THIRD WEEKEND OF AUTUMN TRAILS

by
Maryann Miller

Every year, J. R. Gregg (R) from the Como Trail Riders looks forward to the third week of Autumn Trails in Winnsboro every October. "I've been coming for the trail ride since the late 60s." he said. "Ever since it started. I have lots of friends who started with me and have quit, but I'm going to keep on going until I can't keep on going."

Gregg was just one of many drivers and riders who lined up for the traditional Trail Ride Parade on Friday, October 16, that kicks off a weekend of fun for people who love horses and mules and wagons and saddles.

J. R. is the Wagon Master for the Como Trail Riders that brought ten wagons to the 2009 Autumn Trails Trail Ride Weekend. There were quite a variety of wagons, including this custom built wagon that was outfitted like an RV, complete with a small kitchen, a stove, potty, and comfortable bench and bucket seats.

Sharon Nelson from Sulphur Springs was a passenger in the wagon along with her daughter, Amanda Swiney. T. W. Little from Coke owns the wagon and Travis Estes from Como was driving the team of mules.

This was Sharon's second year to come to Winnsboro and the third for Travis. "But the Como group has been coming for about ten years," Sharon said.

J. R. said the group goes on a trail ride at least once a month for fun and for fellowship. "This is the best bunch of trail riders," he added. "It's a real family deal and we include the children. Nothing but good people."

There were lots of other riders and drivers who have been coming to Winnsboro for a long time, and some from pretty far away. Bill Waggoner and his wife, Sybil came from Texarkana. They had some friends with them, including a young friend, Brice Lane.

They drove from Texarkana with their friends from Cheyenne, Wyoming and it took them a week to get here. Of course, the weather did not help. "We've been coming for thirty years," Bill said. "And this is by far the worst rain we had to put up with."

Driving through the pouring rain and camping "wet" made Bill appreciate what the pioneers had to go through. "I thought about that on the way here," he said. "And I also thought about it once when I had a toothache on the trail and had to go to the nearest town to get it looked at. The pioneers couldn't go to a drugstore and get something for the pain when they were traveling across the country in their wagons. They just had to put up with it."

Gladys & Glen Tucker are the friends who came down from Wyoming to join the Arkansas couple for the trail ride. The four of them met several years ago when Bill & Sybil drove to Cheyenne for a trail ride and, as often happens, they became good friends. Now the Tuckers go to Arkansas for about four months out of every year and the two couples have covered many miles together on the trail.

Don Bates, who was driving the wagon for the Tuckers is from Grand Lane, Louisiana, and he met then at a ride in Grand Cane. He's known Bill Waggoner for about 40 years and they ride together in a lot of different places.

Not everyone at the parade was an old hand at riding. Trenton Neal, just two years old, rode with his father, Brad, his brother Brady, and Jocee, who is the Hopkins County Rodeo Queen. Brad said that all the kids started riding when they were very young. "Trenton's been riding since June," he said. "Not by himself, of course. I lead him."

For a young rider like Trenton there are special straps to hold his legs to the saddle and his horse is led close beside the father's horse.

Leading of the parade were the 2009 Rodeo Queens. Brittney Butler carried the American Flag. The Texas Flag was carried by Punky Tonetti, and Beth Nichols carried the Winnsboro Rodeo Flag.

They were followed by the Autumn Trails Queens; Haley Mills, Queen, Kasi Geraci first runner-up, and C.J. Satterwhite, second runner-up. Jr. Miss Autumn Trails, Kim Jongsma, rode with them, as well as Little Miss Autumn Trails, Gentry Gearner.

There were some neat wagons and carts including this little two-seater pulled by a pony. An old-fashioned milk cart and an authentic old wagon.

And, yes, there were lots of riders on horses and a few on mules.