Manners of the mountains: Mission Valley youth learn backcountry horse skills
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POLSON — The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen hosted a hands-on youth education event on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hobby Horse Place LLC, aimed at preparing young riders for responsible and skilled travel in Montana’s backcountry.
Designed with the next generation in mind, the event featured a series of educational stations teaching everything from land stewardship to horsemanship. Parents were encouraged to take a backseat during the event to allow the youth to fully engage and absorb the lessons, although adults likely picked up a few tips along the way, too.
One standout station focused on mule packing, taught by Savannah Deuter, who volunteered her time to demonstrate how to properly saddle a mule for deep-country travel. Deuter, an experienced packer, was invited by Mack Long, a member of the Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen.
“Mack asked me to come out, and it’s hard to say no to this kind of stuff,” Deuter said. “I enjoy doing it.”
Though weather and animal temperament can present challenges during horse training, Deuter said her biggest hurdle was communicating with newcomers.
“The hardest part is being aware that some folks have never been around this before,” she explained. “I have to use layman’s terms to make it make sense — but I’ve been in their shoes, so I’m usually pretty good about that.”
Beyond mule packing, other stations emphasized responsible land use, including tips on minimizing environmental impact while camping. Youth participants also learned how to properly set up camp to keep their horses secure and how to navigate common trail obstacles safely and effectively.
For those who missed the event, more information is available on the Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen’s website at www.bchmt.org. The group also holds a monthly general meeting at the VFW Clubhouse, located at 521 Round Butte Road in Ronan.
Connie Long, one of the main coordinators of the youth event, shared her passion for the group’s mission.
“We want to be soft on the land, and we want to teach people how to do it right,” Long said. “You can apply to be a member — we do plenty of events. We’re always looking for younger members, since plenty of us are getting older. And you don’t even need a horse to start learning and participating.”
