As I write this, we are inundated with mud and rain.  I am sure you are as tired of it as we are!  Although the whole system is closed for awhile, opening parts that are drier than others seems to be working well and we plan to continue it.  Certain areas like Cotton Patch get more rain than others and the soil content has more clay so it takes longer to dry out.  Be sure to check the phone "hotline" for openings before you ride.  If you are riding on "closed" days on River Road, do be aware of speeding cars.  A few riders have had issues with aggressive drivers.  Most people around here are horse friendly, but sadly there are exceptions.

 

 

With the recent bouts of wind and rain, trails have been in need of clearing from downed trees and debris.  The creek crossing at FENCE is on the schedule to be re-worked when it dries out.  Also on the repairs-to-be-done list is the crossing on Underpass Trail.  The narrow section will be made wider so the little hairs on the back of your neck no longer stand up when you ride it.

  

The folks at Cotton Patch are hard at work opening new trails on Hooker Ridge.  There is a temporary re-route of the trail on the ridge to avoid the new construction by one of the landowners.  The old logging road that follows Hooker Road is now open and named George Day trail.  A new trail is laid out that continues on the hillside along Hooker Road then around the bend along Scriven Road.  Eventually the trail will be a complete loop connecting to Glen Trail across from the Ag Tract.  It is estimated that the finished trail will be about three miles. Jonathan Rowe had to reschedule the use of his Bobcat on the trail due to all the rain.  It will be a nice ride once it's finished. 

Passengers in your vehicle must be members or guests who have signed a guest release.  Do not take anyone on the trails in your vehicle without a signed release.   Releases indemnify landowners.  It is your promise to our landowners in exchange for allowing you access to their property.  Please do your part.

FETA has four official parking areas.  The entire system of trails may be accessed from these lots.

 

FENCE
 From I-26, east or west.  Take SC Exit #1 toward Landrum. 

Go 1.5 miles, then turn right onto Bomar Road (look for the Land Mart on the corner).

Go one short block, turn right onto Prince Road.

Follow Prince Road for approximately 1.5 miles.

Turn left onto Hunting Country Road (just before the I-26 overpass).

Follow Hunting Country Road for approximately 3/4 mile.

Equestrian Center entrance, Mane Gate Lane, will be on the left just before the I-26 underpass.

For the main FENCE entrance for the FENCE Center, hiking trails and TROT barn, continue on Hunting Country Road under the I-26 underpass to the main FENCE gates on your right.

 

Scriven/Hooker/River Road
Located just past the intersection of River Road and Scriven Road, along the right side of Hooker Road, just before the pipeline.  Rondo Ridge and Cotton Patch areas are accessible from this parking area.  FETA diamonds are posted on the trees along the road.

 

Peniel Road Parking
Located on Peniel Road, 3/4 of a mile west of the intersection of Henderson Road, Luther Durham Road, and Peniel Road.  Situated on the edge of a hay field, riders are reminded to keep to the designated parking. Do not drive or ride your horses in the field.

Scriven Road Parking

Parking is available on Scriven Road, just east of Markham Road and west of the Scriven Plantation home.  This parking area provides access to the Scriven Trails back to Cotton Patch or hack along Scriven Road to the Glen Trail on Hooker Ridge or the Ag Tract at Cotton Patch.  Follow Scriven Road to Hooker Road to access the Rondo Ridge Trails.

In addition, there are unofficial parking areas. They are:

Finally Farm

Located on Carriage Row, just before the intersection with Hunting Country Road.  Several trails may be accessed.  You may ride along Carriage Row when trails are closed.  Riding on the roads is permissible when the trails are closed but be aware that you may not use a FETA trail to get to the road.  Do not tie to fences.  Never tie your horse to anything they can pull loose from in the event of a panic.  Horses have been known to pull away from fences that remain attached to the lead rope.  Compounding the flight response is the object chasing them which usually results in injury.

Field's Edge

Park along the fence near the Morgan Chapel Bridge.  Do not ride across the short end of the field. The Field's Edge trail is currently closed.  Ride River Road in either direction to access FETA trails.  Cross the Morgan Chapel Bridge to access trails to FENCE (left after crossing the bridge) or the Underpass Trail (right after crossing bridge).  Check the trail status line for updates on the Underpass Trail. Do not tie to the fence.

River Road

A favorite parking area is on River Road almost to the western end.  It is just past Appaloosa Lane and before South River Road.  There is a pull off there.  Access Rondo Ridge, Cotton Patch, and Hays Hollow.  You can back track down River Road, cross the river, and ride River's Edge from there.

