Vol. 31 Issue 6 November/December 2007

Transcription

1 Vol. 31 Issue 6 November/December 2007 Doug Sutherland, Commissioner of Public Lands, atop Frosty (a Tennessee Walker) owned by Dean Savage of Oakland Bay Chapter. BCHW Olympia Area Chapters VIP Ride, September 15, Photo by Wayne Koch.

2 Inside Features November/December 2007 Mt. St. Helens Chapter VIP Event Saturday, July 21, 2007 Page 7 The Mt. St. Helens Chapter s first regional VIP event was a great success. Unseasonably cloudy and damp weather could not dampen the spirits of members and guests at Kalama Horse Camp from July Olympia Area Chapters VIP Event Saturday, September 15, 2007 Page 8-9 Get seven VIPs, lots of volunteers from Olympia-area BCHW chapters, and what do you get Lots of fun, and a rewarding VIP ride! Saturday, September 15th was the day, and the Capitol Forest near Olympia was the place. A Vision Fufilled Page 13 Whidbey Island has a real treasure in 600 acres of beautiful woods which belonged to the Department of Natural Resources until two years ago. At that time it was transferred to Island County Parks and Recreation. State Awards More Than $3 Million in Grants for Trails... 3 Review of 2008 Leave No Trace Elections Election Ballot Riding During Hunting Season Annual Membership Gathering & Jubilee Celebration Celebration Table Auction Local Backcountry Horsemen Rebuild Fire Damaged Trail Bridge...17 Departments Prez Says A Word From the V.P Around the State Mt. St. Helens Chapter VIP Event, Saturday, July 17, Olympia Area Chapters VIP Event, September 15, Okanogan Valley Chapter VIP Ride Where in WA Out On The Trails A Vision Fulfilled Ferry County Chapter Steak Ride A Huge Success Trail Work on Pacific Crest Trail Summerfest Neighs & Giggles Equine Education Calendar of Events BCHW Store Membership Application Optional Members BCHW Chapter Locations & Director Contacts..... Inside Back Cover The disclaimer Articles which appear in The do not necessarily reflect the position, opinion or endorsement of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington (BCHW), or its officers. BCHW and Washington Media Services, Inc. are not responsible for the accuracy of all material and advertisements. Appearance of an advertisement in the THN does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by BCHW of goods or services offered therein. Prices subject to change without warning. BCHW, Washington Media Services, Inc. and its management shall not be held responsible for any typing errors or omissions other than a correction in the next available issue. The shall not be reproduced in any form or manner without prior written agreement. This includes reproduction of articles, photos, and the BCHW logo. The is the official publication of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Inc. (BCHW).

