UPDATE! New Trails in Central GA - Went & Had a good time! [Archive]

PRS

Dec. 1, 2009, 08:50 AM

Does anybody know about the new private trail riding park in Toomsboro, GA? Mingo Trails in Toomsboro GA is having a trail ride on the weekend of Dec 11-13. The cost will be $20 and will include a sack lunch. There will be a dance Saturday night with a DJ. I plan to attend for a day ride on Saturday, December 12 to support the effort to open the park to the public for day riders and campers alike. The phone number on the flyer is 478-933-5277 and 404-274-9188 and the address is 2950 Little Sandy Creek Rd., Toomsboro, GA. :yes:

jeano

Dec. 18, 2009, 04:46 PM

I didnt and dont know any more than what has been posted here, but since I was in Toomsboro for work related reasons I figured I'd drive a few miles and look. What I saw was what looked like a cut-over logging tract with a sign and an open gate, a porta pot and that was about all visible without driving on in. So, PRS, did you go and how was it? Are we talking miles and miles of trails linking to other big tracts or what, and is the expectation that riders will pay some fraction of that 20 bucks if not dancing and lunching?

PRS

Dec. 21, 2009, 09:38 AM

I did not go to because it rained all that weekend. I didn't even let my horses out of the barn that day. Cold miserable rain all stinking day. BUT I have ridden in that area and would really like to see some trails to ride on. The man I talked to who owns the property said that they are going to be cutting more trails and possibly opening them up for public pay as you ride use. I know a fellow trail rider who lives very near him and rides out there all the time who will be advising him. Stay tuned.

jeano

Dec. 21, 2009, 09:47 AM

For a fact, it wasnt a good day for riding. If/when it gets going I might could persuade my riding buddy who actually has a trailer to haul us down there to scope it out--but it would have to be better than what we can do right here (lots of dirt roads, and access to a few hunting tracts and their trails.) If we haul only 5 miles from my house we are on a huge network of dirt roads and can ride all day. Darned paved roads, anyway, they are just in the way.

PRS

Jan. 5, 2010, 01:23 PM

Hmmmm. Maybe I ought to haul up and ride with YOU! I have a few farm fields, a dirt road or two and couple of pecan orchards to ride through.

jeano

Jan. 6, 2010, 08:13 AM

Feel free! I can show you around Hancock County (I'm not in Hancock, I'm in Baldwin, but my next door neighbor's driveway is about 50 feet from the county line. Poorest county in GA and possibly loveliest county on the Fall Line.) What with hunting tracts and local dirt roads I can cross the paved road my house is on and ride about 6-7 miles one way without seeing any more pavement. If I ride along some paved roads for brief intervals i can go much further. Some of the paved roads have very wide margins and are about as safe to ride as the dirt ones. Depends on you and your horse, mine are very good about traffic.

Some of the roads I ride go for several miles at a stretch with one or no houses, even. There is some occasional traffic on the dirt roads and every once in a while a total surprise, like the time we encountered a caravan of about a dozen ATVs, not once but twice (they were riding the same loop we were, opposite direction.) By the second time around horses were ATV broke but good.

I'm thinking from what i recall about where you are that it wouldnt be significantly farther for you to come here than to go to Toomsboro...

Jan. 6, 2010, 09:03 AM

PRS

Jan. 6, 2010, 03:27 PM

Those of you who have trails galore to ride at home cherish it!!
Not too long ago we could ride in any direction and ride all day long on timberland trails or dirt roads....Now, since they paved our road there are houses everywhere.
I still have timber land on one side of my property and behind my property but that's all. Deer hunters from Atlanta have leased that and guard it like a dog with a bone. Enjoy your trails. I thought ours would be here forever and didn't think I'd ever Have to haul out to ride.

