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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 October 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, Treasurer
Renee Lewis, Secretary
Directors: Martha Bradford, Jerry Harrington, Sherry Orr, Kerry Young
Message from your President: This month’s newsletter is coming straight out of the mountains in Jamestown, Tennessee. I’m trying to use my cellphone as a computer so please forgive any grammatical errors.
September just flew bye! Before you know it the holidays will be here and life will get a lot more hectic, oh I mean festive. Be sure to check out the calendar section of this newsletter or the ATR Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss any rides or double book yourselves. Click the “going” button under all events you plan to attend so we know how to plan each ride.
October is going to be an exciting month. Don’t miss Jeff Gregory who will be speaking at our meeting on the 8th. He will help you get your trailers ready for our first campout of the season at Black Horse Ranch Resort. YES our October meeting will be on the 2nd Thursday (October 8th at 6:30pm) this month since Trail Boss Ron and I are out of town hoping to bring some cooler weather back with us. Speaking of campouts this first one is going to packed with fall fun! Night obstacle challenge , day obstacle play time, trail rides and trailer treating (it’s like truck n treating but with horse trailers) and more. So click the “Going” button on our Events pages so we can properly prepare. Don’t camp, that’s ok pick either Friday or Saturday to come day ride and get credit towards Trail Rider of the Year.
Reminders :
Get your membership renewals (application on our Facebook page under Files tab or download from our website altoonatrailridersinc.com) in by mail to PO Box 1225 Altoona, FL 32702, bring them to the October 8th meeting or an upcoming ride. Please bring a check or exact change. Get those renewals 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.
If you have friends you want to join us for camping at Shangri-la remind them to become a member BEFORE January 1st.
Christmas is right around the corner so if you want to ride in the Umatilla Christmas parade on Dec 12th get in touch with Diane Roberts on Facebook messenger or text her at 352-408-4149 for details. This NOT an ATR event but many members participate.
Calendar:
October :
Monday , 5th – Back Country Work Day – Meet Jerry on Fr 49 with all of your gear for trimming, clipping.
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 & donation money towards future refreshments.
Saturday, 10th –NOT AN ATR EVENT- Camp Boggy Creek Volunteer Day.
Thursday, 15th – Sunnyhill West Day Ride- Ride out at 9:30. Bring water for horses. No restroom on site. Bring your lunch to enjoy after the ride. Directions: 35 miles from Altoona School. Go west on CR 42 to SE 182 Ave Rd (Buck N Does). Go to end at Meadors Corners(314A). Go left on 314 A to the blinking light. Go left on Hwy 464C to SE 113th St. Rd (2.5 miles). Turn left onto 113th St. and go to end at the stop sign (2.5 miles) at Fisher Rd. Turn right onto Fisher Rd and trail head will be down there on the left. Look for new board fencing.
Saturday, 24th – Silver Springs Day Ride – Ride out at 9:30AM. Bring water for your horse – the pump may not be working. There is a port-a-potty on site. MUST PAY DAY USE FEE ON-LINE BEFORE COMING. Bring lunch to eat at the trailhead after the ride. If the trails are wet we will go to Indian Lake instead. DIRECTIONS: From the Altoona School go north on SR 19 for 14 miles. Turn left on SR 40 for 25 miles. Watch for brown State Park sign for Silver Springs Equestrian Trails (Horse Head). At the left turn lane Turn left onto gravel road to trailhead.
Thursday, 29 to Nov 1st – Black Horse Ranch Resort Campout & Obstacles – Anyone wanting to camp must contact the ranch to make their own reservation. Call or text 352-718-2270. Day riders & those coming to play on the Obstacles either Friday or Saturday will need to pay a $10 fee. Day Ride for non campers will be Friday the 30th or Saturday the 31st with a 9:30am ride out time. Please let Ron know if you are planning to join us for a day ride. Friday night we will have the Night time Obstacles. If you are not camping but would like to participate in the night obstacle there is a $10 fee. Obstacles will be open Saturday the 31st after the day ride for those who wish to play. If you are not camping and wish to play on the Obstacles Saturday there is a $10 fee. Directions : Black Horse Ranch is location 9 miles west of Altoona on Hwy CR 42.
November :
Monday, 2nd – Back Country Work Day –
Thursday, 5th - ATR Monthly Meeting- Altoona School at 6:30pm. Address: 42630 FL-19, Altoona, FL 32702. Doors open at 6:30pm. Bring your own drink.
Sunshine Committee: It’s been a rough September for the ATR. Sue has been busy sending out SUNSHINE to Margaret Shuman who lost her horse, Pride, and Patty Fox who lost her horse, Sam. We sent Misty Collins some speedy recovery wishes for her better half. We sent out condolences to members who lost loved ones this month. Cindi Coffroth broke her leg in two places after riding near her home in Tennessee. We had to say goodbye to a wonderful lady and long time ATR member, Amy Toman. Amy has been a supporter of the ATR since 2015. She hosted rides, gave her time to many and welcomed new members with big smiles and kind words. She will be greatly missed. Please keep these members and their families in your prayers.
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!
THE MEANING OF ……RSVP
What does RSVP mean? It is French (repondez s’il vous plait). Translated to English it means “please reply” or in common terms: Please reply to the Trail Boss and let them know you are going to their event!!!!
Why do we ask you to RSVP? The Trail Boss or Ride Host needs to know how many people will attend so they can prepare beverages and food for those coming. If side-dishes are to be brought to share, it is nice to know what’s coming in. So 10 people don’t all bring chips! Maybe the RSVP helps the Trail Boss plan parking for all the trailers on ride property-easier if you know not only how many but sizing of trailers too. Also if for any reason a ride must be cancelled at last minute we can try to reach you BEFORE you load up and drive.
So please RSVP when asked to the upcoming rides and events. Please take a courtesy moment call/text/Facebook/email the Trail Boss or Ride Host to let them know you will attend. Just as important please call/text/Facebook/email them if your plans change and you are no longer able to attend.
