2024 Calendar of Events
BVDRC’s events are BOLDED
The 4 driving clubs in Texas are: Brazos Valley Driving and Riding Club, BVDRC.com; Houston Area Carriage Association, hacaclub.com; North Texas Whip, ntw.clubexpress.com; and Tejas Carriage Association, tejascarriageassociation.weebly.com.
If you are interested in attending Competitive Trail Challenges, please go to their actual websites: Texas Trail Challenge Club, texastrailchallengeclub.com; Equine Trail Sports, equinetrailsports.com. Due to the high volume of dates for these events, I will no longer list them; just too many.
2 more good resources for equine related activities to check out are Brazos Expo calendar – brazoscountyexpo.com; and the Texas A & M Agri-life Extension app (it is a free download). Both have numerous events/activities posted.
Due to the length of the trail riding facilities list, I have moved it to the END of the Calendar so that it is easier to reference and review. It also includes the contact information for each facility for your convenience. Please feel free to send me facilities that are not listed.
December, 2024
Dec. 5-8th – The Jingle Mingle Horse show hosted by the South Central Arabians of Texas and held in Lufkin, TX. Contact Granger Durdin (281) 932-3643 (text) or Denise Shannon (979) 270-0935; website: arabianhorsecluboftexas.com.
Dec. 7th – BVETR’s Christmas Party will be held at Christi Hendricks’ craft shop building. Will be a pot luck meal with Club providing the meat. Will also have the Chinese Gift Exchange. Party will start @ 4:00 pm. Contact Cindy Allen (979) 224-3661 or Christi Hendricks (979) 229-6177; email: christih65912@gmail.com.
Dec. 7th – Southwestern Donkey and Mule Society’s annual Awards Ceremony, Banquet, and General Meeting to be held at Uncle Dan’s BBQ Rib House, Room #1, 1001 Lake Air Drive, Waco. Starts at 110:00 am. Contact Kim Hawthorne (214) 686-0323. SDMSociety@gmail.com.
Dec. 12th – BVDRC’s monthly meeting at the Reliance Baptist Church Community Center, 6925 Reliance Church Rd., Bryan, TX. It will also be the first of 2 partiesl. The meal will be chili and will include our popular Chinese Gift Exchange and our Cookie Exchange. Contact Tess Villarreal (979) 204-0426.
Dec. 15th – BVDRC’s Christmas Party will be at the Phillips Center, Bryan, TX. It will be a sit down meal, with a Raffle and a Silent Auction. Contact Denise Wood; (979) 422-0188 (cell/text) or email: 2chefdenise@gmail.com. BVDRC.com.
Dec. 15th – ***CHANGE OF PLANS*** Due to scheduling conflicts the HACA Christmas party, pot luck, and drive at Windedale, TX is being changed to just the drive at Winedale. The party and pot luck will be moved to the January membership meeting. Members have received an email about changes and can check website: hacaclub.com.
Dec. 24th – HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE! – Remember, Santa’s watching! 🎅🏻🎁
Dec. 25th – MERRY CHRISTMAS! Happy Birthday, Jesus!✨🎄🤱🏻
January, 2025
Jan. 1st – HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎉🎆
Jan. 1st – BVDRC’s annual New Year’s Day ride will be held at Reynold’s Creek, 2885 N. Speegleville RD, Waco, TX 76712. Meet up/ride out at 10:00 am, bring a picnic lunch and ride out again if so desired. Contact Jim Wood (979) 422-0189.
Jan. 9th – BVDRC’s monthly meeting. More details as date gets closer. Contact Lee Fuermann, (979) 777-9239 or email: farriershop@icloud.com.
Jan. 11th – Nava Rio’s annual Awards Banquet to be held at Miracle Farm, Brenham, TX. Check FB for more details.
Jan. 11th – Tentative date for HACA’s January Membership meeting. More details will be coming. Website: hacaclub.com.
Jan. 11-12th – Greater Houston Quarter Horse Association’s Open All Breed Performance & Ranch Horse Show to be held at the Brazos Co. Expo, 5827 Leonard Rd, Bryan, TX 77807. Check website: ghqha.org.
