Education
One of BCHA’s missions is to educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the wise use of the American backcountry resources by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage and “Leave No Trace” principles.
New Members Education Curriculum
The BCHA Education Committee has developed an educational
US Forest Service Trail Fundamentals
As a BCHA member who communicates to the Forest Service on public trail issues should be familiar with the trail fundamentals that include five key concepts that are cornerstones of Forest Service trail maintenance and management, Trail Type, Trail Class, Managed Use, Designed Use, and Trail Design Parameters.
This training was given to BCH members at a previous national convention, it is available for download.
Introduction to Trail Classifications, Download – PDF, and PDF1
Part 1 –Why we need to be Concerned, Download – PDF, or PPT Presentation
Part 2 – Understanding Trail Fundamentals, Download – PDF, or PPT Presentation
Part 3 – Approaches for Obtaining and Validating Data, Download – PDF, or PPT Presentation
Part 4 – Example Responses, Download – PDF, or PPT Presentation
Planning Process, Download – PPT Presentation
USFS Nine-mile Wildlands Training Center
Ninemile Wildlands Training Center (NWTC) is gearing up for another year of providing quality hands on traditional skills training. Each year classes are available on Teamster Driving, Basic and Advanced Packing techniques, Horsemanship, Horse Handling & Training, Defensive Horsemanship, and Firearms Handling for Packers, for more information on this years classes go to the Ninemile web site,
call 406-626-5201 or write to the address:
Ninemile Wildlands Training Center
Ninemile Ranger Station
20325 Remount Road
Huson MT 59846

The NWTC was started in 1988 to provide traditional skills training to government employees. In 1998, Congress passed legislation allowing us to open our classes to the public through a program called Heritage Expeditions. The Ninemile Wildlands Training Center is located at the historic Ninemile Ranger Station on the Lolo National Forest in western Montana. Ninemile Ranger Station is located approximately 25 miles west of Missoula, MT. Our facility, the Ninemile Remount Depot, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Packing Videos
We have made available to you some packing training videos by Casey Hufstader and Mack Long. The videos featuring Casey Hufstader will teach you mule packing basics, how to fit a pack saddle and tieing a Walker Hitch. There is also a 8 videos featuring Mack Long covering all aspects of packing from basics to advance packing technics.

Equestrian Educational Videos
Here are some Equestrian related educational and other videos that are important to watch. They cover defensive horsemanship, how to approach users on multi use trails and other Equestrian related Forest Service videos we recommend members watch.