3 November/December State Officers & Chairs President Bob Gish Vice President Darrell Wallace Exec. Assistant to the President Jeanne Koester Secretary Janelle Treasurer Sue Branch (h) (c) Membership Heather Moorman Web Master Jim Thode BCHA Director Mike Reedy BCHA Director Randy Darling Education Chair Jane Byram Expansion Chair TBD Go Play Outside Patrick Zellner Governance & By-Laws Dave Jackson Jr. BCHW Max Milholland... Legislative Chair Bob Brooke Public Lands Jeff Chapman Ways & Means Dave Swanberg Grant Development/Writing Traci Koch... Jeanne Koester Volunteer Coordinator Traci Koch Dick Yarboro Magazine Published: Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec BCHW Mailing Address 110 W. 6th Ave. PMB 393 Ellensburg, WA Public Relations & Publisher: Washington Media Services, Inc. Joyce Willms 407 West Bay Dr NW Olympia, WA Fax: Managing Editor l Joyce Willms Editor l Crissy McGee Editorial & Advertising: Ad Sales Crissy McGee or Adriane Wolfe Please send articles and ads to bchw@wamedia.com or mail to PO Box 7184 Olympia, WA What s next for BCHW Well, of course we have elections coming up at both state and chapter levels for those leaders that will help to direct BCHW activities during the next term of office. And the biggest news many of you have already heard is that BCHW will change operations and transition from a 501 c 4 tax exempt organization into a 501 c 3 tax exempt organization in Many folks have questions or concerns about how this change will be implemented, and folks wonder what changes in practice this will mean at the chapter and membership level. There are knowledgeable and qualified people available to assist with this process and to help each chapter feel comfortable and fully equipped to make the transition. Rest assured, BCHW is committed to helping every chapter join under the new tax-exempt umbrella. Needless to say the benefits to BCHW for becoming a 501 c 3 organization are enormous, as are the benefits to chapters and individual members that are now eligible for tax deductions that were previously disallowed by the IRS. If you have questions, please speak with your chapter director or myself and I will facilitate getting the accurate information shared. Leadership training is scheduled for January 19th, 2008, but please do not wait until then to ask your questions or voice any concerns. By January 19th, we will begin the training process for BCHW treasurers on how to put this in to operation. It does not need to be a daunting process. Also in the works: a document library with a search engine strictly for BCHW stored documents. So you want to know what the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) looks like Or you wondered when a specific resolution was adopted What is the BCHW policy on expanding Wilderness, or BCHW policy on grizzly bears restoration This new search engine will be the archive for BCHW history and accomplishments. What is still needed from each chapter Past, Present & Future By Bob Gish, President Prez Says BCHW needs important information from chapters around the state about their legislative districts so that when an issue arises, say for example, putting a dam across Crab Creek, then specific legislative districts can be mobilized rapidly. This statewide data is vital to our ever-growing effectiveness in participating and influencing Washington State public land policies. Speaking of public lands: BCHW received a total of $75, in grant funds approved by the Recreation Conservation Funding Board (RCFB) through the Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) formerly the IAC. You will be hearing more about work projects that will be taking place on National Forest lands near you as BCHW follows through on this opportunity to put money on the ground for better trails and trailheads. The BCHW/Public Land Managers meeting is scheduled for November 30th, at which time project identification and development begins for the 2008 trail maintenance season. Grant funding will also contribute to enhanced education/leave No Trace activities across the state in Another exciting opportunity is now available to BCHW the involvement with youth groups who may affiliate with BCHW by virtue of the Youth Membership Resolution, which the BCHW Board of Directors passed on September 22nd. Let each and every one of us look for ways to get our youth involved so that we can truly perpetuate the tradition and mission of backcountry horsemen. This has been a very active and exciting year for BCHW. We can be proud of what we have accomplished, and I hope that we remain filled with enthusiasm for what is in store for our future as BCHW undertakes to navigate the changing times in which we live, work and play. Remember, it is all about trails and the right to ride on public lands. Without activism toward that goal we cannot protect access, and without access we may as well hang up the saddle. 1

4 A Word From The V.P. November/December 2007 Someone s Got To Do The Work By Darrell Wallace, Vice President Wow, this summer s been busy! Somehow, we actually got some trail riding in, among all the other activities that we do to keep trails on public lands open. We ve got by-laws changes to make, we re changing our organization to a 501-c-3, we re doing a routine review of our BCHW programs for effectiveness, pursuing solutions to the weed-seed-free forage problem, and (my personal favorite) putting on VIP rides. Why is it my favorite That s easy I get to ride! But that brings up a point I want to make: for any successful activity, there are usually a handful of members who give up their ride to work in the background so we can achieve success. I m talking about the camp cooks, the trail cutters and bridge builders, the folks who organize things in the background, the ones who research the public lands issues, the ones who figure out what changes we need in our by-laws and what reporting requirements we need to meet for the IRS, the ones who keep our membership lists and keep our books and type our meeting minutes and keep up our website and write articles for the rest of us to read and well, you get the picture! I m feelin pretty humble right now, cuz I got to ride when others didn t. My dad taught me that you didn t go off riding until you fixed the fence and put up hay, so I m feeling grateful to all those who did the work this summer so we can ride. Let s all show a little gratitude where it s deserved as we celebrate our successful summer. Happy Trails! 2

