The Florida Cracker Trail Ride: Preserving Floridas Horse and Cattle Heritage - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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The Florida Cracker Trail Ride: Preserving Floridas Horse and Cattle Heritage

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... ponies & well-trained cow dogs ... Pictures of hotel & wharf at Punta Rassa. Hotel 1913. Wharf ... ride from a friend, has participated for 4 or more years ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Florida Cracker Trail Ride: Preserving Floridas Horse and Cattle Heritage


1
The Florida Cracker Trail Ride Preserving
Floridas Horse and Cattle Heritage
  • Tara M. Minton
  • Coordinator of Economic Analysis
  • University of Florida/IFAS

National Extension Tourism Conference 2004
Drawing of Florida cowman, Bone Mizell, by
Frederick Remington, 1895.
2
Florida Cattle History
Cattle Barons, Desoto County, FL early 1900s
  • Florida is Americas oldest cattle-producing
    state
  • Ponce de Leon brought cows to Florida in 1521
  • Cattle escaped evolved into Floridas piney
    woods cattle
  • Knowledge of cattle spread during the 1700s
    through Spanish missionaries Seminole Indians
  • Cattle Barons reigned Florida in 1800s early
    1900s

3
Florida Crackers
  • Range was open, fences were not used until 1950s
  • Cowmen hunt for wild cattle in Floridas thick
    woods brushthey are called cowhunters (not
    cowboys)
  • Use small cow ponies well-trained cow dogs
  • 10-12 foot braided leather whips used to control
    cattlegiving them the name Florida Crackers
  • Brands and ear marks used to distinguish cattle

4
The Cattle Drive
  • Cattle were hunted and gathered into herds
  • Large herds were driven from all over the state
    to the market on Floridas West coast at Punta
    Rassa
  • Cattle were sold loaded onto ships bound for
    Cuba
  • Cowmen would ride home together with saddlebags
    full of Spanish gold doubloons

5
Punta Rassa, Florida
  • Cattle market
  • Near mouth of Tampa Bay
  • Prosperous cowtown
  • Pictures of hotel wharf at Punta Rassa

Wharf 1890s
Postcard
Hotel 1913
6
The Florida Cracker Trail Ride
  • Re-enactment of the return ride cattlemen
    would make on horseback from Floridas west coast

7
The Florida Cracker Trail had humble beginnings
  • 1987- Florida State Legislature designated the
    Trail
  • First ride in May 1988
  • Led by Roger Haney from Hardee County, small
    group of cowmen and their cow ponies rode across
    Florida from Bradenton to Ft. Pierce
  • They just wanted to do it for old times sake!

8
Now its an Annual Event
  • I participated in the 2004 ride.
  • 17th Annual Cross-State Ride
  • 120 miles on horseback
  • Across 5 Florida counties
  • From Bradenton to Ft. Pierce
  • 120 participants

Photo by South Florida Water Management District
Cracker Trail route across Florida
9
Florida Cracker Trail Association
  • FCTA Mission to promote, maintain and enhance
    the natural beauty of the Florida Cracker
    Trailthat will showcase the natural beauty of
    our statefrom the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico
  • Main event FL Cracker Trail Ride
  • FCTA also hosts or supports
  • quarterly meetings rides
  • preservation of riding areas
  • equestrian therapy for the handicapped
  • special events

FCTA Website www.crackertrail.org
10
Daily Events on the Trail
  • Ride 17-22 miles each day
  • All meals are catered
  • Morning afternoon rest breaks
  • Lunch stop, move campers trailers
  • Night camp, dinner evening entertainment

11
Evening Entertainment
  • Historical Storytelling
  • Folk Music
  • Cowhunter Poetry
  • Arena Games
  • Auction
  • Barn Dance
  • Awards Ceremony
  • Friday Dance with Bonfire and Band

12
Entertainment for Kids
  • Whip Cracking Lessons
  • Whip Cracking Contest
  • Steer Roping Contest
  • Arena Games
  • Historical Facts Quiz from Mystery Riders
  • Prizes for Winners!

Many children give a report to their classmates
when they return to school.
13
Cracker Trail Ride Participant Survey
  • February 22-28, 2004
  • Two-page questionnaire
  • Administered at evening camp near dinnertime
  • FCTA Board Members encouraged ride participants
    to complete survey
  • 86 survey respondents
  • 72 response rate

14
Typical Ride Participant
  • white, married female, 40-49 years old, lives in
    Florida
  • high school diploma, annual income lt 75,000
  • heard about ride from a friend, has participated
    for 4 or more years
  • enjoys spending time with friends, participates
    with 4 or more people, camps in horse trailer
    with sleeping quarters

15
Typical Ride Participant (cont.)
  • feels ride is safe, is satisfied with ride fees,
    spends additional 175 mostly on vehicle items
    such as gasoline
  • historical storytelling is favorite ride
    entertainment
  • participates in other riding events other FCTA
    events
  • feels heritage preservation is important

Pictures from the trail!
16
Parade through Ft. Pierce, FL
  • Ride ends with parade through Ft. Pierce
  • Commemorative saddle raffle
  • Riders mingle with spectators answer numerous
    questions
  • Lunch at local downtown restaurants

17
The Trail ends at the Beach
Riders find time to put their feet up!
Riders camp with horses at Ft. Pierce beach
18
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to
  • UF/IFAS/Indian River REC
  • Florida Cracker Trail Association
  • Historical photos from Florida State Archives
  • Current photos by Judge Nelson Bailey
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