Local Back Country Horsemen host state convention
Nicole Tavenner
Mark Himmel and Greg Schatz compete in the cross-cut competition put on by the Back Country Horsemen on Saturday in Polson.
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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Nicole Tavenner
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Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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Encouraging responsible horsemanship has been the goal of Back County Horsemen since the Montana group grew out of the Flathead chapter formed in 1973.
A Mission Valley chapter was formed in 1980, and that group hosted the organization’s state convention last weekend at KwaTaq- Nuk Resort.
More than 200 members attended the annual event, which was the second time the local chapter had hosted the convention, said Mack Long, the Mission Valley chapter’s stage director.
A Friday afternoon tour of Polson was given to the horsemen and women who came to the event, followed by a slide show Friday night by two members who visited the horse-friendly country of Mongolia last summer. Saturday’s activities included a panel discussion about the future of public lands, a cross-cut saw competition, and a banquet with fundraising auctions and dancing.
Long noted that there are 1,300 members in 18 chapters across the state. What was begun by a handful of members in Flathead County eventually grew into a national organization, said Bonnie Kiser, the Mission Valley chapter’s newsletter and website coordinator.
The Back Country Horsemen of America now has chapters in 31 states with 31,000 members, which is an example of what can happen when like-minded people get together to do something good.
Back Country Horsemen is a service-based organization.
“We help with trail work and the training that goes along with it,” Long said.
The Mission Valley chapter hosts 10-12 events each year and participates in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ annual river honoring on the Flathead River near Moiese. Other activities include offering packing and horsemanship clinics, first aid, wilderness/ backcountry, defensive horsemanship and safe-sawing certification classes, some of which are required by the U.S. Forest Service for one to do trail work. The group also works with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.
“We clear thousands of miles of trails each year,” Kiser said. This work represents a value reaching into the millions of dollars, she said, adding that the organization attempts to influence by helping.
“The feeling of wilderness is something we want to make sure our grandchildren have the opportunity to (experience),” she said, noting that it’s not impossible to make a difference, which was the theme of this year’s convention.
Carl and Dennese Schauss and Hugh and Sue Henderson and the late Ray Stofel helped form the Mission Valley chapter, which now has about 60 members. “We have some great memories. It’s always a social atmosphere,” Dennesse said, noting each event typically includes a potluck meal.
“We’re so happy to be a part of it and feel like we’ve done some good.”
The group’s annual “steak ride” fundraiser will be held in May on private land owned by Mike Meuli in Dayton. The event includes a three-hour ride and meal for $25. Children 12 and under can participate for $10. For tickets, call Dennesse at 406-212-7654 or Marie Hall at 406-676- 0231.
Annual membership dues are $25 per person or $40 per family. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month at the Ronan Veterans of Foreign Wars, 35981 Round Butte Road.