5 November/December 2007 State of Washington Recreation and Conservation Office E For Release: Sept. 19, 2007 Contact: Susan Zemek, , susanz@rco.wa.gov State Awards More Than $3 Million in Grants for Trails OLYMPIA Backcountry trails in 17 counties got a boost this week when the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board announced grant funding for improvements totaling more than $3 million. The grants from the federally funded National Recreational Trails Program support rehabilitation and maintenance of backcountry trails, as well as projects to educate trail users about protecting the environment and having a safe experience. The board approved projects in the following counties for funding. For details on each grant, visit Press_Releases/2007/NRTP_county_List.pdf Chelan... $388,380 Clark... $43,628 Ferry... $60,000 Garfield... $72,672 Grays Harbor... $13,998 King... $713,286 Kittitas... $355,698 Lewis... $125,000 Okanogan... $229,281 Pend Oreille... $143,430 Pierce... $63,000 Skagit... $28,075 Skamania... $83,001 Snohomish... $105,915 Spokane... $19,923 Whatcom... $140,000 Yakima... $20,000 Multiple... $518,931 Our surveys show that walking and hiking are the most popular outdoor activities in Washington. We need to ensure that people have safe and well-maintained places for those activities, said Laura Johnson, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), which manages the grant awards. These grants help do that by providing money to maintain trails that give people access to the most remote areas, making it easier to enjoy the spectacular mountains, forests and backcountry that surround us. RCO surveys peg the number of Washingtonians who hike at least once a year at nearly 5 percent, with another 8 percent venturing into the backcountry on bicycles, horses, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, four-wheel drive vehicles, snowshoes, crosscountry skis and snowmobiles. The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board received 112 grant proposals requesting more than $4.7 million under the National Recreational Trails Program, which is paid for by federal gasoline taxes. RCO evaluates and ranks the proposals and manages the distribution of the federal funding. The board was able to award 75 grants totaling $3.12 million. Washington can be proud of the recreational facilities it offers, Johnson said. Keeping them well maintained and up-todate takes the resources of many different groups, including the grant applicants themselves who are contributing more than $4 million toward the projects. It s great to see that kind of commitment to keeping Washington a great place to live and play. Review of 2008 Leave No Trace Jane Byram, Education chair BCHW has six active LNT Master Stock Trainers working to promote the LNT Ethic to the equine industry. They are: Bill Somes, Debra Langley-Boyer, Larry Baysinger, Randy Darling and Jane Byram. Trainer Louise Caywood puts in hundreds of LNT hours each year taking care of the LNT Trailer and organizing the display for the Puyallup Sports Show, plus keeping me in line. There are many other people, too numerous to list, working in the trenches to spread the LNT message and I would like to thank them for their efforts. Without them, BCHW s educational effort would not be happening. Through the years, the BCHW LNT program has developed, printed and passed out thousands of pamphlets to horse folks all over the state. Information is available for those who ride in the backcountry as well as those who travel only in the front country. LNT is an ethic that never leaves once you get it. Cleaning up after yourself and your stock is and should be a way of life no matter where you go. Our program is working. The Forest Service and other land agencies tell us so. We need to keep the flow of information circling to reach new people on a consistent level. In 2008 and 2009, our LNT program will be funded by another successful NRTP grant application. As a result of that, all active LNT personnel will get together the Friday evening before Leadership 2008 in Cle Elum. We will set up the program, discuss options, work on short curriculum plans for each LNT director to have at their disposal for chapter meeting, and set a date for a Train the Trainer (TTT) Class in A tentative date for this class has been set for May at Indian Camp Teanaway. The TTT Class scheduled for Pilchuck Tree farm, September was cancelled at the last minute due to two issues. One was the insurance issue. Until that issue was cleared up, BCHW was not comfortable going ahead with the class. That has since been cleared up and it will be normal operations as usual next year. BCHW s insurance will cover the class and BCHW will issue their own certificates. The second issue was the deadline passed and tuition was not received from enough students who had signed up for the class. In the future, those expressing an interest in the TTT Class must have their tuition in one month prior to the class. And that next class is scheduled for May 16-18, 2008 outside CleElum. 3

