‘Heart of Dixie’ weekend ride to be featured on TV
Published 11:00 pm Monday, April 15, 2013
![Missy Strother and her daughter, Bobbi Jo Davis, were among the throngs of riders who participated in the Heart of Dixie Trail Ride during the weekend.](https://www.troymessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2013/04/4-16-TRAI-RIDE_web2.jpg)
Missy Strother and her daughter, Bobbi Jo Davis, were among the throngs of riders who participated in the Heart of Dixie Trail Ride during the weekend.
Ten years and counting.
That’s the way Richard Dunn, owner of “The Heart of Dixie Trail Ride” described the weekend celebration of 10 years “in the business.”
Trail riders by the tens of dozens attended the event held to celebrate the business’ success and the coming of spring – and to be a part of the taping of yet another trail ride for Tom Seay’s “Best of America by Horseback” on RFD-TV.
Dunn opened the Heart of Dixie Trail Ride in 2003. At the time, he thought the venture might be a little too ambitious, but he was determined to try.
“I’d been in the cattle business and it wasn’t doing anything so I had to try something else,” Dunn said. “I’d been around horses all my life and had been on a lot of trail rides. I knew there were a lot of people around here that enjoyed riding and that there were a lot of people looking for different trails to ride. We had a good place to ride so we opened up and we’ve been here 10 years now … and counting.”
Dunn said it was real honor to have Seay back at “The Heart of Dixie Trail Ride.”
“Tom has got one of the top riding shows in the country,” Dunn said. “He was here about five years ago and we’re honored that he’s back. He goes all over the country and a lot of people catch his show.”
During the event, the trail riders followed their noses to the campfire cooking of Don Shields that featured corn on the cob and shrimp appetizers.
“People that trail ride like outdoor cooking and Don does some of the best you’ll ever find.
Shields drew a big crowd around the pot where he was demonstrating cooking over a fire. The crowd watched interestingly and waited anxiously to sample the appetizers before heading back out on the trail.
“We had a lot of riders and everyone enjoyed Tom and Don and being a part of a great outdoor experience,” Dunn said.
Seay takes viewers to beautiful riding destinations all over the country. His “Best of America by Horseback” features the trails, area history, local rider and location facilities. The program featuring The Heart of Dixie Trail Ride will air in July on RFD-TV.