Although I can still ride for hours from my back yard I've seen it shrinking around me too. Large farms near me that I used to ride on have been sold and sub-divided into 5 acre farmlets. What will happen to this country when all the farmland disappears?

jeano

Jan. 7, 2010, 08:50 AM

Same thing goes on here, but many buyers tend to be hunters and the dirt roads will likely stay unimproved at least in Hancock for the rest of my riding lifetime--there's no industry, unemployment is the highest in the state and property taxes among the highest, so buyers tend to not make substantial "improvements." The trick for me is actually catching up with the landowners or lease holders to get permission to ride on their tracts. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes no, but the roads are gonna be there for me regardless.

I do cherish my opportunites and my hunter buddies. One group of fellas are barely a mile from my front door and have been very gracious. (they are also from metro Atlanta but not jealous types!) I can just about ride there any weekday of the year and most of the weekends outside of deer gun season. They were really excited a few weeks ago to tell me that one of my shortcuts from a food plot led them to a trail and road on their property that they didnt even know existed-- there's an old fence line and they happily announced that they had cut the wire to make it easier for me to get to that section of land that belongs to them although on the other side of the old fence, and told me that they had already dealt with the caretakers on the property bordering it to let them know who had cut the wire and why...its nice to have folks looking after my interests for no other reason than just being some good guys.

PRS

Jan. 7, 2010, 09:23 AM

Wow! You are very lucky. That is absolutely wonderful that they would actually go out of their way to make it easier for you to use their land. Hope the caretaker of the adjoining land wasn't trying to contain animals in that fence though.

jeano

Jan. 7, 2010, 10:08 AM

nope, no animals. Fence had gaps in it anyway. Caretakers, and possibly the actual owners, might have had an issue with the fence because it LOOKED like it indicated the actual property line. Turns out my hunters have access to a pond that's mostly on the adjacent land, but they couldnt really get to it until my little horse trail showed the way.

I do love these guys, several of them are pretty obviously rolling in dough, but others are just good old boys and all of them are sweet. Right after Christmas I rode over and a whole bunch of them were there, one fellow said "For the most part we're just goofing off this trip." He'd brought his two tiny little daughters who were zipping around on ATVs but stopped immediately to admire my horse and tell me how they take riding lessons. So we visited and the little girls were warned by their daddy not to spook the horse with the ATV, the dogs were scolded for barking, and I was warned that there were a few guys hunting in the woods.

I NEVER go in their woods if I know they are hunting, in fact if I know they are there I dont unless they tell me specifically to go ahead. I wouldnt mess up this arrangement for the world. They know I keep an eye on the place and am willing to do stuff like mount up and go look for lost hunting dogs, call the security system if something's amiss, and that I'll not leave anything but a few hoofprints. Plus I tell them if I've seen game since the last time they've visited, and they appreciate that.

scagmojones

Jan. 28, 2010, 06:50 AM

It looks like Mingo Trails near Toomsboro, GA has another ride scheduled March 19-21 and then another Memorial Day weekend. I found this web site with info at http://www.netstarz.net/mingo/index.html

Does anybody know about the new private trail riding park in Toomsboro, GA? Mingo Trails in Toomsboro GA is having a trail ride on the weekend of Dec 11-13. The cost will be $20 and will include a sack lunch. There will be a dance Saturday night with a DJ. I plan to attend for a day ride on Saturday, December 12 to support the effort to open the park to the public for day riders and campers alike. The phone number on the flyer is 478-933-5277 and 404-274-9188 and the address is 2950 Little Sandy Creek Rd., Toomsboro, GA. :yes:

PRS

Jan. 28, 2010, 09:41 AM

I saw those listings on the Judges List http://www.judgesridelist.com/ I'm hoping to make one of them since I got rained out on the last one.
We used to have a really nice place to ride near Buena Vista called Delightful Trails but it has closed. I really, really miss being able to trailer to a close place like that and ride all day without having to camp out. I don't mind paying for either. Delightful Trails charged $10 per day rider and more if you wanted to camp. They had real bathrooms with hot and cold running water and miles and miles of well marked trails.

