Cross Timbers Equestrian Trail Association

Come join in the fun
at the CTETA fund raiser!

May 18th - Texas Trail Challenge

Where: LBJ Grasslands
Day of week: Saturday

May 19th - In-hand trail challenge

Where: LBJ Grasslands
Day of week: Sunday

More details at "Upcoming Events".

June 30th

- Trophy Club 9AM

July

- no ride due to summer heat

August 24th

- Rocky Point 9AM

September 21st

- Cross Timbers 9AM

Recent news
More details at "Past Events".

A couple of rides were cancelled due to bad weather. Other rides were at LBJ Grasslands and Elm Fork to Sycamore Bend on Lake Lewisville.

Eddie Rodriguez was the instructor for a de-spooking arena practice  at Bob Jones trail head at Walnut Grove Trail on December 9th. The north wind beginning to blow in helped make the afternoon more challenging. There was hot cider, cookies and pumpkin bread, as well as an optional gift exchange. Susan and Bird looked great in their Santa hats.

Terry Hinojosa camped out overnight on Friday at TADRA Point in LBJ Grasslands, then lead a ride on the trails Saturday morning on November 3rd.

Lisa and Howard graciously again hosted the CTETA membership drive barbecue held on November 10th.

Natalie Sandoval rode in the Susan G. Komen North Texas Ride for the Cure® at LBJ Grasslands TADRA Point on October 27th. Diane McLeod raised funds, but didn't get to ride due to work obligations. The fund raiser supports breast cancer services and research. Up to 75 percent of net funds raised stay in North Texas Affiliate to support education, screening and treatment initiatives and a minimum of 25 percent is contributed to the Komen national research efforts. CTETA provided each member rider with $50 towards their required $250 fund raising minimum.

Robin Bird led a ride on the challenging Rocky Point trail on north side of Lake Grapevine on October 13th.

On September 15th Susan Bodemiller and Alice Morgan were ride leaders on Walnut Grove trail on the south side of Lake Grapevine. Susan led a leisurely ride for 9 riders. The walk pace gave the opportunity to talk with friendly "chatting going on down the line". Alice led a fast group of 3 riders.

Improving the trails

Thanks to your support, through your membership fees and the many volunteers, our group continues to make improvements for our local trails. We thank you for your continuing support and help. Plans are underway for more improvements to the trails.

Volunteers are welcome, even just picking up trash at the local trailheads is a chance to help. The trail stewards regularly ride the trails and report any problems found. They are ambassadors for the trail and help provide a watchful eye for safety issues. If any member notes any trail hazards on your rides, then please let a board member know. Thank you to the board members for all their hard work!

This summer Phil Shelp supervised the addition of a special paint to help provide a safe surface with better traction for horses crossing over the elevated bridge on the Elm Fork trail on Lake Lewisville.

Thank you to Susan Bodenmiller, Lisa and Howard Broughton for putting in new trail markers on Cross Timbers trail off Dunham Road.

CTETA at invitation of the Corps of Engineers had several members and four horses participate in the June 9th National Get Outdoors Day event on Lake Lewisville. Horseback trail riding and how to safely share the trail with horses was presented.

Thanks to all those who helped on the "Old Alton Bridge & Corinth Trail Clean-up Day" on Elm Fork trail held on April 21st. Special thanks to Phil Shelp and Glenn Schedeen of "Corinth Trails Committee" who filled in a low boggy spot on the trail behind Kensington Estates with rocks.

Old Alton Bridge on Elm Fork trail on Lake Lewisville was dedicated in April by the Texas Historical Commission as a Texas Historic Landmark.
The walking planks were replaced and repaired on April 17th (2012). Thanks to: Kristen Fisher, Andy Eads, the Denton County Commissioner Precinct 4, Danny Smith, Diane Wing, and Lori Walker.

Several improvements were made in 2011.

Elm Fork trail's elevated equestrian and pedestrian walkway over a deep gulley behind "The Bluffs" was installed on November 11th. The bridge and trail improvement was funded by a $200K TPWD grant for the Corinth Trails Committee. Thanks to Phil Shelp and Kristen Fisher for your work with this trail project. The trail continues to improve and goes all the way from Old Alton Road to Sycamore Bend Park. Click on photo for article by DRC staff writer Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe.

CTETA provided funding for two Bar-Bar-A horse waterers at trailheads at Lake Ray Roberts (Isle Du Bois and Elm Fork). Thanks to Linda Moore for overseeing the project.

CTETA was the driving force in repairing this windmill at LBJ Grasslands. The cost was shared with the U.S. Forest Service, Friends of the Grasslands, and Hodges Farms who has a cattle lease. Our member Al Olsson helped convince the Forest Service that we could manage the project, then coordinated the work & did lots of the manual labor himself. Click on photo for larger picture of plaque.

Cross Timbers trail helped provide feedback on the develop of the Dunham Road Trailhead improvements and parking lot.