Annual Bob Burns Memorial Trail Ride Is Friday, Saturday

The Douglas County Fox Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association will be hosting their fourth annual Bob Burns National Trail Ride on Friday and Saturday Sept. 28 and 29.

The ride will take place at the Bateman Ranch in the Mark Twain National Forest just off of the Glade Top Trail. There is no charge for the event.

There will be two rides each day, a morning ride at 10 a.m. and an afternoon ride at 1:30 p.m. Each ride will have a trail boss and will be approximately two and a half hours long.

The ride is open to all riders and all breeds of horses. It is, however, recommended that all horses be shod, as most of the trails are rocky. There is primitive camping available but there are no horse stalls available so riders must bring portable corrals or high line their horses.

Friday evening there will be a potluck cook-out starting at 4:30 p.m. Hotdogs, brats and hamburgers and beverages will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a dish to pass, and a chair.

The ride is in honor of Bob Burns who passed away five years ago. Bob was an avid trail rider. He was very active in all horse activities in and around Ava. Bob served as president of the Douglas County Fox Trotters for several years. He also was a founding member and trail master of the Mountain Riders Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen and an active member of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breeders’ Association.

Interested riders can contact Stephen Assenmacher at (417) 796-2912 for more information.