scagmojones

Jan. 28, 2010, 10:07 AM

PRS

Apr. 17, 2010, 05:59 PM

I went to a trail ride at Mingo Trails in Toomsboro today. It included the usual list of suspects...cowboys with saddlebags full of beer all moving in a slow line at a snails pace. BUT once my friend and I worked our way to the front and spoke with the trail boss (who happens to be someone I know) we asked if it was OK for us to go off and enjoy the trails on our own. We got directions and found the trails to be very well marked with nice sandy footing. Lots of nice scenic wooded trails with probably a little too much riding through the clear cuts included. The trails do seem to overlap and repeated some areas that we had already traveled through but we enjoyed riding them anyhow. There is parking next to the road with a porta-potty for the day riders. Down the driveway a short ways is a camping area with real toilets and showers as well as covered concrete slab that is also used for dancing. Lunch was literally in a brown paper bag (they did say "sack lunch" was included). It included your choice of Ham or Turkey on white with cheese, a bag of potato chips and a brownie plus a drink. Not horrible but not great either. My friend and I did have a good time despite an attack pollywog and an unplanned dismount courtesy of a surprise flock of turkeys.
Pictures:
Riding behind my friend on some of the nice wooded trails:
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz258/dorim_2005/Mingo%20Trails%20Toomsboro%20GA/IMG_0080.jpg
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz258/dorim_2005/Mingo%20Trails%20Toomsboro%20GA/IMG_0081.jpg
Me (my horse is staaarrrrving so had to try to eat that bush):
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz258/dorim_2005/Mingo%20Trails%20Toomsboro%20GA/IMG_0084.jpg
We're on top of a hill here with some nice views...hard to get a picture of them though:
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz258/dorim_2005/Mingo%20Trails%20Toomsboro%20GA/IMG_0088.jpg
an example of the wider sandy trails:
http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz258/dorim_2005/Mingo%20Trails%20Toomsboro%20GA/IMG_0092.jpg

pnalley

Apr. 17, 2010, 06:17 PM

Silver Spurs Saddle Club has really nice facility in Dublin. Real bathrooms with showers, a dance floor. The folks are very nice. Due to insurance issues you must be a member to ride there except for the planned rides. There are plenty of trails thru the woods (not the prettiest place) but miles & miles of sandy roads with no traffic. Gaited horse heaven.

If you join the Pike County Saddle Club (free, just attend a meeting) you will get the opportunity to occasionally ride private land. We have a ride coming up in Perry sometime in the future. You can ride in for the day or camp. Last time we did a really nice night ride and a bring a dish dinner (a free ride). They have a fast (really fast) group, and a slower (but not a snails pace) group go out. This is also the group we rode with for the private ride in the Williamson (Spalding Co) area.

We have a trail co-ordinator that rides usually 3 times a week. I'll update the website tomorrow for the May rides.

http://pikecountyhorseclub.page.tl/Home.htm

spotnnotfarm

Apr. 17, 2010, 06:41 PM

PRS those do like nice. I am glad ya'll had a good time.

Pnalley- Let me know about the Perry ride. I may want to come and ride.

PRS

Apr. 17, 2010, 06:46 PM

Yeah, I was a member of Silver Spurs until the rates went way up ($100 a year) Mingo is similar but IMO the trails are nicer but maybe not as many miles and they are closer to me. You can join for $100 and bring the occasional guest for free or you can go to their (fairly often) public rides for $20.

I will be at the Perry ride on May 1st. That is right in my back yard (almost literally).

I live in south Houston County and 1 or 1.5 hours away is about as far as I want to go for a day ride and I don't camp unless there are barns for the horses. I am a member of the Ridge Riders Trail Club so I go on those rides that are in my target area. I really did enjoy Mingo once we got away from the large group and will be back on Memorial Day weekend when they have their next public ride.

