For Hometown News
SEBASTIAN - The Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve will host the eighth annual horseback poker ride and camp out on 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 up 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 from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
Pre-registration is requested for poker ride participants, but mandatory registration is required for campers by Nov. 26.
The event is held on the northwest portion of the state park, alongside the visitor center. It is accessed via County Road 507 in Fellsmere, on the north border of the C-54 canal.
Participants must have their own horse to participate in the poker ride. Please note 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, a viral disease in horses.
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.
All members of the community, hikers, bikers, riders, kayakers, birders, neighbors and all lovers of nature are invited 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 hand on to answer questions to the public interested in learning more about becoming members of the Citizens for the St Sebastian Preserve.
For more information and to get registration forms for the event, visit www.nbbd.com/npr/cpa or call (772) 643-4925 or email treasurecoasttrailriders@gmail.com.