Remember that you may not ride when trails are closed.  Information about vehicles, the date/time, vehicle tag numbers, both truck and trailer, are usually recorded  by someone passing by in case a question arises which FETA needs to address.  We take the protection of the best trail system on the East Coast seriously.  Thank you for your help in maintaining it with us.

Our good friend and trail riding partner came early from Michigan in October to join us at Big South Fork in Tennessee. We stayed at True West Campground. The owners of True West were most helpful. Shawn met us with a wheelbarrow when we pulled in. He cleaned out the horse trailer and took our tack to the barn!

 

The Cumberland Valley trail down to the river was rugged but not more than we were used to coming from Western North Carolina. We passed a cave on the trail and rode to an overlook. The view was stunning. The real test was a horse trailer through the gorge with six hairpin turns on a 13% grade. Fortunately, we hauled in a different (albeit an hour longer) route on the way in but decided to make better time on the way home so we hauled through the gorge.  

 

We left Big South Fork and headed for a day's ride at Big Creek in the northeast corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You may recall from past articles that this is my all-time favorite ride. It is remote wilderness with solitude and beauty beyond compare. Even if you're not a camper, it's well worth a day's haul to ride the five miles in to the backcountry horse camp at Low Gap to have lunch and ride back out.

 

You can see more photos from this ride on Faith's Facebook page.

"The Point" on Lake Hartwell

 

 

This was my first visit to the Fant's Grove Horse Trails  at the Clemson Experimental Forest.

The trail head is easy to get to from I-85 to the Garrison Arena at Clemson. The trails are well marked and well maintained with innovative trail improvements initiated by Dr. Gene Wood. We took the six mile section of the "A" trail. The trail gently rolls through pine and hardwood with Lake Hartwell visible through the trees. We stopped for lunch at the picnic shelter then we rode out to "the point" and along the edge of the lake. It was a very nice December ride and we all agreed we wanted to go back to ride the "B" trail.

  

See more pictures from this ride on Faith's Facebook page.

This region of the state claims the title of "The Real Florida."   The trails are sand covered in pine needles and oak leaves.  They meander through upland hammocks of granddaddy oaks draped with Spanish moss. The headwaters for the Sante Fe River start at River Rise Preserve State Park (hence the name).

 

The trail goes for a short distance along the Sante Fe. There are many reforested sink holes throughout which make for an interesting change in the flat Florida topography.   There is a barn and bath house but camping is primitive (no hook-ups).

 

Bergen and I cheated on this trip and stayed at the historic Grady House Bed and Breakfast in High Springs while our friends took care of our horses at the camp. In exchange for looking after our horses, I used my truck to chauffer the campers three miles to the quaint town of High Springs where we shopped and dined each day after our rides. This was a favorite trip with fond memories.

 

The forest is 157,479 acres over four counties. There are three tracts: Citrus, Croom, and Richloam. The Withlacoochee State Forest was declared as one of the "10 Coolest Places You've Never Been in North America" by the World Wildlife Fund. We chose to trailer out each day to ride the different tracts. "The Burger Ride" is a favorite. Riders stage at Tucker Hill in the Croom Tract and ride to Nobelton Restaurant where tasty burgers and fries are served. Horses are welcomed. The restaurant has a hitching post and a water trough. Always fun to bring first time guests on this ride.

 

Plans for upcoming rides include a beach ride at Camelot Farms in St. Helena, SC; Lakeview Plantation, and camping at High Knob Campground in Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. You can email me if you would like any information on these rides.

 

More photos of this Florida ride on Faith's Facebook page

Questions or comments?  Board members are happy to talk to you any time.  They are:

  

Judith Kerns, President                                  Faith Jorgenson, Communications

    Dot Moyer, Vice President                          Roberta Axelrod, Membership

Gail Gardner, Secretary                                      Rhonda King, Member Relations

   Anne Swift, Treasurer & Trails Chair                    Ric Rondell, Trails Chair

 

At large members:  Holly Dake, Mike Frye, Nancy Mahler, Jim Troppmann, Tina Walker

 

 

Trail Area Representatives are:

  Nancy:  Chinquapin Farm                                     Dot:  Pretty Bottom, Stonybrook

Rhonda:  Pony Track, Hunting Woods                 Judith:  River Rd, Carriage Row

   Faith:   Hunting Country Rd to River Rd                 Ric:  North Peniel Trails

    Anne:  FENCE                                                 Tina:  Little Mountain Trails

 

FETA's Board meets the 4th Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30.  All members are welcome to attend, raise questions or issues at the start of the meeting, or just observe.  Contact Judith Kerns for location.  No July or December meeting. 

  

Faith Jorgenson, Editor
Foothills Equestrian Trails Association