URGENT ACTION REQUIRED - RAVINES

At our September club meeting we discussed the possible sale of The Black Creed Ravines Conservation area. Yes - this is the beautiful little park that most of us enjoy quite frequently. It provides a nice network of trails and roads with some beautiful views along Black Creek. The two trail heads provide parking and a staging area for some of our events.

SJRM is considering deeming the Ravines as "surplus" propery and disposing of it (by sale or trade). Please long on to their website to learn more and BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE ON LINE USE SURVEY!!!

www.floridaswater.com/landassessment

A decision will be made December 11th.. PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WE DONT WANT TO LOSE THIS PARK!!!!

Jennings Long Branch Trail Scouting Trip #2

Another adventure was enjoyed at Jennings LBT. Thanks to Rachel for leading the way. This trip was more productive with an experienced guide! Several members and guests set out to explore the new riding area at Jennings Forest. About 30 minutes into the ride the group encountered a creek crossing which proved diffucult for quite a few horses. I am told that after approximately an hour of hard work, all of the horses crossed the creek. The crossing was high-lighted by Rusty's imitation of The Man from Snowy River as he plunged free-style down am 8 ft tall embankment, crossed the creek, and joined his horsey friends, while Mike stayed on the other side to help motivate horses. This is not Rusty's first riderless adventure, and I am sure it won't be the last. This is why you shouldnt miss our trail rides!

Riders enjoyed the trails for several hours and then headed back to the parking area. The bugs weren't bad and everyone made it back alive. Some riders and horses got drenched in a rain storm that popped up just as they got back to the trailers... what luck! We are looking forward to developing this trail system so riders can ride on well marked trails and not worry about getting lost and crossing creeks in the dark (that was adventure of Day #2 - Sunday!) Please click here to see pictures of the scouting trip!

LARA Kicks OFF Riding Season at the Ravines

Once again we had an excellent turn out for our kick off picnic and trail ride. Members and guests gathered at the parking area of the Ravines. Riders enjoyed several hours on the trail without too many bugs and the creek was just right for a little de-sensitizing. After a good ride we enjoyed burgers and dogs, and of course some tasty water melon! Thanks to everyone for supporting the event, both in voluteering and participating!

Click here to see event pictures!

Fall Vet Day

Dr. Nauman proved vet services to club members at our fall vet day. Members enjoy special savings when they join the group vet day. Click here for pictures of the day!

LARA Arena Clean Up

WOW!!! The arena and grounds look FANtastic! Thank you members who participated... the weeds are gone, trees trimmed, grass mowed, fence boards tightened, rocks picked up and arena surface was smoothed out. Clay electric installed two new lights, so if you are a current paid member, you can come and use the arena (and round pen)  in the evenings when it's not so hot.

After a few hours of working, we sat in the shade and enjoyed horse tales and watermelon. If this sounds like too much fun to miss, please plan on attending the next arena maintenance day on October 13th... there are lots of boards that need to be painted! Click here to see pictures of our August arena maintenance.

LARA Kicks off the New Year!

Our new calendar year begins August 1st... the kids have gone back to school and we are dreaming of cooler weather so we can get out and enjoy riding and not sweating and swatting bugs. There are big plans for the new year. We have removed items from the calendar that were not supported by the membership. More trail rides and camp outs are planned. The equestrian neighborhood has come to expect our two big fund raisers each year - so we are looking forward to the obstacle challenge and poker ride, as well as a new function that will support our Friends of FL State Forests program. By springtime we plan to have the Jennings Long Branch trail marking project well under way and even have a fund raiser planned which will be staged at the new trail head!

Please support our club. We have great prizes and snacks at the monthly meetings and of course good fellowship. Come and learn what's new with the club and hear about the plans for upcoming events. Be a part of the bustle. Your energy brings life to our club. Don't just pay your membership for free hot dogs!! Get busy and participate!

July 4th Parade in Keystone Heights

LARA members and their horses (and donkeys!) did a fantastic job in the July 4th parade.  The horses behaved like old pros and it was nice to give the parade watchers a chance to meet our horses up close and personal. I think everyone appreciated the good ole fashioned idea of horses in the parade. Thanks to Carole & Crystal for making the patriotic breast collars and thanks to Lisa for the flag motif saddle blankets.. We looked like professional parade marchers! Apparently the press noticed us too.. as there have been articles and pictures in Clay Today and Jacksonville.com. Thanks to everyone for the team work and patriotic spirit that made our outing so grand! Click here to see some of the pictures from the parade! And here is the link to the pictures on Jacksonville.com . Do ya think we are proud... here are more pictures! Here is the grand finale of pictures.. thanks for capturing the whole parade!