What’s New and Exciting

Bear Spray Education Eileen and Shelly geared up to practise. Robson Valley chapter hosted an “Inservice” (education session) for our members put on by member Terry Winkler this spring. Participants were asked to bring expired or partially [...]

Leather Care Short Course BCHBC Shuswap Chapter has a ‘members helping members’ attitude. Most of what someone has learned, they learned from someone else! So why not pay it forward? Here is a condensed version of what we learned [...]

Who Ensures Your Equine Access to Trails? (and Your Right to Ride and Recreate with Equines?) When you are out riding a trail or camping at one of the facilities that dot BC, do you think about who might [...]

The Wild and Wonderful Women of the Back Country Eileen McDonald with husband Brian at Belle Mountain, McBride BC Eileen McDonald- The most dedicated volunteer I have ever met! She has been fully involved in the BCHBC [...]

Cataline - Legendary Packer of British Columbia Refusing to let the rich history of legendary packer, Jean Caux “Cataline” deteriorate, two former BCHBC Northwest Chapter chairmen made it their personal project to reconstruct his cairn in Hazelton, BC. [...]

“Pack to the Future!” Rendezvous 2026  Once again, BCHBC members are gearing up for our annual provincial gathering, “Rendezvous”, and you’re invited! This year’s event is taking place near 100 Mile House, at 100 Mile Horsepower Ranch, May 29-31, [...]

A History Lesson – The Story of Railroad Tracks A story researched and shared by Brenda Fleming, Aldergrove Chapter It all makes sense in the end, as you soon will clearly see… The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between [...]

    Help us build our library of great photos illustrating what BCHBC is all about and why someone might want to join in. Submit 5 of your favourite photos to enter into a draw for a $100 BCHBC BRANDED [...]

A New Message to Improve Trail Safety. As a trail rider, I’m always aware of the possibility of trail user conflict. However, my 30 years of riding experience has taught me the vast majority of [...]

CVI chapter host successful fundraiser for the new Nanaimo Cancer Treatment Centre. Trail vista. After our first event last year, it didn’t take long to make the decision to host another fundraiser in 2025. All we had [...]

Crowbars, chainsaws, mules and doughnuts; Tales of Pathfinding.  When the Senior Park Ranger for Golden Ears Park at the time, mentioned the Menzies Trail washout after the last atmospheric river, none of us quite grasped the scale of the [...]

  Belle Mountain Equine Trail Network & McIntosh Equine Recreation site. Map of the Campsite Robson Valley Chapter has just received the BCHBC Outstanding Project award. To earn this award of excellence, the project truly needs to [...]

 On May 17-19, against a backdrop of mountain vistas and sprawling meadows, the Princeton Exhibition Grounds hosted riders and their equines for BCHBC’S annual Rendezvous. This year’s theme, History & Horses, transformed the event into a vibrant tapestry - [...]

From Trail Team to Drill Team   L to R: Debra on Buddy, Lori on Coyote, Sarah on Gaitlyn, Jodie on foot, Zelda on Violet, Chloe on Ripley, Mel on Eli and Debbie on Lina Even though [...]

Riding Through the Wild Heart of the Chilcotin There’s something timeless about saddling up and heading into the backcountry on horseback — especially when you’re surrounded by close friends, incredible scenery, and the kind of stillness you can only [...]

Workbee 2024 -Trail Clearing the Olivine Section of the HBC Brigade Trail Map courtesy of the Hope Mountain Centre & Clark Geomatics The Olivine Trail is part of the historic Hudson’s Bay Company Trail and is one [...]

 A Haven for Equine Enthusiasts Memekey horse camp is located approximately 50 kilometers north of Campbell River, in the Sayward Valley, British Columbia. This camp has been a beloved destination for horse lovers since 2013. Nestled amidst the stunning [...]

The Trail to Tulameen Article by Jim McCrae Following the Historic Dewdney, Black Eye’s and Hudson Bay Brigade Trails A route. A trail. A passage through history. In the formative years of BCHBC we promoted awareness by sanctioning rides. [...]

  “Where Rivers and Friends Meet” Rendezvous 2025 Coming to Princeton BC this May Long Weekend! Every year somewhere in BC, trail riding enthusiasts from all over the province (and beyond) gather to see old friends, meet new ones, [...]