Jan. 21st – Equine Evening hosted by the Brazos Extension Horse Committee. It will be held at the Brazos Extension Office; 4153 County Park Ct., Bryan, 77802. There will be 4 speakers and a light meal will be served. Doors open at 5:30 pm and presentations start at 6:30 pm. This is a free event, but you do need to RSVP. Call (979) 823-0129 to RSVP and/or for more information.
Jan. 25-26th – Fort Worth Stock Show Mule and Donkey Show. Check website: swdonkeyandmulesociety.com; or www.fwssr.com under the Horse Shows category.
Jan. 29-31st – Carriage Association of America’s Winter Meeting at Grand Oaks, Resort, Weirsdale, FL. Check website for more info: carriageassociationofamerica.com.
Jan. 31st – The Grand Oaks Concours d’Attelage de Tradition to be held in Weirsdale, FL. Check website: carriageassocationofamerica.com.
February, 2025
Feb. 1-2nd – The Grand Oaks Classic Pleasure Driving Competition to be held in Weirsdale, FL. Check website: carriageassociationofamerical.com.
Feb. 13th – BVDRC’s monthly meeting. More details as date gets closer. Contact Lee Fuermann (979) 777-9239 or email: farriershop@icloud.com.
Feb. 14th – HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Tell your sweetheart you love ‘em! 💝💖
Feb. 22nd – TDHMA’s trail ride at 7iL Ranch, Cat Spring, TX, with carts, wagons, and riders. Morning ride followed by potluck lunch and ride out again in afternoon. Debbie Halford (281) 382-6271
March, 2025
Mar. 1st – Tentative date for HACA’s annual Brookwood Drive to be held at the Brookwood Home, Brookshire, TX. HACA members give rides to the residents. Contact John Milligan (979) 574-3419 or email: Johnm@milliganranch.com.
Mar. 9th – SPRING AHEAD! Set your clocks ahead 1 hour! ⏰
Mar. 13th – BVDRC’s monthly meeting. More details as date gets closer. Contact Lee Fuermann (979) 777-9239 or email: farriershop@icloud.com.
Mar. 15-16th – TDHMA’s Beast of Burden Weekend at Barrington Plantation Historic Site, Washington, TX. Demos with walking plows and other “walking” equipment using teams of horses and oxen.
Mar. 17th – HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!! May the luck of the Irish be with you! 🍀🎩
Mar. 19-22nd – Pin Oak Horse Show to be held at Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, TX. Show has quite a few driving classes and may interesting breeds showing at it. Website: gsweq.com.
Mar. 28-29th – Lampassas Derby, hosted by HACA. Website: hacaclub.com.
April, 2025
April 10th – BVDRC’s monthly meeting. More details as date gets closer. Contact Lee Fuermann (979) 777-9239 or email: farriershop@icloud.com.
April 18-19th – Greater Houston Quarter Horse Association (GHQHA) Open All Breed Performance and Ranch Show to be held at the Brazos Co. Expo, 5827 Leonard Rd., Bryan, TX. Website: www.ghaqha.com.
April 20th – HAPPY EASTER! Jesus has risen! 🐇✝️
Listing of Trail Riding Options
There are numerous trail riding options around Texas. Here is a listing of some of them, and if you know of some that are not on this list, shoot me an email and let me know. Also check out the following trail riding clubs: Brazos Valley Driving and Riding Club that welcomes drivers and riders, BVDRC.com. Brazos Valley Equestrian Trail Riders is a local trail riding group, BVETR.org. Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association is a statewide trail riding/trail development club; TETRA.memberlodge.org.
Birch Creek Park at Lake Somerville in Somerville, TX (979) 535-7763 is now open to equestrians (they have been closed due to much flood damage from 2017).
Brazos Bend State Park, 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX 77461. They have 13 miles of multi use trails, and primitive equestrian campsites at the trailhead. Phone (979) 553-5102; website: tpwd.texas.gov and type in Brazos Bend State Park.
