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Ride On: Trail riding group completes annual event |
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By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition |
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October 10, 2002 -- The "clippity-clop" sounds advancing towards Austin on Oct. 4 wasn't from incoming traffic - it was the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association (TETRA) riders making their way to the Texas Wildlife Expo in Austin. For the third year, TETRA riders participated in the opening of the Texas Parks and Wildlife annual Expo by having a trail ride from various counties surrounding Austin. This year's ride originated in Gonzales County and wound through country roads, stopping at various places to spend the night and rest the animals. According to Marion (Jack) Borchers of New Braunfels, president of TETRA, the group is "putting a new face" on trail rides. The participants come from every walk of life, but share the love of the trail, nature, kids and animals. Each year, the riders gather a week before the Expo opens, and each day, the ridership changes, according to the location and length of that day's ride. Close to 100 participants, who began the ride on Sept. 28, were involved in this year's event. Besides riders on horseback, many participate by riding in wagons pulled by horses and/or mules. The riders get to know each other like family. If one needs help, such as with a broken wheel or watering animals, there is always a volunteer. One wagoner, T.R. Gage from Hillsboro, has been involved in trail rides for 10 years. "I bought a horse from an older gentleman who told us about trail rides," he said.
Retired from the Corp of Engineers, after 33 years, Gage said he drives a school bus "for spending money," but took a week's vacation to go on the TETRA trail ride. His wife, a nurse, used to ride, too, but she had to work, he laughed. Gage drives two mules, Tex and Clay, who were born seven years ago, and have never been apart. Each mule stands over 15 hands high and weighs about 1,000 pounds. While Clay is a bit larger, Gage said Tex is the leader of the two, and about the only thing they are frightened of is cows! (Writer's Note: Their fear of cattle is very evident when passing pastures where there are cows near the fence, as the mules are ready to run. They (mules) don't like to stand around and wait, either, when the trail ride halts for any reason.) Riding in the trail rides seems very normal to Gage, who was reared on a farm. "I've had horses all my life. I used to be a team roper, back in the '50's, '60's and '70's," he stated. Gage now trains mules for other owners by hooking one up to either Tex or Clay, who already know all the rules. Kelly Boesen of Dripping Springs, who served as this year's Wagon Master, as well as several other riders, attend all trail rides with TETRA. There are 12 districts within TETRA, set according to the areas of Texas Cooperative Exension's regional map, since it seemed to be a good way to divide the state, said Borchers. There is a director in each district who has control of what types of activities are held in his/her district, as long as the basic principles of TETRA are followed and enforced. Members attend trail rides, clinics, training by the United Mounted Police Officers Association to help, as a volunteer, with search and rescue missions, when someone is missing, and desensitization clinics for equine, among other activities, according to Borchers. They (members) also promote riding as a family activity, while educating the public ... as well as the youth ... to the care and conditioning of equine for trail activities, etiquette, safety and help maintain trails that can be used for equestrian riders, as well as hikers and bikers. Working with the children is a favorite of most riders, and this year, a group of pre-K children were able to ride in the wagons, as well as several groups from the School for the Deaf in Austin. Gage summed it up when he stated why he liked to ride: "Being out in nature, mostly, and not having all the 'newfangled' stuff, and I like being around the kids who get to ride who've never been around animals before." TETRA is a win-win situation. |