The Central Vancouver Island chapter of BCHBC has enjoyed a full, fun year of activities. With a healthy membership of 112, many of our gatherings are held at the Spruston Ride site, which is available to all BCHBC members. [...]

Exciting news!   Rendezvous will be held in Princeton in 2025.  Make a date, watch out on our website for more news as it develops.  You wont want to miss this fun, informative and always memorable event!

Our 2024 Winners of the BCHBC Ernie Buckle Cowboy Poetry Contest. 11 contestants in all stood up in front of an appreciative audience Friday night, sharing recitations from favorite cowboy poets or of ones they had created themselves.  [...]

Tunkwa Provincial Park Equestrian Camps First thing to do is to define where these two horse camps are. Yes two! In the same Provincial Park! We call it Tunkwa/Leighton because there are two lakes (Tunkwa and Leighton) and two [...]

Mountain Echoes of Rendezvous 2024 It was most certainly Back Country in the High Country! Living up to its name, our 2024 Rendezvous was held at the Canoe Mountain Rodeo Grounds,near Valemont, nestled amongst the Rocky and Monashee Mountain [...]

Spruston Staging Area near Nanaimo Volunteers taking a break. The Central Vancouver Island (CVI) Chapter has anywhere between 70 to over 100 members and serves the central part of Vancouver Island. Members who join come from as [...]

Our 2024 Winners of the BCHBC Ernie Buckle Cowboy Poetry Contest. 11 contestants in all stood up in front of an appreciative audience Friday night, sharing recitations from favorite cowboy poets or of ones they had created themselves.  [...]

Kearsley Creek and Headwaters Horse Camps Kearsley Creek Horse Camp: Located 9 km up the gravel Florence Lake FSR towards Stave Lake, just past the Zajac Ranch, is the Kearsley Creek equestrian campsite. Corrals and at Kearsley Creek. [...]

Skimikin Equestrian Camp.  #2 in our series on Horse Camps In 1992 Skimikin Lake was designated a Recreation Site and in 1994 the Trails were designated a Recreation Reserve. By the late 1990’s an Equestrian Campsite in the Shuswap [...]

$25,000 FIRST PRIZE up for grabs in BCHBC's 2024 Online Raffle !!!! This raffle is open to the Public and BCHBC members alike; please share with friends, co-workers & family members. Only  3200 tickets available! CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW [...]

#1 in a series on Horse Camps Created and/or Maintained by Aldergrove Chapter. Aldergrove chapter is already busy this year working on improvements to two horse camps: Woodlands, in Golden Ears Park and Tulameen Horse Camp in the Cascade [...]

A trail riders’ movement based in British Columbia is gaining traction in Alberta Submitted by Alberta Back Country Horsemen In 1989, in Langley, a small group of equine enthusiasts were sitting around Jim and Marilyn McCrae’s kitchen table with [...]

Rendezvous Scavenger Hunt Go at your own pace.  Keep your eyes open. Enjoy the Hunt!

This is your invitation! August 23 - 25, 2024 At the Coombs Fairgrounds It's like a West Coast rendezvous with saltwater air! Come and enjoy Trail riding, obstacle challenge, educational workshops, saddle mapping, cowboy poetry and campfires, crazy games and [...]

The mountains are calling!  Plans are underway for 3 great days ... cowboy challenge, Friday night potluck, Dutch Oven cook-off, on-the-trail packing training, poker ride, roast beef dinner & country dance (live music), scavenger hunt, cowboy poetry, cowboy church [...]

Here is exciting news to share from our long time BCHBC member and past Saddle Up coordinator, Terri Perrin, who moved to Alberta just a few short years ago! Brenda Kossowan and her horse ‘Keillidh’ enjoy a lunch [...]

What could be more exciting than a trip to Paradise! Where the scenery is breathtaking, the history astounding, the trails challenging, the friends entertaining, and the volunteering exhilarating. Paradise Valley in EC Manning Provincial Park is one of the [...]

In 2010, several Okanagan trail riders were enjoying the primitive trails and camping spots along the Trapping Creek forest service road. The goal for the keen riders was to connect trails and avoid having to ride along the sometimes [...]

Introduction to Trail Riding Workshop Shuswap Chapter has a lot of members! Over 70 in fact! Some are seasoned trail riders and horses, some new to the sport and some have had an incident that has made them or [...]

