Back Country Horsemen of California Takes the Lead in Leave No Trace Stock Use Education As they preserve our right to ride horses on public lands, Back Country Horsemen of America also embrace and promote responsible recreation. The seven Leave No Trace principles are practical guidelines to help all users make better choices to minimize the impact of their presence … Read More

Back Country Horsemen of America preserves our right to ride horses on public lands, and seeks to inspire respect and appreciation for the wild lands that are fast disappearing. Those untouched landscapes and everything in them are a valuable resource, even the insects. Honeybees are responsible for the pollination of around a third of our country’s crop varieties, such as … Read More

We are deeply saddened that one of our BCHA founders, Ken Ausk from Columbia Falls, Montana passed away Sunday evening surrounded by his family.  Ken was feeling well Saturday taking care of his horses and watching Montana football on TV. Later that evening, Ken suffered a stroke.  Ken was 80 years old and married to his sweetheart Phyllis. He was … Read More

The Horse Owners Guide to Water Quality Protection is an excellent resource document from the Council of Bay Area Resource Conservation Districts (CA) 2002 Horse owners can reduce the need for further regulation by taking responsibility to manage horse waste, limit erosion, control storm water runoff, and protect creeks and waterways. With an expanding urban environment, horse owners must diligently … Read More

The tradition of traveling long distance through wild lands by horseback is older than our country itself. Back Country Horsemen of America cherishes that heritage and protects our right to carry on that legacy. The participation of younger folks who hold the same passion ensures that the tradition will thrive long into our country’s future. Back Country Horsemen of America … Read More

Submitted by National Park Traveler Staff on October 7, 2014 – 12:41am Bryce Canyon National Park has backed off from a proposal to require private horse owners to hire guides to ride in the park Public opposition has led Bryce Canyon National Park officials to drop their proposal to require all private horse groups to hire a guide to ride … Read More

Hi, my name is Jason Ridlon BCHA Director, BCHW Rendezvous Co-Chair, BCHW Special Projects Coordinator, BCHW Independent Member and it’s an honor to work with such great members from Washington and across the country. The last two attached photos are from our State Wide work parties here in Washington State. And here is a brief background of  how these photos … Read More

Hi, I am Larry Jeffers current President of the BCH of East TN and a current National Director. One of our current projects is development of horse trails in the Roan Mountain State Park in which access  via 3, 1/4 mile connectors to existing National Forest roads were denied by the National Forest. The connectors were key to the success of the project. … Read More

My name is Tom Thomas. I am president of BCH of NC.  I am honored to work with all our states members in maintaining the heritage and history of stock use in all wilderness areas.  We do this by putting boots and hooves on the ground maintaining trails, packing in equipment and resources for groups such as the Appalachian Trail … Read More

My name is Roy Cornett and I am a BCHA member from KY who really appreciates all that BCHA does for me and those of us who enjoy trail access to our public lands. Recently, I have been able to instill some of those thoughts into my granddaughter Aubrey Roark (8).  She has become hooked on trail riding with me.  … Read More

Left to right: Brenda Cecil, President of Mammoth Cave BCH Sarah Craighead, Superintendent of Mammoth Cave Nat. Park Ginny Grulke, President of KY BCH On October 15, 2014, Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Sarah Craighead signed an agreement with representatives of the Mammoth Cave Backcountry Horsemen, as a way to improve maintenance of the park’s horse trails. “Our agreement with … Read More

Click to Open the Fall 2014 Newsletter Inside This Issue Next Generation of BCHA 2, 16 From the Chairman’s Saddle 3 National Reports 4-5 40th Anniversary 8 The Catch Pen 8-12 BCHA Outreach Campaign 14