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Welcome to Altoona Trail Riders
Dedicated to preserving equestrian trails, participating in community service and promoting family fun.
september 2026
Thursday, September 3
Monthly meeting, 6:30 PM, Altoona School.
Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, September 5
Day ride - Crescent Lake Conservation Area, Seville, Ride out 9:30 AM.
Thursday, September 17
Day ride - Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area, Palatka, Ride out at 9:30 AM.
Saturday, September 19
Camp Boggy Creek family day , 9AM.
october 2026
Saturday, October 3
Camp Boggy Creek family day, 9AM.
Thursday, October 8 ** note date change
Monthly meeting, Altoona School, 6:30 PM.
Saturday, October 10
Camp Boggy Creek family day, 9AM.
Thursday, October 15
Day ride - Sunnyhill West Restoration Area. Ride out at 9:30 AM.
Saturday, October 24
Day ride - Silver Springs State Park (or Indian Lake if trails are wet). Ride out at 9:30 AM.
October 29 - November 1
Campout at Black Horse Resort Ranch
november 2026
Thursday, November 5
Monthly meeting, Altoona School, 6:30 PM. Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, November 7
Day ride - Half Moon Wildlife Mgmt Area
November 12 - 15
Campout at McCulley Farms, Jasper, FL
Saturday, November 21
Day ride -- Sunnyhill Blue House
december 2026
Thursday, December 3
Monthly meeting, 6:30 PM, Altoona School. Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, December 5
Reindeer Games at Iris Glick's Arena at Greener Pastures, 9 AM
Saturday, December 19
Day ride - Bear Pond Trail Head at the southern end of Seminole State Forest,
Thursday, December 31
Day ride - Sawgrass Island Preserve
About Us
Come ride with us!
We have monthly day rides and campouts with horses. We have monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month at 7PM at the Altoona School, SR 19, Altoona. Visitors are always welcomed.
The Trails we Ride
We ride many different trails in the north Central Florida area including the Ocala National Forest, the Florida Greenway Trails, Sunnyhill Trails, Ocklawaha Prairie and state forests, parks and preserves.
Join Us On The Trail
Visitors are welcome to come ride with us and will have to pay a day membership fee of $10. ATR enforces Nicole's Law - an approved helmet is required for those 16 and under when riding horses on public lands.
Current newsletter
Message from your president :
Altoona Trail Riders Newsletter September 2026
OFFICERS:
Michelle McWilliams, President Contact info: email markmichellworks@aol.com or Text 352-636-6430
Ron Smith, Vice President/Trail Boss email : trails4me@aol.com
Paige Chassie, Secretary
Renee Lewis, Treasurer
Directors: Martha Bradford, Jerry Harrington, Sherry Orr, Kerry Young
Message from your President: Welcome Back!! Hope everyone enjoyed their summer break. I don't know about you but Rambo got a nice long rest since it was way to humid and buggy to get any real riding in. I did sneak in a short ride at Sawgrass this past Saturday and let me tell you those bugs just about carried Rambo out from under me. We had lots of little discussions along the trails as to whether or not he could continue on under such conditions. Speaking of Sawgrass we did notice some new signage and a new trail map. Last year while we were there they were clearing for a prescribed burn and informed us they would be changing the trail names to letters. It appears they have done that but only on the map. I did not see any new trail markers with those letters on it and the old signs with trail names "Cactus" were still up. Keep an eye out when you ride there.
Now lets talk about some new things the Club is doing this year. First off we have changed the Monthly Meeting times. We use to start social time at 7pm and then the official meeting started at 7:30pm. We are now starting social time at 6:30pm with the official meeting start around 7pm. I say around because the months that we have speakers I will start the meeting at 6:45pm to allow extra time for the speaker. While on the subject of Speakers, you the members have spoken and we the Board listened, there will only be three (3) guest speakers for this riding season. The first speaker will be in October, trailer maintenance. We are still working on the other two speakers. Now does that mean we couldn't have another speaker, NO, it doesn't. It just means I am going to need to hear from an abundant number of members if there is someone they really, REally, REALly, REALLY want to come and speak.
We will be adjusting ride start times and trailer distances during the hot months of the season. All rides in September, October, November, April and May will start at 9:30am. These can be adjusted when camping and no day riders are coming. All rides in December, January, February and March will start at 10am. We are trying to keep all rides within an hour of Altoona to shorten the time horses are in trailers when it is hot and humid out. Speaking of rides we also talked about meal options for campouts. Again members (well at least those that turned in a survey) spoke and we will be trying out some of the suggestions we got. Just to give you a little insight on what types of suggestions we received :
1) have a set menu such as spaghetti night and have members in attendance bring one item to contribute to the meal; so many bring a box of noodles, others bring bread, others bring a jar of sauce etc.
2) go to a restaurant one night, potluck one night or meal delivery with a small donation from each camper and one night where everyone makes their own meal.
3) on nights where meals are on your own plan a social time for campers to gather before bed.
So be sure to check out all the camping details when packing your trailer.
Another new procedure we are going to try deals with refreshments. You, the members, want refreshments but we continue to struggle getting new volunteers so the Board has come up with an idea that may help encourage more participation. First off we will no longer be providing drinks. We now ask members to bring your own beverage of choice (no alcohol. This is a school, ha ha). I will have waters available at the September and June meetings only. So when you are gathering up those singles for your 50/50 tickets be sure to throw in a couple extra dollars towards refreshments. If we don't collect any money then there is probably a good chance we won't get a volunteer to bring refreshments. We will go over the whole new process at this coming Thursday's meeting. Pay attention and volunteer especially if you have never done it before. Hopefully this will make things a little easier on refreshment volunteers.