Being Prepared for Livestock Emergencies in the North Thompson   by Liz Morrison, member,  BCHBC North Thompson Chapter North Thompson BCHBC members Liz Morrison, Gina Walchuk, Carly Lepoviden, Candus Graffunder and Judy Lestander, pose with Calamity and members [...]

Trials of the Trail Safety Tips for Riding in the Back Country By Jim McCrae BCHBC co-founder and honorary lifetime member   Tip #2 Chaps, Bras, and the One Minute Club Chaps. Safety gear for the back country. I [...]

 Trials of the Trail       Safety Tips for Riding in the Back Country By Jim McCrae BCHBC co-founder and honorary lifetime member   Tip #1 Buddy Ropes Fifty years of riding in the backcountry inevitably involved some challenging and sometimes [...]

BC GAMING LICENCE #143470 BCHBC 2023 RAFFLE Tickets now available for public purchase! CLICK HERE TO BUY ONLINE We are excited to present the prizes for this year's raffle!  Tickets $50 each OR 3/$100 Total [...]

To: the RV 2023 Organizing Committee You are all amazing volunteers! Your time and effort did not go unnoticed. As valuable volunteers you have made our world and BCHBC a better place. All participants thoroughly enjoyed the event. Once [...]

Submitted by Brent Wray, BCHBC West Kootenay chapter Last summer I was incredibly fortunate to join two European long-riding strangers on their vacation for an ultra-light attempt to ride an equestrian version of the Great Divide Trail (GDT) from [...]

  BCHBC's Valuable Volunteers -part of the "Ripple Effect" BCHBC is a volunteer driven organization. Volunteers are vital to the success of all non-profit organizations. They are highly valued and come in all ages, sizes, shapes, makes and models! [...]

Please note this offer is valid from May 15 to June15 of 2023 while supplies last.

  Nominations for BHCBC's Executive Board of Directors 5 positions on the Board of Directors will be up for election/re-election at the AGM.   All members of BCHBC are encouraged to submit nominations. Positions open for election are: president, treasurer, secretary [...]

Our annual Rendezvous is heading back to the beautiful Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds in MERRITT, so dust off your BOOTS   'cause we’re get’n back to our ROOTS! May 26 to 28, 2023 Riding out from the Merritt RV grounds. [...]

    Our Volunteers are very special people and the back bone of our organization. Whether sweating it out on a trail or moving tirelessly behind the scenes, they are so important and deserving of our recognition. Jill Ackerman [...]

Brush off your Karaoke skills, shine up your Airband instruments! Friday evening at RV this year will feature a hilarious offering of Lipsync and Live performances. Entertainers must pre-register for this event at  jgibney@shaw.ca    See you there!

Viewing abandoned Haida Canoe. Photo by Shayd Johnson Webinar: Recreation and Stewardship, The Kwantlen Story Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Time: 7-8 PM PT Cost: Free In this webinar, Tim Dickson and Kevin VanderBoom from the Kwantlen First Nation [...]

By Harley Golder,  Northwest Chapter The Northwest Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of B.C., had the opportunity to host 22 students from Heartwood School from May 18 to 26, 2023. Located in Smithers in the Bulkley Valley, the [...]

Hello ORCBC members, Yesterday offered excellent news for outdoor recreation, and I want to thank all of you for supporting our collective efforts to bring outdoor recreation higher up the list of government priorities and to get some decent - [...]

Attention poetry lovers! Choose a favorite cowboy poem, polish up your presentation skills and get yourself entered into the annual  Rendezvous Ernie Buckle Cowboy poetry contest. And for those who can't make Rendezvous this year, remember that you don't need [...]

Looking back towards the RV grounds. Early Bird "Members Only" tickets are live! Click the Event link below for details and to access online registration for Rendezvous in Merritt May 26-28th. https://bchorsemen.org/calendar/#id=280&wid=5001&cid=1725 Once you've registered, scroll to the [...]

Vancouver Island Chapters Hold Earth Day Clean-up Projects Back Country Horsemen of BC (BCHBC) is an organization that provides equestrians who are interested in trail riding with a safe and social learning atmosphere, where people of all ages can [...]

Recognizing Two Dedicated Volunteers & Our 2022 Cowboy Poetry Contest Winner Our 2022 Rendezvous event, held in Prince George this past June, recognized two outstanding volunteers and crowned a new Cowboy Poet! By Terri Perrin, Member at Large & [...]

