Founded in 1989
In 1989, in Langley, BC, a small group of equine enthusiasts were sitting around Jim and Marilyn McCrae’s dining room table talking about horses and trail riding. Their purpose was to form the Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia. Jim McCrae was the driving force behind that meeting. After his successful 1988 solo ride of the Pacific Crest Trail (Mexico to British Columbia) Jim had noted that whenever he needed assistance in his trek along the trail there were always members of a group – the Back Country Horsemen of America – willing to help him.
The following year, Jim participated in Washington State’s Wagon Train Centennial celebration. Again, the Back Country Horsemen were there. Jim realized that British Columbia could use an organization like this to band recreational riders together. Today, Jim is still a quiet driving force who never misses a chance to discuss Back Country Horsemen. With the combined good efforts of that small group, Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia (BCHBC) received official “Not for Profit” status on June 11, 1991.