Monday, February 16, 2015

Photos from Cracker Trail Ride bring us about as close to the event as possible without being there

Cracker Trail riders forge a small stream, and horses pause to take a sip.
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Horses and riders streamed out of Kibler Ranch, located about 15 miles east of Bradenton on Saturday, headed to Fort Pierce.

They won't arrive on Florida's east coast until Friday, Feb. 20, as they retrace the cattle drives of the 19th Century.

The event is, of course, the annual Cracker Trail Ride, which takes its name not from Saltines, but the bull whips cowboys used in the old days to drive cattle.

Here are photos sent by smart phone to the Bradenton Herald by trail boss Suzanne Park, and some of the other riders. All were sent from horse back. They give a sense of  the fun and adventure, as well as some of the natural Florida beauty along the trail.

http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/14/5636370/cracker-trail-riders-to-head-cross.html

Riders get a view of new crops being readied under plastic.
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A portion of the Cracker Trail takes riders along state highways.
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Cracker Trail Ride is a family friendly event.
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Horse seems to be smiling for the camera.
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Togetherness on the trail.
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Riders are happy when they reach open country.
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Trail boss Suzanne Park.
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Riders meet old friends and meet new ones.
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Riders take over the road shoulder.
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It is possible to kick back on horseback.
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Open country.
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Mule-drawn covered wagon.
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3 comments:

  1. The Florida Cracker Trail, for me, is reminiscent of Patrick Smith's book, A Land Remembered. My Grandmother, born in Manatee County, Florida in 1886, was a member of a farm family. My father, born in North Florida, in 1914, rounded up his family's cows everyday, over 2500 acres, to dip them every two weeks, (by law) because of the tick epidemic, in the late 1920's My Great Grandfather was a Florida Pioneer (owning land prior to Florida becoming a state) in the 1840's. It is a great privilege to also be recognized as a Florida Pioneer, because of my family owning a Florida homestead in the 1820's.
    These great riders are definitely emphasizing and reliving what our ancestors did in making Florida a memory and a great state! Thank you riders, for reliving our State's history!!

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