6 2008 Elections November/December 2007 BCHW 2008 Elections Bob Gish for President Darrell Wallace for Vice President VOTE FOR ME: Initially, in 1999 when I joined BCHW, I wasn t intending to become involved, I certainly wasn t going to become political but I have come to realize that basically, you only get out of something as much as you are willing to put in. My commitment to BCHW, first as a member, then Chapter Director, Vice President and now President, has grown, in part due to my heightened awareness of the threats to trail access for equestrians on public lands; including the absence of a viable weed free forage program in Washington State, funding cuts to national forests, severe storm damage, trail classification systems and other barriers that inhibit or prohibit me from riding my mule down the trail of my choice. I have realized that just like in the good old days, if you want something, you have to work for it. In the past year while serving as BCHW President, I have come to greatly appreciate the many knowledgeable and competent volunteers that comprise BCHW and who have been working together to protect our interests. Members working together helped draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, which is much more user-friendly to equestrian recreation and is planned to be signed in December. The Public Lands Committee has authored several well-worded letters that defended the Right-to-Ride on public land. The Legislative Committee worked tirelessly and effectively in partnership with BCHW Lobbyists for HJM 4011 legislation. These are just a few of the many accomplishments under the BCHW belt that are due to the commitment and effort of members working together. There are challenges and changes ahead. Chief among those challenges will be the successful conversion to a 501 c 3 non profit organization. I have always encouraged chapters to pursue grant opportunities and with this change, BCHW membership gains the opportunity to acquire funds and benefits previously not available. In my next term of Presidency, I hope to see continued growth and development in the activation of our Youth Membership programs so that we aren t the last of a vanishing breed. I intend that more emphasis will be placed on National Public Lands Day and on National Trails Day so that when people think equestrian trails they are thinking about BCHW. I ask that you will vote for me for President and I invite you to work alongside your fellow BCHW members to accomplish our common goals. VOTE FOR ME: My name is Darrell Wallace, and I am running for BCHW Vice President. I have been a chapter director for two years, and have served an unexpired term as Vice President this year. I have also served as an officer of other non-profit organizations, so I bring several crossover experiences to the position. I retired after 30 years with the State of Washington, including management and budget work, so I can commit sufficient time to devote to this position. More importantly, I really respect the members of this organization and all the work they have done for so many years. I m a good listener, and I want to listen to the people who rebuilt those bridges, repaired those trails, forged those alliances, and built BCHW. I support Bob Gish s passion for keeping our trails open, no matter what it takes, and his vision for taking BCHW to another level. Changing to a 501 c 3, aggressively pursuing grants, working for a weed-seed-free forage certification program, teaming up with like-minded organizations, and promoting BCHW these are just a few of the initiatives that we need to keep moving. As Vice President, I will do my part to make that happen. Please vote for the best candidate. If it s me, thanks! If it s not, thanks for voting! Want to see YOUR AD in COLOR Call Crissy at (360) to ask how. Okanogan Country... Horse Hotels, Horse Camps & More! Enjoy over 1,000 miles of scenic trails and 3 million acres of public lands in Okanogan Country Okanogan County Tourism Council North Central Washington State 4

7 November/December 2007 Official BCHW Ballot Election for 2008 State Officers Vote for One Person for Each Position: Must be a Paid Member to Vote BCHW President o Bob Gish o (write in) BCHW Vice President o Darrell Wallace o (write in) Ballots must be sent with peel off label from the back of the magazine on the return address portion of this mailer. Or, enclose ballot in an envelope and use the peel off label in the same position. Apply a first class postage stamp and mail to: Backcountry Horsemen of Washington 110 W. 6th Ave PMB 393 Ellensburg, WA Election Ballot Official BCHW Ballot Election for 2008 State Officers Vote for One Person for Each Position: Must be a Paid Member to Vote BCHW President o Bob Gish o (write in) BCHW Vice President o Darrell Wallace o (write in) Ballots must be sent with peel off label from the back of the magazine on the return address portion of this mailer. Or, enclose ballot in an envelope and use the peel off label in the same position. Apply a first class postage stamp and mail to: Backcountry Horsemen of Washington 110 W. 6th Ave PMB 393 Ellensburg, WA All ballots must be postmarked by January 30, Your Vote Counts! YourVote All ballots must be postmarked by January 30, Counts! Your Vote Your Vote Counts! Counts! Your Vote Counts! Young & Daring Riders, We Need YOU! Your Vote Counts! Name your column of the that will feature the Jr. BCHW program. Send in your column name idea along with your articles/events for the new section to Crissy at bchw@wamedia.com. Winner will receive $20. Help promote the future of BCHW. Only one winner. 5

8 November/December 2007 Must be a paid member to vote! AFFIX RETURN ADDRESS LABEL HERE FOLD HERE BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN OF WASHINGTON 110 W. 6TH AVE. PMB 393 ELLENSBURG, WA FOLD HERE AND TAPE CLOSED HERE WHEN MAILING Check the BCHW website at FIRST CLASS STAMP HERE! Please clip out and mail! Special thanks to Jim Thode for all his hard work on the website! Thank you for your participation in the 2008 BCHW Election! 6