BCHBC Rendezvous Back After Pandemic Pause   By Leslie Battersby — BCHBC Prince George-Omineca chapter   Our annual Rendezvous (RV) and in-person AGM is by far, the largest gathering of our province-wide organization. Up to 300 members and [...]

Adventure in the East Kootenay's ‘Big Country’     May 25-27, 2022 Intro by Terri Perrin, Member at Large.    Story by Barb Hart, Okanagan Chapter Photos by Barb Hart, Arlene Ladd and Teresa Devine Paticipants of the East [...]

We are the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. We promote and advocate for the responsible use of and access to BC’s wild places for public recreation. Our end goal: Safe, enjoyable outdoor experiences for everyone! From the highly informative [...]

Wall-Tent Campout at Fishtrap Camp, Barriere, BC By Verna Houghtaling, Prince George Chapter & Provincial Membership Coordinator Have you ever wished you could head out to ride different territory and get to know some other BCHBC members? Not have [...]

Here is the poem presented by Rose Schroeder and  Karen Bridge for the Cowboy poetry contest at Rendevous 2022. Dust if you Must by Rose Milligan Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better, To paint a picture [...]

  In December 2021, BCHBC held another successful ‘Adventures or Experiences’ On Line Auction with net proceeds in excess of $12,000 raised. Special thanks to everyone who provided items, and a ‘hip, hip, hurray’ to all the bidders helping [...]

BCHBC North Cariboo Chapter Telegraph Lake Grand Opening By Victoria Malone ( member BCHBC-N. Cariboo chapter) Our volunteers' hard work is being noticed! Check out the feature in HCBC's August newsletter about the Telegraph Lake Campground under Recreation! https://mailchi.mp/.../your-july-hcbc-newsletter-is-here... But [...]

Saddle Up Magazine Writers’ Guidelines The publishers of Saddle Up Magazine provide Back Country Horsemen of BC (BCHBC) with space for an article in the publication each month (February to December).  This is a valuable way for us to [...]

Leave No Trace Principles for Equestrian Use. Story by Rose Schroeder, member of BCHBC Shuswap Chapter.      Two riders practice ‘Leave No Trace’ by watering their horses (and dog) on solid footing along the Vedder River in Chilliwack. Photo by [...]

Terri Perrin, better known as our BCHBC Saddle Up coordinator, decided to try her hand at the Ernie Buckle Cowboy Poetry contest held every Rendezvous.  Terri has been a horse woman since childhood, and like many girls was completely horse [...]

Recognized  in 2019 for her talents as a Junior poet,   Mikayla Peter recited her original work, "Grounded Souls" to a very appreciative audience at the Prince George Rendezvous and managed to wrap up the title of BCHBC Cowboy Poet [...]

From: Louise Pedersen Date: Fri, May 20, 2022 at 11:33 AM Subject: BCHBC feature Hello all, As part of our 'It takes a community' features series, the latest edition is on you - Back Country Horsemen of BC. Thanks to [...]

Wow!  This is one example of why it is important for BCHBC to be an active member of ORC. Check out the links!  Thank you to Louise Pedersen for all her work on behalf of the recreation sector. Rose Schroeder [...]

A very special offer for BCHBC Members only!

                LETS CELEBRATE BC TRAILS DAY                                       JUNE 4, 2022 WHAT IS BC TRAILS DAY? Part of the international celebration of Trails Day on [...]

Wednesday, 29 January 2020 10:37 Postponement of Rendezvous 2020  Rendezvous 2020   We are very sorry to announce that RV has been POSTPONED until next year.  Likely the same (last) weekend in May, but we haven't been able to [...]

Monday, 24 August 2020 11:17 Disposing of Waste Properly THis is a growing issue as more people choose to recreate in the back country.  Here is up to date information from Leave No Trace on how to deal with [...]

Thursday, 19 March 2020 12:44 Inter Chapter Ride East Kootenay Chapter Is hosting an Inter-Chapter Ride September 4, 5, and 6, 2020 $75.00/person – includes all camping fees, catered dinner Saturday evening and live entertainment. Tickets are non-refundable. Potluck dinner Sunday evening – [...]

  RV Pre-ride Update RE 2020 RV Pre RIDE  Postponed to July 9-12, 202o To All RIDERS that registered for the PRE RIDE: this ride HAS not been cancelled just POSTPONED. ( I informed Scott Walker Chairperson BCHBC ). The Ride will [...]