PRS

Apr. 17, 2010, 06:52 PM

If the Perry ride Pnalley is talking about is the same one I'm thinking of on May 1st at High Point I can send a flier with all the info.

pnalley

Apr. 18, 2010, 08:06 AM

Nope, not at High Point. This is privately owned, as far ad I know they don't open it as a rule to the public. I think they do some feild trials there. But by all means please send the flyer

pnalley1 at yahoo.com

PRS

Apr. 18, 2010, 09:38 AM

Flier sent. Hope to see you there. Feel free to share it around as all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

jeano

Apr. 20, 2010, 08:00 AM

The pics in the woods could be of my place....So, roughly how many miles of trails, do you think?

Huntertwo

Apr. 20, 2010, 02:23 PM

Nice pictures PRS... thanks for sharing. :) Looks like you have some nice trails to ride on.

Is it only me? Or am I the only one who loves a camera shot of the back of a horses head while on horseback? Their so cute!

PRS

Apr. 20, 2010, 02:24 PM

If I had to guess I would say 8-10 miles of unique trails. As stated before parts of the trails we followed repeated in places....Parts of the afternoon ride repeated parts of the morning ride (just going in a different direction) but included some new trails too. So hard to get a good mileage report. They are cutting new trails also so the mileage will increase.

Since my riding companion and I tend to ride a little faster than the average cowboy ;) what took them a full 2 hours took us about half that time....sooooo we extended our ride by riding 1/2 of the morning route backwards. We arrived back in camp about 15 minutes before the rest of the group. :lol:

PRS

Apr. 20, 2010, 02:25 PM

jeano

Apr. 21, 2010, 07:25 AM

okay, so for me and buddy with the trailer probably not a trip we'd make unless gas goes to 20 cents a gallon...we can haul roughly the same distance and go to the natl forest and ride quite a bit further. Or haul five miles from my house and ride on dirt roads all the way to Deepstep.

Ive got close to five miles of trails between my place and the two neighbors, and another five mies with my hunting guys across the road. I do like seeing different places, though.....

Yes, the classic cowboy mosey trailride-- the local state park where I used to ride in OH had for years only a six mile loop and I'd get'er done waaay quicker than the cowboys, and my gaited neighbors wouldnt even bother going there because theyd be back at the trailer in under45 minutes!

PRS

Apr. 21, 2010, 07:49 AM

I'll get an official mileage report when I go back out there on Memorial weekend. As indicated before they are just getting started so haven't cut all the trails yet. I go to the Oconee National forest and ride at 1099 too but sometimes those trails are so muddy as to be nearly impassable. Mingo has mostly sandy soil that drains very well so mud probably won't be too much of an issue. The terrain ranges from flat to slightly hilly and from old growth forest to planted pines including some clear cuts that have been replanted. With the future, yet to be cut, trails it should shake out to be a fairly nice place to ride...especially if you have a young horse you are just starting to ride on trails.

pnalley

Apr. 21, 2010, 08:32 PM

1099 & Concord Church are my favorite places to ride, but you are right. During the winter time or after hard rains the trails are dangerous, but when they are dry they are the best. Our club has two rides planned this summer from 1099 to the swimming hole. And one other where we are supposed to take the horses to Concord Church, and shuttle the trailers to 1099 to ride the whole way. You are more than welcome to join us.
Mothers day weekend a group will be going from Juliette Road (between 1099 & Smith Mill) to the Whistle Stop Café.

BTW I never got the flyer, could you resend please?

PRS

Apr. 22, 2010, 08:32 AM

resent the flier...

I also have a bellsouth.net account for you too? I must have sent you an email for another reason? IDK

the "from" name will be Dori Melendez if you're looking in your "in" box. Could possible pop it into your junk mail dependent on your e-mail settings....Otherwise I don't know why you are having trouble recieving my e-mails. It is a .pdf attachment and is not oversized.