9 November/December 2007 Around The State Mt. St. Helens Chapter VIP Event Saturday, July 21, 2007 By Norm Welsh, President BCHW Mt. St. Helens Chapter The Mt. St. Helens Chapter s first regional VIP event was a great success. Unseasonably cloudy and damp weather could not dampen the spirits of members and guests at Kalama Horse Camp from July It was a special time to be a member of the best darned organization around! Members arrived early to prepare the camp and shelter; others did some final trail work, while others rehearsed for the entertainment to be provided to our guests. Saturday morning dawned to some light drizzle, but it nicely cooperated and dried out some by the time our guests began arriving around 10 a.m. Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt and daughter Mollie, Columbian outdoor journalist Allen Thomas and wife Sherrie, and Tom Mulder from the Mt. St. Helens Monument headquarters were all game to mount up for a ride. They were all awed with the amount of destruction that Mother Nature subjected the system to last November, but impressed by our work to make the trail open again to recreational users. Other user groups represented were the Mt. St. Helens Track Riders by our very own Carl Schmalenberger (President of the snowmobile recreational club) and family (Jan, Ty, and Sarah) and the Clark Skamania Fly Fishers by Jim Swatoch and his daughter. The Jr. BCH members provided lunch. As always, they did a superb job. The head ride wrangler, Judy Smith, along with members Lloyd Gelentere, Chuck Cowan, JoAnn Pumphrey, and Norm Welsh got our guests out and back safely. The help of some real solid horses cannot be understated. After the ride and lunch, we all relaxed to the comforts of the shelter. The guests were treated to some very fine displays put together by Terri Anderson, Judy Smith, Chuck Cowan, Mt. St. Helens Chapter Member and Tom Mulder from Mt. St. Helens Monument Headquarters. and a collection of Leave No Trace (LNT) literature put together by former LNT Chair George Matson and current Chair Dan Stinebeck. By mid-afternoon we officially convened in the shelter. Guests and officers were introduced and given an opportunity to share their thoughts. Besides the before mentioned guests, State Representative Jim Dunn and his wife Joan arrived in the afternoon to enjoy the entertainment and upcoming dinner. Some very good contacts were made and relationships built and strengthened. Even with some of the invitees that could not attend, we established a very positive rapport. These folks are all interested in participating in future events and are willing to meet with us at our request. To this point in the proceedings, all was running smoothly and then it really got good. John Cannon and Linda Musick performed many musical numbers with help from Steve Nelson on vocals and Daniel Welsh on guitar. Rick Tucker mixed in some wonderful poems that captured the essence of what it is like to enjoy our great past time. The entertainment was followed by an impressive display of Dutch oven cooking and assorted potluck camping favorites. It was worthy of any menu from a five star restaurant. The good-natured camaraderie Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt with daughter Mollie and Jake. continued between guests and members. Eventually, we bid our guests farewell and the rest of us sat back and enjoyed each other s company well into the night. 7

10 Around The State November/December 2007 Olympia Area Chapters VIP Event Saturday, September 15, 2007 Get seven VIPs, lots of volunteers from Olympia-area BCHW chapters, and what do you get Lots of fun, and a rewarding VIP ride! Saturday, September 15th was the day, and the Capitol Forest near Olympia was the place. VIPs included Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland, Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland, Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) managers Bob Van Schoorl (also an Olympia Port Commissioner) Brian Poelein, and Christine Redmond, Washington Media Services owner and Managing Editor Joyce Willms, and Legislative Staffer Amy Cruver (aide to Rep. Jim McCune, Graham). Volunteers from Capitol Riders, Nisqually, Scatter Creek, and Oakland Bay chapters were on hand as wranglers, guides, food preparers, and all those support roles that make a successful event. They also received moral and financial support from the Grays Harbor chapter. Upon reaching Capitol Peak, riders and supporters were treated to Dutch oven cooking by Traci Koch and friends. While the weather was cool and foggy, some of the spectacular views from Capitol Peak were enjoyed as the fog lifted and blew around. At least there were no bees or wasps, said at least one rider. DNR generously provided bee spray and a gate key the day before, but the bee patrol found none thankfully! During a pre-lunch discussion with the VIPs, Doug Sutherland shared that as an elected official, he could speak his mind in support of BCHW without reservation, while appointed officials must check with the Governor or other elected officials. Valoria Loveland, formerly a legislator from the Tri-Cities area, pointed out the pros and cons of getting legislation passed compared to agreements and formal rules. As they finished cleaning up, key organizers Cindi Shue, Dick Yarboro, Ritz Duchesne, Traci Koch, Tom Crowson, and Lori Lennox planned to debrief and schedule another VIP ride for Good job, BCHr s! Editor s note: On the Monday following the ride, Doug Sutherland s aide called to say that Sutherland (former rodeo competitor) couldn t stop grinning, and Could we send some pictures You bet they ve already been mailed! BRAVO! MFG., INC. SUPER GRADE OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT * Wall Tents * Cook Shacks * Spike Tents * Wood Stoves * Tent Frames * Custom Work BARNETT IMPLEMENT COMPANY (360) (800) NE Brunner RD., Camas, WA

