29th cross-state Cracker Trail ride leaves from East Manatee

EAST MANATEE -- Riders in the Florida Cracker Trail Association's 29th annual cross-state ride camped out Friday night at Kibbler Ranch and leave for Fort Pierce early Saturday.

With no WiFi, cable TV, or even a building in sight, riders seemed happy immersing themselves in the history of Florida cattle drives more than 100 years ago.

Kibbler Ranch is 15 miles east of Interstate 75 along State Road 64.

"I couldn't ask for anything more than this good weather, except for maybe a well-behaved horse," said a smiling Kathleen Kinney, 22.

About 90 riders, and about 30 others riding in the comfort of cars and trucks, are taking part this year, trail boss Suzanne Park said.

"That's pretty average," Park said, adding she hopes organizers can get approval to start the ride in Bradenton for the trail ride's 30th anniversary in 2017.

Riders this year come from Manatee County, Sarasota, and as far away as Holyrood, Ontario, Canada.

"The Florida Cracker Trail Ride opens up tourists' eyes to what Florida

is," Park said.

Thomas Tucker, 72, of Englewood, and formerly of Cape Code, Mass., was riding the Cracker Trail, which ends next Friday, for the first time this year.

He learned about the ride from Park, who does horse rescue work in Sarasota County.

Tucker is riding a chestnut mare name Miss Jane.

"You try to get as much riding in as you can," he said of preparations for the weeklong ride.

Angela Coggins-Andrews of Starke in north central Florida learned about the Cracker Trail Ride from friends, who raved about the experience, she said.

"It's a bucket-list thing," she said.

Riders are taking a variety of mounts.

Coggins-Andrews will be riding a Kentucky Mountain horse. Catherine Peard of Ontario will be riding a Haflinger, a sturdy breed that originated in Austria.

And then there is Donald "Mule Man" Mixon, 70, of Jacksonville, who will be driving a red wagon pulled by his mule, Rochester. Mixon has been taking the Cracker Trail Ride annually since 1999.

Curtis Brown, 64, of Callahan, near Jacksonville, will ride shotgun with Mixon.

"I started with horses, but mules are smarter," Mixon said. "They have better endurance and they live longer. They can take care of themselves, too."

Roy and Jennifer Hutsell of Athens, Tenn., are also making the Cracker Trail Ride.

It's nothing new for Roy Hutsell. This will be his 12th ride.

"It's much better weather than we have at home. We enjoy the company, and we really don't have this much open country to ride back home," he said.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter @jajones1.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "29th cross-state Cracker Trail ride leaves from East Manatee ."