Six riders showed up to investigate this new county park where the St. Marks River starts. The park is being built in two phases so the trails are in Phase I. Sue N. and Quia, Terri S. and Star, Ambrose H. and Bindi, Joyce P. and Blue, Terri A. and Kasha and Wendy T. and Arrow showed up to ride. Terri A. was a guest of Joyce’s and hadn’t ridden in many years but was very excited to be getting back in the saddle. Wendy,Terri S., Joyce and Terri A. had not ridden at this park before and were excited to experience it. Everyone was ready on time and away we went. Joyce had warned us that Blue is quite a handful for about the first 10 minutes and then settles down into a well behaved trail horse. Sure enough, he was so excited he had a few bucks to show off. Joyce did a good job of staying in the saddle! The trail system consists of flat mowed trails that meander in wooded areas and through fields. One part takes you where you can ride up and down some small hills that were created by diggings. There is another long area adjacent to a railroad track but it has plenty of vegetation and a fence separating the trail from the track. Another part meanders among some of the most beautiful live oak trees in the area. Sue, Terri S. and Wendy led out on their gaited horses and had to stop occasionally to regroup, but after a while, everyone was able to ride together quite peacefully. Toward the end of the 1.5 hour ride, we were riding in open areas and everyone was grateful to get back to the trailers as it was getting hot. Submitted by Sue N.
