FELLSMERE — The Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve will host the 8th Annual Horseback Poker Ride and Camp-out on Saturday, Dec. 1. This event is a fundraiser to help meet the recreational and conservation goals of the St Sebastian River Preserve State Park.
Participants will ride a 10 mile trail, stopping to pick playing cards along the way. Prizes will be awarded for the best and worst poker hands, as well as awards for oldest rider, youngest rider, oldest horse, etc.
All proceeds are donated to the park.
Riders pay $20 for their first hand and $5 for each additional hand. The $20 fee includes lunch, door prizes, and other awards. Camping is also available Friday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 2.
Preregistration is requested for poker ride participants, but campers must register by Nov. 26.
The event is held on the northwest portion of the state park, alongside the Visitor Center. It is accessed via CR 507 in Fellsmere on the north border of the C-54 canal.
You must have your own horse to participate in the poker ride. Please note that it is now Florida law that all children under 16 riding in a state park must wear a helmet. Exceptions will not be made. Riders must also show proof of negative Coggins.
The Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve is recognized by the Florida Park Service as the Citizen Support Organization for the St Sebastian River Preserve State Park. A CSO serves as a volunteer organization to help meet their park’s goals, both physical and financial.
During this time of budget cuts, your state park needs you more than ever. The Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve, thanks to funds raised by the Horseback Poker Rides: has supplied the port-a-potty appreciated by horsemen and hikers alike on the south side Ranch Camp, has purchased monitoring and research equipment for scrub-jay and red cockaded woodpecker research, built more horse stalls at the Horsemen’s Camp, provided supplies and food to park service fire crews, replaced the roofs on the stalls at the Horsemen’s Headquarters, and more.
Just as important is the CCSP’s job in providing advice and guidance to the park staff on the needs and concerns of the general public in regards to park issues. Besides the financial and volunteer support it provides the park, the CSSP gives the public a direct line to the park staff.
It is vitally important to those who use the park and are interested in its future; be they hikers, equestrians, kayakers, neighbors, etc., to be a part of the CSO.
We are inviting all members of the community; hikers, bikers, riders, kayakers, birders, neighbors, and all lovers of nature to stop by the Visitor’s Center on the day of the poker ride from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rangers and CSO members will be on hand to answer questions to members of the public interested in learning more about becoming members of the Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve.
Bring the family and find out more about your state park, its CSO, and how you can help preserve this amazing resource for us all.
For more information and to get registration forms for the poker ride, please visit www.NBBD.com/npr/cpa, contact Patti Fuchs at (772) 643-4925, or email TreasureCoastTrailRiders@gmail.com.