BCHA Monthly News & Updates May 2024

Another Successful Saw Training!

Region 2

Chainsaw Certification

Custer, South Dakota

Mark Himmel and John Chepulis

Region 1 Saw Trainers

YOUTH GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

Do you have an event or program to promote youth?

Check out the BCHA Youth Grant Opportunity.

Don't wait, funds are limited and on a first come first evaluated basis.

APPLY ONLINE HERE

BCHA encourages all members to use the E-Bike Reporting Form and the Horse Camp Incident Form when they see problems.

E-BIKE REPORTING FORM

HORSE CAMP INCIDENT FORM

CHAPTERS

Kansas Chapter of BCHA Celebrates 10 Years!

What a fun weekend the Kansas Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of America had celebrating their 10-year anniversary at Eisenhower State Park, Melvern Lake! Campers and riders filled 38 camp spots for the April weekend, and more riders came in for day rides. BCHKS welcomed riders Friday evening with a hot dog roast and s’mores, and scavenger hunt sheets were distributed encouraging everyone to get acquainted. Saturday morning was chilly with hot coffee, donuts, and muffins to get everyone warmed up and ready to mount up. Riders had the option of joining guided rides or hitting the Eisenhower trails on their own. It was a beautiful day to be in the saddle! Bits of BCHA and BCHKS trivia were posted out on the trails helping riders learn as much as they could before the trivia competition later Saturday evening.

ARKANSAS

In the heart of our beloved Big Flat, nestled within the welcoming embrace of the community center, the

Arkansas backcountry horsemen gathered for their annual state meeting on April 20, 2024.

Representatives from each chapter convened, united by a shared passion for our noble cause.

District Ranger Ron Hollis stood before us.....

Pawnee National Grasslands, northern Weld County, Colorado

By L Jay McDonald, NCBCH

The Pawnee National Grasslands in northern Weld County, Colorado is managed by the Roosevelt/Arapahoe National Forest. It isn't in the forest or the mountains, but it is on public lands and is a great place to ride throughout most of the year. On April 9th and 10th, members of the Northern Colorado Back Country Horsemen (NCBCH) replaced a gate system there that was not safe for hikers or horses. The project entailed removing old posts, wire gate, and installing seven pressure treated posts, a 12 ft metal gate, V pass through for hikers, and reconnecting the barbed wire. The posts were all cemented and the self catching gate can be opened and closed from the saddle. The NFS was very impressed with the project and the partnership with NCBCH. Several more projects are planned in the Roosevelt/Arapahoe National Forest and on the Pawnee National Grasslands.

THE ART OF VOLUNTEERING AND COLLABORATING IN PISGAH

If you've spent much time on trails in Western North Carolina, you've likely been in Pisgah National Forest. Pisgah is vast, stretching across multiple counties, from west of Asheville, all the way up to the Boone area. There are several different ranger districts that help manage the US Forest Service lands within Pisgah — Grandfather, Appalachian, and Pisgah.

2024 Equisure Equine Insurance

TIME TO RENEW YOUR EQUISURE INSURANCE OR SIGN UP FOR THE FIRST TIME

$1,000,000 Coverage for $20 Individual or $40 for a family.

CLICK HERE FOR FAQ

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

Keeping Trails Open for All

BCHA OPERATIONS DONATION HERE

CHAPTER SUPPORT GRANT DONATION

SHARE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Does your chapter have a trail, project or great story you would like to share? Please send them to michellewade@bcha.org. We will do our best to include them here.

Please send as Word doc and pictures as attachments not in the word doc.
Provide description: project, place, purpose, etc.
Please include the name of person and chapter submitting the pictures.

2024-2025 BCHA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mark Himmel	Chairman
Craig Ferdig	Vice Chairman
Kathy Young	Treasurer
Sherry Copeland	Past Chairman
Brad Pollman	Director
Jim Allen	Director
Heather Cox	Director
Dana Chambers	Non-Director
Greg Schatz	Non-Director

ADVERTISERS