For those that missed the August 13th Board meeting the Board voted to make a donation in the amount of $300 to the Altoona School for allowing us to use this space for our meetings. While discussing donations, Director Sherry Orr, suggested a horse rescue named H.E.R.D as a potential donation recipient. She wrote a nice article in the Outpost about the wonderful things H.E.R.D is doing with horses that were being discarded without a chance. Sherry spoke with the owner and they have mad a generous offer to host private tour for any ATR members who wish to check out their facility. If there is amble intrest we will get with Sherry and set up a specific date and time.
I'd like to give a big shout out to our hard working Communication Coordinator, Karen Pando, for doing such a fantastic job getting rides up on Facebook and our website. Be sure to check all the new places we plan to ride at and see what fun we have planned at rides. Lots of fun still in the planning stages so be sure to check those details often for changes too.
Couple of reminders :
1) Get YOUR membership renewals in by mail to PO Box 1225 Altoona, FL 32702, bring them to the September 3rd meeting or the first ride. Please bring a check or exact change. Get those renewal in by October 31st so you don't miss out on any of the fun. We will be removing non renewed members from Facebook and email on November 1st. We will happily add you back once we receive your renewed application.
2) If you have friends you want to join us for camping at Shangri-la remind them to become a member BEFORE January 1st.
3) It's been a few months since we've ridden together so be sure to scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to review the Trail Manners and RSVP information.
Looking forward to see you all at the meeting and on the TRAILS!
Calendar:
Sept :
Thursday, 3rd – ATR Monthly Meeting at the Altoona School at 6:30pm. Address: 42630 FL-19, Altoona, FL 32702. It's time to RENEW your membership!!! Time to pay your dues. Bring them to the meeting.
** NOTICE THE TIME CHANGE** Doors will open at 6:30pm with a brief social time then meeting to start before 7pm. Refreshments will be served. Bring your own drink.
Saturday, 5th - Day Ride at Crescent Lake Conservation Area. Ride out 9:30am. **RSVP REQUIRED** Club will provide lunch and water. Be sure to click "Going" button on Facebook or let Trail Boss Ron know you are attending by the Thursday meeting to make sure we have enough food and water for everyone. Riders will find their way to the camping area by 11:30am for lunch. There will be water and buckets available at the lunch pavilion to give water to the horses. Be sure to bring a lead rope to tie horse while eating. Directions: 654 Raulerson Road 1, Seville. Ride out at 9:30AM. 40 miles from Altoona. Go north on SR 19 to CR 445A. Take CR 445A to SR 40. Go east on SR 40 to Barberville. Go north on SR 17 in Barberville to Raulerson Rd 1. Go right on to the end where the trailhead is.
Thursday, 17th - Day Ride at Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area. Ride out at 9:30AM. Bring your lunch to enjoy back at the trailhead after the ride. There are no restrooms or water for horse, prepare accordingly. Parking area has lots of shade. Be sure to turn right at the sign shown on Facebook. Directions : 42 miles from Altoona. Go north on SR 19 for 42 miles to Caravelle Trailhead on the right. Turn into trailhead.
Saturday, 19th - NOT AN ATR EVENT - Boggy Creek Volunteer Day.
Oct :
Saturday, 3rd - NOT AN ATR EVENT - Boggy Creek Volunteer Day.
Thursday, 8th- ATR Monthly Meeting- Altoona School at 6:30pm. Address: 42630 FL-19, Altoona, FL 32702. **Note date change, due to several officers being gone the first part of October**. Guest Speaker : Jeff Gregory -Trailer Maintenance. Doors open at 6:30pm and meeting to start at 6:45pm. Refreshments will be served, bring your own drink.
Sunshine Committee: Hopefully everyone has had a nice injury free summer. If you or any fellow member you know needs a bit of "Sunshine" from our wonderful Sue Michel please reach out to her via text at 352-212-7027 or email suebrascia@gmail.com.
Trail Manners
⦁ Be on time. Be saddled, mounted and ready to ride at the appointed time.
⦁ No dogs on the trails. Dogs must be leashed at all times when attending day rides and campouts.
⦁ Do not pass the Trail Leader or drop behind the Drag Rider unless given permission.
⦁ Do not pass, come up behind or run toward other horses at a high speed. Horses can become frightened or surprised and may spook causing someone to get hurt.
⦁ Ride at the ability level and speed of the LEAST experienced horse and rider. This is a club ride not your personal ride. Please respect that others may not be as comfortable riding the same way you ride. All rides should be at a controlled pace.
⦁ Speak up. If the group is moving too quickly or slowly-others may feel the same way. Do not let the group get out of your sight especially if you are unfamiliar with the trails. Let the Trail Leader know if a problem arises.
⦁ Keep a safe distance between you and the horse in front of you. This will allow you to view the trail ahead of you and prevent your horse from being kicked.
⦁ Use appropriate tail ribbons for horses that kick. Need red tail ribbons
⦁ 16 and UNDER MUST WEAR A HELMET. This is a Florida State law, "Nicole's Law" Section 773.06 of the Florida Statutes.
⦁ Stay with a dismounted rider. If someone needs to dismount the whole group needs to stop and wait for the rider to remount before resuming the ride. When necessary a few riders who are familiar with the area can stay behind with a dismounted rider until they remount or help arrives. No rider is to be left alone.
⦁ Clean up after your horse. Pick up manure or spread it according to the rules of where you are. Do not clean your trailers out when you unload.
⦁ Safety meeting will be held just prior to beginning the ride. Please give your full attention to the person leading the talk.
⦁ Passing on the Trail. If you must pass another rider call out “Passing on your Left or Right”
⦁ Most importantly - have fun and be safe!