5D Ranch Riding Trails 6536 Joee Lane, Navasota, TX 77868. Their phone is (979) 204-2559; website: 5dranchnavasotatx.com.
7iL Ranch in Cat Springs, TX (south of Bellville). Equestrian trails, RV sites, stalls, lots of trails. Phone: (979) 236-5552, website: 7iLranch.com.
Ebenezer State Park, Recreation Road 255, Jasper, TX 75951. RV sites, corrals, trails, etc. Campground inquiries call (409) 384-5716. Website: recreation.gov., Recreation.gov phone 1 (877) 444-6777.
Granger Lake State Park/Corp of Engineers at Willis Creek on CR 346, Taylor, TX. Has equestrian trails, and a few hook-ups (not in real good shape; this is a better day use facility than overnight). Website: tpwd.tex.gov.
Indian Spirit Springs 4342 Dobrovolny Rd, Bryan, TX 77807. Phone is (979) 318-2411 or email: info@IndianSpiritSprings.com. Not sure if they are still actively open for trail riding. Do know that they have much more limited riding area than when they first opened.
Lazy F Guest Ranch; 15547 FM 1116, Smiley TX 78159; (210) 391-6378, website: lazyfguestranch.com.
Millican Reserve, 19851 FM 2154, College Station, TX 77845. You will need to get a Conservancy Trail pass for $10/month to ride unlimited amounts of time for each month you sign up for. Go to the website: millicanreserve.com, select the trail pass and sign up. (979) 985-5630.
Nails Creek Park at Lake Somerville; 6280 FM 180, Ledbetter, TX 78946 (979) 289-2392. This park is now open for camping and equestrian use. It is $5/person and $2/equine. They have quite a few nice trails and pens/primitive/RV camping sites available.
Parrie Haynes Ranch 13816 Maxdale Rd., Killeen, TX 76549. Phone (254) 394-0330, email: parriehaynesranch@gmail.com, website: parrierhaynesequestriancenter.com;.
Pole Canyon Ranch, 2601 FM 689; Quituque, TX 79255. Phone: (806) 455-1446; website: Pole canyon.com. This is a privately owned ranch with 6000+ acres of of canyons, creeks, well-marked trails. They have a guest house, RV sites, bathroom/showers, and corral pens.
Reynold’s Creek Park is a Corp of Engineer facility on the shores of Lake Waco. Some of their trails are driving friendly; there is about 19 miles of trails. Their address is 2885 N. Speegleville RD, Waco, TX 76712; phone: (254) 756-5359; Goggle “Reynold’s Creek Park, Waco, TX” to get information and/or make reservations.
Richards/Raven Equestrian Trail ***TRAIL IS NOW OPEN** located in the Sam Houston National Forest. Address is 1773 FM 1791, Richards, TX 77873. This is a fairly new trail that just opened up. Check website: samhoustontrails.org. or Goggle Richards-Raven Equestrian Trail.
Rusty’s Walnut Creek Ranch, 394 Pleasant Chapel Rd, Cedar Creek, TX 78612. This facility is currently being run by Cedar Creek Saddle Club. You can trail ride here, but must give them 24 notice before arrival. Call (512) 567-1469 or heck website: cedarcreekhorse.com.
Six RS Ranch LP, 20081 FM 831, Oakwood, TX. Has RV sites, some stalls, pens, and a guest house. Contact Doris Ann (903) 388-0439 (cell/text) to reserve spots.
T bar S Horse Camp; 6387 FM 2781, Kennard, TX 75847. (832) 928-9584 (cell/text), website: TbarShorsecamp.com. This is a private facility that butts up against the Davy Crockett National Forest. Has RV sites, pens, etc. Lots of trails.
Train Robber Ranch; 2692 Iron Bridge Rd, Rusk, TX 75785. (281) 507-2714. Website: trainrobberranch.com. This facility is ONLY available by renting the WHOLE place. You cannot just show up and camp/ride there. They have a full facility – RV sites, bunkhouse, large house that sleeps a lot of people, stalls, pens, and access to Fairchild State Forest.