Back Country Horsemen of British Columbia

Equus Caballus, the mammal so near and dear to our hearts. The one who you gracioulsy spend your money on, eats you out of house and home, and last but not least makes you pick up after him. In more average language...the horse. Take a look below and read up on some interesting facts that just might surprise you! Horses have bigger eyes than any other mammal that lives on land Until the 1960’s Dartmoor ponies were used to escort prisoners from local prisons while they were on outside duties Horses with pink skin can get a sunburn When a horse raises his head and pulls his lips back, cocking his head to the side he is doing what is called flehmen. Flehmen is known to be a way to direct scents in the air to specialized glands at the end of the nasal passage. So he's not smiling, rather…

Congradulations to Sheila Sowerby as the winner of the June Saddle Selfie contest. This candid shot was one of the pack string riding into Rendevous at the Merritt Rodeo Grounds earlier this month. Happy trails! 

 As summer is settling in, its drawing more of us out onto the trail networks. With the amazing trails all over the valley there is frequently cross culture recreation found in one place. In turn this means that riders have the potential to be passing bikers, and hikers while clopping along those scenic mountain trials. To keep us aware and above all SAFE, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC has made a Trail User's Code of Ethics. Hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders are increasingly sharing the trials they travel. They also have concern for minimizing their impact on the back country. Some dangers exist when different users share the same trails. However all recreationists who are aware of others and practice "treading lightly" will help reduce conflicts and environmental damage, making everyone's trip outdoors more enjoyable. Trail EtiquetteCertain etiquette practiced by all trail users is easy to do and…

Back Country Horsemen members Rick Phye and his wife, Audrey Phye-McKenzie, hit the local trails with their dogs Tippy and Buck. The local chapter of the BCHBC works closely with the Comox Valley Regional District on everything from building bridges, to decisions about the best footing for trail surfaces, horse trailer parking, signage, safety, trail hazards and more. Photo by Boomer Jerritt It is a glorious weekday afternoon and all is quiet in the Wildwood Forest, northeast of Courtenay. The sun is streaming through the canopy of majestic fir trees and a slight breeze tickles their branches. The sunshine and shadows dapple the fern-covered forest floor, and it almost seems to sparkle. It is the perfect day for a trail ride.Sharon Pickthorne pulls up with her truck and horse trailer. Her horse, Elsa, nickers a welcoming greeting to the other horses and riders waiting there. They are all members of…

Congradulations to Bonnie Hull and her horse Ezi as the winners of the May edition of the Saddle Selfie contest!! The response has been so overwhelming with the many entries submitted each month! As the weather will only get warmer and nicer keep sharing your special moments with your equine friends. Happy trails. Photo submissions can be sent to the BCHBC web writer; Kara Friesen 

The North Okanagan Chapter of BCHBC was founded in 2010, by eleven passionate equine people. Who, because of their enjoyment of trail riding, wanted to foster an environment for natural horsemanship on their rides. At that time there also was an expectation that the local railway line running from Armstrong to Sicamous would be decommissioned in the near future. Because of this the group wanted to be in place to help lobby for the rail to trail concept. Helping to create an equine friendly trail in place of the railroad. The Chapter continues to work towards that goal. The Chapter remains small, but committed to preserving equestrian access and maintaining the Okanagan area trails. As well as monthly trail rides, we like to hold de-spooking events and obstacle play days where we can help our horses become calmer and better trail partners.  Among some of the groups favourite riding areas…

The story that I am about to share, brings a deep sense of pride and honor, being apart of the Back Country Horseman of BC. The story began last summer (2014) with a huge dream and many willing hands coming together. Bringing to reality thoughts that had only been on napkins. The goal: Clear out old horse paddocks Construct 28 new steel corrals Build a proper manure deposit pit Fence off riparian wetland area To make this dream come to life would take heavy duty machinery, welders, tons of steel, and the most positive and willing volunteers ever to be found! And so the transformation began; From this: To this: New Manure Pit View of new corrals with rock drainage on the edges After three full days of countless hours and blood, sweat and tears poured into the renewal of the camp, it brought cause for celebration. And so the…

      In 1989, a small group of people in the Fraser Valley set out to form the Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia. A man named Jim McCrae was the driving force behind this movement. The society received official status from Victoria on June 11, 1991. That year a small group including Peter Obstfeld, Pat Ellis, Frank and Pat Russell, and Isabel Pritchard got together in Kelowna to see if there was enough interest to start a chapter in the Okanagan. The Fraser Valley Chapter (founding chapter) organized a meeting in Kamloops which set BCHBC on its way to being a province wide organization. There were five chapters who committed to the concept. They were Fraser Valley, Yarrow, Kamloops, Okanagan and Kootenay.The Okanagan Chapter charter was registered in 1992 with Herb Schindelka as president.     The members were from all along the valley from Armstrong to Penticton.…

Congradulations to Miriam Schilling as the winner of the April edition of the Saddle Selfie contest!!

The Powell River Chapter of BCHBC may be one of the smallest in the province, but this end-of-the-road, rural community has miles upon miles of riding trails. Located at the northern tip of the Sechelt Peninsula, Powell River is a town of 17,000 with neighbouring Texada Island a short ferry ride away. Separated from the city of Vancouver by two ferries and from Vancouver Island by one ferry, travelling to and from equestrian events is expensive and time consuming. Perhaps this is why the club has such a good working relationship with other user groups.  “We have to share, there’s nowhere else to go!” The Powell River BCHBC chapter formed in the mid 1990’s when Bob and Sharon Sunquist moved to Powell River from Kamloops and introduced BCHBC to the local horse community. Gradually the club’s numbers grew as word spread and over the years the group has become a…