Click a name below to Email:

Dan MacDonald Chair 604-941-9888
Carleigh Paterson Vice Chair 604-308-1962
Phil McCrae Membership 604-534-4712
Mary Huntington Education 604-988-8442
Larry Squire IT Director 604-856-8968
Jim McCrae Trail Committee 604-856-5477
Jack Breaks Workbee records 604-856-7786

About Aldergrove "Happy Trails" chapter...

Monthly Meetings: Chapter meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 P.M., 494 - 256 St, Aldergrove. Meeting places and times can vary, please call one of the contacts if you would like to come to a chapter meeting. Guests are always welcome!

For everyone's safety, dogs are welcome in camp, but dogs and stallions are not permitted on rides.

We are proud to say... The value of Aldergrove Chapter trail work now totals $34,737.00

Aldergrove News
Aldergrove's Winter Warmer Event Kick-Off

winter_warmer_1-4Coming from all over the Lower Mainland, Members and Non-members alike travelled to the Education Centre in Aldergrove for the first of four sessions that will touch on topics from all four levels of our Trail Rider Education Program.  Instructors Rose Schroeder, Jack Breaks, John Gardner and myself along with the help of surprise visitor "Vanna Bling the Games Girl" alias Carleigh Paterson put on a day long event that had participants covering topics from First Aid kits and Group Riding etiquette to Parts of the Horse and Securing Horses safely while on the trail.  In the warm confines of the Ed centre, participants eagerly joined in the activities while sharing lots of jokes and experiences that enriched the whole day.  It was very pleasing to see even a couple of very young ladies joining in where ever they were able, right Georgia and Madison?  Will they come back for more.  You bet!  Enthusiasm ran high, and the potential for spin-off in-depth sessions is very high.  There is still room if you wish to join in  the remaining three sessions.  Just contact me, Mary Huntington at my email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone me at 604.988.8442.  Saturday was proof that learning is fun.  Come join us!  And until then - Happy Trails

Mary Huntington

Education Chair

Aldergrove Chapter

 
The Jingle Bell Ride

jonathonTime for reflection on the Jingle Bell Ride

By Dan MacDonald

The Jingle Bell Ride was the last organized ride of the year and the day was cold with snow in the forecast. We gathered in the parking lot at the Douglas Taylor Park trail head with our heads sunk into our shoulders taking a few minutes to shake those first chills. Some words were said for the sake of safety and we all saddled up. It was quite the sight with bright caps and gloves, smiling faces and the sounds of many bells doing well what bells are supposed to do. This holiday picture was completed when the first tiny specks of snow started to fall. Horses and riders all got along which is always a major bonus on these rides and it didn't take long before the rhythm of the hoof beats and the laughter and chatter faded a little and I started to think back on a very good year.

I thought back to the Christmas party and the many parties before. Walking in from the cold outside to a space heated by a wood stove working overtime. The tropical temperature caused very rosy cheeks. You could put a white beard on any of us and our faces would make the perfect Santa Clause. Good food and always the conflicting advice, You'll have to try Jim's wine vs whatever you do, don't drink Jim's wine!

Rides - and we had some great ones. The Itcha ride was an adventure ride that had it all. I just finished reading a draft article that Sheila wrote describing the ride. She captured it very well so I'll leave it up to you to read that article in Saddle Up magazine. (We'll let you know when to expect it)

TTFPRR (Treasures of the Tulameen Flower Power Rig Ride). Jim tried to time the ride to coincide with flowers blooming in the Alpine and he timed it perfectly. We moved our rigs to a new location every few days and each new base camp allowed us to ride into spectacular alpines with each new vista as impressive as the other. Emerald ponds, jagged peaks, water falls, blue sky, very hot weather and after the long hot ride, there was always someone willing to open a fridge and crack you a cold one.

Other rides and there were many, Yarrow, Fraser Valley and us. We're always invited to each others and from what I've heard all the rides were very successful and the only major conflict - choosing which ride cause a person couldn't do them all.

2 hours went by very fast and time for reflection over as we approached our starting point. The flakes of snow were large and the trail was covered in white. At the parking lot chef Thiessen was waiting with gourmet hotdogs which not surprisingly the dogs didn't last long. After the feast everyone quickly put their mounts in respective trailers and off home we went with out incident - almost - but that's another story.jinglebell

 
The Itcha Ride Summer 2009

“They Had the Courage of Bears and the Manners of Goats”

By Sheila Sowerby Aldergrove BCHBC     

 

    crossing_the_Bezieko_River_no.1 It all began at an Aldergrove Backcountry Horsemen of BC meeting in September 2008. We were hashing over our wonderful BC 150 ride (a nine day ride from Fort Langley to Jacobsen Lake to celebrate BC’s birthday) and were wondering what to do next summer. Those of us who had participated in the ride had unanimously not wanted it to end, and we wondered how we could ever recreate that. Jim McRae suggested the Itcha Mountain Range on the Chilcotin Plateau would be a spectacular ride. This was the country made famous by Rich Hobson in his book ‘Grass beyond the Mountains’. The Itchas were about a hundred miles

 
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Aldergrove Chapter Events

February
Valentine's Ride and Social
February 13, 2010 (All Day)

It’s Valentine’s Day let’s go for a ride.

We’ll go for a nice leisurely ride on trails at Golden Ears Park. You'll be back at your barn in plenty of time...


Dan MacDonald
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Winter Warmer Education Day
February 21, 2010 (10:00 am)

Last in a series of 4 education days. This day will focus on: setting up a highline, hitches and pack boxes, more hobbling and picketing, lost shoes and...


Mary Huntington
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March
General Meeting
March 03, 2010 (7:30 pm)
494 - 256th Street Aldergrove
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Whine Ride & Fundraiser
March 07, 2010 (All Day)
YOUR LAST CHANCE ...to wimper and whine about the weather, boredom, your riding partners, Chairperson, or anything else. After the ride we'll get together...

Sheila Sowerby
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April
General Meeting
April 07, 2010 (7:30 pm)
494 - 256th Street Aldergrove
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May
General Meeting
May 05, 2010 (7:30 pm)
494 - 256th Street Aldergrove
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Churn Creek Rig Ride
May 07, 2010 (8:00 am)
Should be a beautiful ride into the Churn Creek recreation area (real Cowboy Country) More information to follow as we dig up more information

Dan MacDonald (604)941-9888
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Rendezvous
May 28, 2010 (8:00 am)
Fun & laughter for all at Rock Creek.

See BCHBC Mainpage for information
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Rendezvous (Ald)
May 28, 2010 (All Day)
Rock Creek - riding, learning, shmoozing, singing, embibing (embibing ... I know your aghast ...but it's true) with BCHBC members from all over the...
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Rendezvous
May 29, 2010 (8:00 am)
Fun & laughter for all at Rock Creek.

See BCHBC Mainpage for information
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Recent Events
February
Winter Warmer Education Day
February 07, 2010 (10:00 am)

Proper waste disposal, Leave what you find - 3rd of 4 educational days. This day we will focus on: Horse travel in the wilderness, setting up a camp and...


Mary Huntington
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© 2008 Aldergrove Chapter BCHBC

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