02/05/2023
2023 Quick Reference:
All Members:
2023 Salt Grass Trail Ride is just a few days away, and I wanted to confer with everyone to recap the special points from the Executive, Wagon Boss, Assistant Wagon Bosses & Scouts meeting. Please share this with your wagon members.
The Ride: Begins in Cat Spring, TX; Saturday, February 18th from Wittenberg’s Pasture and culminates at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ Parade in downtown Houston on Saturday, February 25th
Arrival to Wittenberg’s pasture as early as 10:00am on Friday, February 17th.
Absolutely – No Drones – Salt Grass has implemented the rule that there will be no drones allowed on the ride, at the lunch stop, in camp, etc. There are no exceptions if you are caught with one you will be asked to leave the ride and will not be allowed back. These are a liability to our ride, and we cannot take the Risk.
Buttons and Cards: Sally will provide these to Wagon Bosses with the appropriate credentials, (paperwork, buttons, and membership cards) in Cat Spring. It is imperative that your paperwork be completed correctly.
Important Paperwork Information:
You must have a current coggins (within 1 year) and a 3O-day health certificate (dated January 18th, 2023, or later) on your horses or mules.
HLSR rules, you must have 2 copies of the coggins & 2 copies of the health certificate together. (EX: if you have 5 horses on 1 health certificate, then you need 10 copies, so you can attach 1 health certificate to 1 coggins.)
These must be turned into your wagon boss or whomever with your Wagon is taking up the paperwork. Wagon Bosses will be responsible for turning in ALL paperwork on Sunday, February 19, 2023, to Sally (Wagon 14)
Please keep your originals with you.
Wagons: Each wagon will still be responsible for having a binder/bag (however you have handled it in the past) on your wagon with all copies of Coggins and health certificates for each animal.
Original paperwork should be kept with the Owner.
If they are non-riders, then you will not have Coggins or Health Certificate. Circle only one Horseback Rider (HR) or Wagon Driver (WD) or Wagon Rider (WR)
Paperwork for the HLSR sample below. This form must be issued in Badge Order with Coggins, Health Certificate and Signed Indemnity Form. Sally will provide you with a binder to place all the paperwork.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Tough Guys Wear Pink: Salt Grass Trail Ride will observe “Tough Guys Wear Pink” to promote Breast Cancer Awareness on Sunday, February 19th, as we ride into Bellville, the HLSR Committee will be greeting us that day along the trail. Pink is not mandatory, but we do hope for 100% participation. We are suggesting that riders wear something pink: a shirt, bandana, wristband, etc. Please make sure to stay within the Trail Ride Committee’s guidelines for trail ride attire. (No Toby Keith/LeAnn Rimes pink hats, no pink fat baby boots, no pink spandex/shiny shirts, SHIRTS MUST BE BUTTONED UP, etc.)
Monday, February 20, 2023
Please remind your lunch crew of the lunch stop and to get the vehicles off to the side of the road so the ride can get through.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Miller’s pasture: Please relay to your riders and camp movers that the entrance is from FM362. NO vehicles are to enter from FM529 (this is for trail riders only.
Thursday. February 23, 2023 - Award Ceremony 8PM
Friday, February 25, 2023
Friday Red Day: Riding into Memorial Park. Again, this is not mandatory; we ask that you wear something Red in support of our service members for their sacrifice. As always, please make sure to stay within the Trail Ride Committee’s guidelines for trail ride attire.
Be sure to turn your music up and be loud going into the park. They want to hear from you and know you have had a great ride.
Safety Team: Headed by Chad Dismukes and a select group of individuals who possess special skills, training and certifications ensure that the SGT has a safe and commemorative ride. Don't hesitate to contact Chad should a safety issue arise. Chad must be advised of all accidents/incidents, even the smallest thing. (Ex: “He tripped and bumped his head in camp. He’s fine”).
Hydration: Chad requests that all riders stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
We ask that all trail riders respect and adhere to the Safety Committee’s request. (Basically, stay back and let them do their job.)
Generators and Extension Cords: As the Safety Boss, Chad asks that everyone be extra cautious where and how you place your generators, gas cans and extension cords.
Routes: The Salt Grass Trail is the "Grand-daddy of 'em all.” We are proud to be the biggest and oldest ride. 2023 Route maps with lunch stops noted and campsite maps, you can find all of these documents on the Salt Grass Website www.saltgrasstrail.com and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SGTRA Any changes to the route, campsites or pastures will be provided by the Trail Boss as needed. Routes are also attached to this email.
REMINDER: Please do not use the same route as the ride when moving your rigs. NO rigs are to go down Mill Creek Road. The bridge cannot handle the weight.
Utility: 2023 – Smooth Move – Tammy Gourley will be on site [email protected] 832.795.8216
Stickers from last year will be redeemable. All stickers must be bought from Tammy Gourley or Erin Rodgers with Smooth Move. he will be out each day set up for selling stickers. Stickers are for Clean out (waste) and Water fill only.
If you, any riders, or camp movers have any problems with the Water Truck or Smooth Move, please go to your Wagon Boss and if he/she cannot resolve the issue then your Wagon Boss will contact Richie Horn. Your Wagon Boss can solve most all issues and problems you may have on the ride.
Smooth Move will clean your RV's, Trailers, etc. for $30.00. You MUST sign up on the sheet left in camp/cookshack and place the sticker on the windshield. Please be sure to complete the sign in sheet and place the appropriate sticker(s) on your vehicle / trailer, etc. the day you want the service completed. (Service stickers go on the windshield of the unit to be serviced. If the unit is a trailer it goes on the windshield of the towed unit. Smooth Move will do everything they can while we are out on the ride, and they will sign the sticker once the work is completed.
This will work for 99%, for units that don’t fit in this category, we will address case by case on the ride. (Ex: cook shacks with tow vehicles unhooked.)
Blue sticker for water and Orange sticker for waste. Please leave an open runway for trucks.
Note: Smooth Move is not there to fill water troughs. They are here to fill campers and trailers as a courtesy. They will begin cleaning out on Sunday, in Bellville.
Port-O-Potties - All port-o-potties are $175.00 and should have been paid for at the Wagon Boss meeting. Please do not haul port-o-potties. Smooth Move will clean and move to the next campsite. All cans are to be left at Harris County Fairgrounds (Houston Farm & Ranch)
Note: Do not instruct the drivers of the port-a-cans on where to place them. At camp or along the ride. They are doing what they are told, and they report to Richie. He is the only one to tell them what to do with the cans.
Dumpsters: Will be placed strategically around the front gate of campsites. Please use them. In Memorial Park only use the dumpsters, do not use the trash cans!
Water Troughs: Please bring additional water troughs if needed for the number of riders you have. Please make sure the troughs are easily accessible for the Water truck. Place your water troughs out in the morning when you move camp. Water troughs need to be out No later than 10AM each morning.
Media Guide: Media Publications book will be available for sale beginning Friday night or you may place your order in advance: Cost is $20.00.
Contact: Conni Meyer (Wagon 18), Sallie Gillispie (Wagon 3), Nancy & Marshall Motley (Wagon 22), for additional information.
Members and Visitors are able to contact the SGT and ask general questions at [email protected]; Salt Grass Trail Association, 281.463.2626
Please feel free to contact us at any time if we may be of assistance.
Trail Boss: Philip Fairchild 713.205.2957
Asst. Trail Boss: Shane Linnell 281.910.3804
Secretary: Sally Hakemack 713.882.8359
Safety Boss: Chad Dismukes 979.337.1214
Grand-Daddy of 'em All