11 November/December 2007 Around The State Olympia Area Chapters VIP Event continued from page 8 Just horsin around! Photos by Wayne Koch, Oakland Bay Chapter and Louise Caywood, Nisqually Chapter 9

12 Around The State November/December 2007 Okanogan Valley Chapter VIP Ride By Peg Swanberg, BCHW Okanogan Valley Chapter On August 25th, the Okanogan Valley Chapter, in conjunction with the Ferry County Chapter and Methow Valley Chapter, hosted their first ever Regional VIP ride at the Salmon Meadows trailhead, Tonasket Ranger District. Twenty three VIPs were invited including their spouse and of those, nine were able to fit the event into their schedule. Two separate rides were offered, a shorter and user friendly ride for the less experienced riders and a longer, more difficult ride for others. Nineteen chapter members also joined the VIP riders. Following the ride, the guests and chapter members were treated to a BBQ steak dinner complete with a table full of desserts. The day was considered a success with 29 chapter members able to meet and enjoy, in a social atmosphere, conversations with their elected officials. Riding During Hunting Season By Louise Caywood, BCHW Nisqually Chapter As I peer out of my window I see blowing rain and falling Oak leaves. One side of my mind is happy with anticipation of hunting season. Warm, water proof, camouflage, and hunter orange clothing comes out of moth balls (does anyone still use moth balls), shorts and tank tops go to the bottom of the drawer. Hunting dreams aside, I would like to remind everyone to ride safely this fall and winter. Every year equestrians and stock are mistaken for game animals and wounded or killed. Of hunters prey, deer are more abundant in our state, so finding safe trails is a bit harder in deer season, especially during modern season. 10 High powered rifles account for most hunting accidents, but safety practices need to be used no matter what the hunting season. Preparing ahead for your trail rides deserves some thought and research, especially since we ride in country where hunters roam for their game. National Forests, DNR, and private timber lands are open to hunters for archery, muzzle loader, high powered rifles, and shotgun hunting methods. During hunting seasons is a good time to satisfy our cowboy yearnings by using our State and National Park lands, where hunting is not allowed. A few safety tips: Find out what seasons are open where you ride Avoid hunting areas Ride in the middle of the day (peak hunting times are AM & PM hours) Ride in open fields Wear hunter orange or a brightly colored helmet cover Use a hunter orange saddle pad or rump cover Attach jingle bells to your tack Consideration should be given if your pasture is adjacent to known hunting lands: Use a hunter orange blanket on your horse Or pin hunter orange onto your horse s blanket Turn your stock out to graze at night only

