Back Country Horsemen of British Columbia

  Hey! Want to come ride with us? We're headed for fun at Rendezvous 2014! Rendezvous 2014 will be held in Maple Ridge, BC and is co-hosted by the Aldergrove and Yarrow Chapters of the Back Country Horsemen Society of BC! Learn more on the Rendezvous page of this website!

By Terri Perrin  In was a big – and dirty job – but someone had to do it! this summer (2013), volunteers from the North Vancouver Island Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of BC (BCHBC) gave generously of their time to assist the Comox Valley Regional District with the re-making of a bridge on the historic One Spot Trail.   “The original bridge, located opposite 5150 Condensory Road, is the connection between the One Spot and Wildwood Forest,” says the Comox Valley Regional District’s Brian Allaert. “It was installed in 1995 by Bob Webb and other volunteers who wanted to see the Comox Logging Grade opened up as a trail. The bridge needed replacing because the stringers supporting it were rotting and BCHBC had asked the Regional District to upgrade the bridge decking which was slippery when wet. BCHBC offered input on the design of the railing and surfacing…

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is proud to announce a series of educational talks for horse owners and interested members of the public as part of an ongoing effort to improve horse welfare in B.C.   The BC SPCA’s Dr. Bettina Bobsien, equine veterinary specialist, will visit communities across B.C. to provide information on Canada’s new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. Topics include:   An overview of the industry-supported process to create a new Code of Practice for the care and handling of equines in Canada. Nutrition, health management, breeding, housing, humane training and other requirements and recommendations included in the Equine Code of Practice. The BC SPCA’s approach to preventing and addressing situations of horse abuse and neglect.   Horse Council BC representatives will also be on hand at the events to speak about the importance…

Aldergrove Chapter BCHBC members hard at work with Al Neufeld from the Township.   Story by Sheila Sowerby. Photos by Hugh Martell.   Sometimes horse people are not seen in the kindest of lights. Other user groups see us as seeming to feel elite or entitled as we sit perched upon our magnificent, prancing steeds on the multi-use trails trying not to squish a baby buggy or bicycle. Those of us who own horses (or mules) know that it ain’t that glamorous but we do what we have to do (skip vacations or the odd meal) because we love to ride.   We love our trails and sometimes rally in great numbers when a trail or our “right to ride” is threatened.   The South Langley Regional Trail was never threatened but was never finished. Construction began in 1995 heading east out of Campbell Valley Park. It is often referred…

From Horse Council BC's August 2013 e-newsletter:   Kat Beaulieu of the Bowen Island Horse Owners and Riders Association (BIHORA) would like to send a big thank-you to all Bowen's thoughtful motorists who slow down and pass wide when they see a horse on the road. However, she notes that there are still a number of vehicles that don't slow down enough when they're passing an equestrian. To address this concern, BIHORA has purchased four new road safety signs that have been installed this week. "Most of Bowen's drivers do exactly the right thing when they see a horse and rider on the road." Kat says, "They slow down and offer a wide berth to the horse and rider. The new signs target newcomers and visitors who may not have the same level of understanding of how unpredictable horses can be."    Paid for through membership fees and fundraising, the new signs have been purchased by BIHORA and…

July 29, 2013, Campbell River, BC – Saturday, July 20 was a day to celebrate for members of the Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia (BCHBC) and all equine enthusiasts who enjoy trail riding on Vancouver Island. On this day, more than 25 BCHBC members from across Vancouver Island, along with an additional 40-plus dignitaries and guests, gathered to celebrate the official grand opening of the Memekay River site of the Salmon Brewster Equine Campsites and Trail Corridor Project near Sayward, BC. BCHBC worked with Recreation Sites and Trails BC in Campbell River to have the first Vancouver Island Crown Land equine-friendly public recreation campsites and trail designated. “This wonderful facility is an example of what can happen when people have a vision, when they work in a spirit of community collaboration, and they put in hundreds of hours of volunteer effort in order to see that vision become…

Manure Management - Composting Workshop   Hosted by the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition When: Saturday September 14th, 2013, 8:30 am - 1 pm. Where: Multipurpose room at Yarrow Community School - 4595 Wilson Road Chilliwack BC Cost: Free! (Thanks to the financial contribution from Vancouver Foundation and RBC BlueWater) The workshop will teach hobby farmers and equestrians about manure management including composting basics (with or without machinery), information on building a composting system (to fit each person’s need), pasture management and rotational grazing. Participants will gain hands on experience to create their own composting system, learn how to save money (by reducing or eliminating fees for hauling manure away), improve their pastures and ensure our local waterways remain healthy. We will also talk about the manure link website, that helps connect horse owners with gardeners who would love to have some fabulous fertilizer for their gardens! There will be a…

EC MANNING PROVINICAL PARK Like everything we plan, it is always a good idea to keep your options open! So it was with our 4th annual opening of the Headwaters Corral Equestrian Campsite in EC Manning Park. The Campsite opens for the season the first weekend of July each year. Headwaters Corral was built in partnership with BC Parks, Manning Park Resort and the Yarrow Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC (BCHBC). The opening weekend usually involves many volunteers pitching in to clean up the 7 parking pads, roofing the manure bin, installing signs, pulling weeds and chopping firewood. Volunteer crews also go out with Park Rangers to fix bridges and clear trails that are designated for horse use. It takes a lot of volunteer help and donations to keep this project thriving. This year our major contributors were Emil Anderson Maintenance (EAM) and Horse Council BC (HCBC). EAM…

Scott Denkers, Hope Mountain Centre, Hope, BC, is hosting a 'Leave No Trace Trainer Class' (LNT) in September. People affiliated with the Back Country Horsemen of BC (or other outdoor types) are welcome to attend. This is a 'train-the-trainer class' that results in trainer certification from LNT Canada and is taught by  LNT Master Educator Connie Denkers.  Connie was heavily involved as the Washington State representative for Leave No Trace organization before moving to Canada and would like to help spread the word about the Seven principlesof LNT in this corner of the world. The cost of the class is $215 per person that includes 16 hours of training, an overnight backpack, some nice "bling" and trainer certification. One evening, September 6 and the two-day overnight camping trip Sept. 14 & 15. For more information visit: www.hopemountain.org.

A Victoria Times Colonist newspaper columnist has a thing or two to say about safety for riders and drivers. Read this great article on-line: http://www.timescolonist.com/steve-wallace-horses-and-cars-can-get-along-on-the-road-1.313683. On behalf of the many equestrians who ride the roads... THANKS Mr. Steve Wallace for helping spread the word to keep everyone safe.