RE: ridinig to Julliette...my horse is moderately to severely train phobic. Even though we live 1/4 mile from a rail road track and he has heard the trains passing literally his whole life he can't stand the sight of one any closer than a football field away from him. Spinning, backing up at high rates of speed, rearing are things I prefer to avoid. I have a friend who has invited me to join a ride to the whistle stop but said we have to tie the horses on the side next to the tracks :eek:....nope, not gonna happen

pnalley

Apr. 22, 2010, 08:36 AM

bellsouth is my main account, I emailed you from this forum to get you to resend. I only post my yahoo account when it is in a public forum

thanks

PRS

Apr. 23, 2010, 07:37 AM

Here is the info in case you didn't get the flier I sent:
High Point Trail Ride
May 1, 2010
Perry, GA
Ride For A Cure - All proceeds go to American Cancer Society
Primitive Camping space available
1st Ride 9:30-12:30
2nd Ride 2:00-5:30
$15.00 per rider
Horse Water Available
Take I-75 to Exit 134, Perry, GA. Go east approx 1.3 miles to Elko Rd., Take a right and go about 3.5 miles to Gilbert Rd. Take A right and go 1 mile. Look for signs. Camping is on the left side of the rd. For more info call David Belflowers 229 645 3550 or 229 322 8808 or J.W. Cantrell 478 987 2035 or 478 957 0813

pnalley

May. 22, 2010, 03:07 PM

June 6th.

The Pike County Horse club will be riding on the private place in Williamson. It is a hunting preserve, I can't remember the actual farm name. We will meet at 10am. You will need coggins & to sign a waiver

Our website will be updated in a day or two with directions etc.

Last time we rode about 3.5 hours.

PRS

May. 22, 2010, 06:47 PM

pnalley

May. 22, 2010, 08:31 PM

I have never heard of Henderson Village. Where is it? This is a privately owned place right on the Pike/Spalding boarder. The road & driveway are in Spalding, but you cross the county line going to park the trucks & trailers. I think it meanders in both counties.

For those of you that drive, I don't remember anything that a buggy or cart couldn't handle. But we are getting more info on that.

I have been there once. We did get to see an alligator that was about 6 foot long on one of the pond banks.

PS: Isn't there a Henderson Village that is an active senior community in Florida?

The Henderson Village you are thinking of is 1 exit south of Perry on I75.

PRS

May. 23, 2010, 10:08 AM

LOL! I don't know about the Senior Village. The only private hunting preserve I knew of in this area that also allows the occasional horse ride is Henderson Village (exit 127 South of Perry) I'll check out your website for directions and hopefully I'll be able to be there. I have no plans for that weekend soooo....

scagmojones

Dec. 7, 2010, 05:13 PM

I just saw on the Mingo Trails web site (http://www.netstarz.net/mingo/) that there will be free camping and riding New Years Weekend. Also they are having DJ and dance New Years Eve and a Chilli Cookoff contest that weekend. Ought to be a fun time.

I'll get an official mileage report when I go back out there on Memorial weekend. As indicated before they are just getting started so haven't cut all the trails yet. I go to the Oconee National forest and ride at 1099 too but sometimes those trails are so muddy as to be nearly impassable. Mingo has mostly sandy soil that drains very well so mud probably won't be too much of an issue. The terrain ranges from flat to slightly hilly and from old growth forest to planted pines including some clear cuts that have been replanted. With the future, yet to be cut, trails it should shake out to be a fairly nice place to ride...especially if you have a young horse you are just starting to ride on trails.

PRS

Dec. 8, 2010, 10:07 AM

I've joined the Mingo Trails club. I'm not into camping but it is a good place for me to haul to for a day ride. They are continuously cutting new trails and have plans to add an arena. They now have camping spots with water and electrical hookups and a bath house. The folks that run the place are real nice, down to earth folks. You can join the group on FB if you want to see more....http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=109589159075639