13 November/December 2007 Where in WA Can You Guess Where in WA 1 2 Congratulations to Lori Lennox of the Grays Harbor Chapter Lori will receive a $10 Starbucks giftcard for her correct guess of Photo #4 from the Sept/Oct 2007 issue. Lori was the only person to send in a guess for the Where in WA section. Take a break from the saddle and test your knowledge of the backcountry! Send in your guesses now for the Nov/Dec 2007 issue, you may be a winner! Answers from Sept/Oct 2007 issue: 1 Photo 1) Upper Rendezvous of the Methow Valley, Winthrop, WA, submitted by Tara Felder of BCHW Methow Valley Chapter. 2 Photo 2) Top of Pacific Crest Trail off Hwy 20 (Rainy Pass), submitted by Margaret Hamstra of BCHW Whatcom County Chapter Please submit your guesses to Crissy at: bchw@wamedia.com or at P.O. Box 7184, Olympia WA Answers for Nov/Dec 2007 issue due by November 30, Please include photo numbers with guesses along with your full name, phone number and mailing address. One guess per photo per person. Entrants and their families may not submit a guess for their own photo submitted, but can submit guesses for other photos. Participants will have their names put into a drawing for each separate photo guessed correctly. Winners from each drawing will receive one (1) Starbucks giftcard worth ten dollars ($10). Winners with correct answers will be listed in the Jan/Feb 2008 issue. Photo entries with locations for the Jan/Feb 2008 issue are also due by November 30, 2007 and may be submitted to Crissy at bchw@wamedia.com or at P.O. Box 7184, Olympia WA Photo 4) Graham Corral near Sisters, Oregon, submitted by Janelle Wilson of BCHW Scatter Creek Riders Chapter. Photo 3) Indian Heaven Wilderness located between Mt. Adams and the Columbia River Gorge, submitted by Lori Lennox of BCHW Grays Harbor Chapter. 4 11

14 November/December Annual Membership Gathering & Jubilee Celebration By Jeanne Koester, BCHW It s coming! Time to circle the wagons with Backcountry Horsemen of Washington at the 2008 Annual Membership Gathering & Jubilee Celebration. When is the Jubilee March 21-23, 2008 Where: Kittitas County Fairgrounds in Ellensburg What: The Jubilee celebration weekend includes the annual BCHW membership meeting, silent auction, dinner, live auction and dance your socks off to the music of a darn good band. Sunday Morning Cowboy Camp Meeting, barrel racing, vendors and good times with friends. Why Celebrate Becoming a 501 c 3 Being awarded $75, in grants Being BCHW Being Alive For 2008 the annual BCHW gathering was voted by membership to be held in Ellensburg, and the consensus for the best timing of the event was March. This means we don t have very much time to pull everything together, but what we have planned so far is sounding like a lot of fun. Here s the pitch: we need help to pull this special Jubilee Celebration off (with the holidays slowing things down somewhat). Celebration Table Auction The 2008 Jubilee activities will include the opportunity for eight people to dine in high style at the head celebration table. This privilege will be sold by an auction and is available to any chapter, corporation or group of eight friends wishing to bid for the honor of being seated at the best table in the house. The celebration table will be placed near the Master of Ceremony podium, close to all the action of the live auction and the dance floor. By placing the winning bid for the celebration table, you will be recognized as dedicated supporters of BCHW. Other special amenities will include complimentary appetizers and wine, a free beverage of your choice from the no host bar, dinner service from your own attentive wait person, accompanied by a special dessert and other small tokens befitting your status at the head celebration table. A preliminary planning session was held and there are some blanks on the organizational chart. If you or your chapter want to jump up and volunteer for any of the following jobs it would be greatly appreciated and rewarded. The reward is still to be determined but may be discounted overnight accommodations at the fairgrounds, or a break in the cost of dinner. Suffice to say We need help to pull this off and want people to feel like it is worth their time to attend, to help, to have fun. Opportunities to step up and volunteer include: Advertising let s get this party on the map! Sponsor Contacts Business Contacts RV/Motel Lodging manager (easy job) Donations coordinator Vendors Chair (we really need a vendor coordinator) Concessions (Idea) one chapter get together to sell water, snacks, coffee, pop Guest Registration Youth Activities Youth spotters for live auction Cowboy Worship Service Live auction will be limited to extra special items For example: a chainsaw, horse art and metal sculptures, panniers, wall tent, saddle, sports tickets, one ton of weed-free hay, pack trip, and GPS unit. Members and chapters are being asked to donate one quality item or cash amount of $ toward purchase of auction items. These donations must be sent to the January Leadership Training Meeting for collection so that the Live Auction Committee can advertise. At this stage, please contact Dave and Peg Swanberg, Jeanne Koester, or Janet Culp because what we really need is a Jubilee Event Coordinator to take it from here. Thank you. The winning bid is for the dinner and extras for eight people so your bid represents the total amount you will pay. Bid on this opportunity by at davenpeg@gdimail.net place the words Celebration Bid in the subject line and then your name and the amount of your bid in the body of your . I will notify you via return of the status of your bid and also keep you apprised of the status of any other bid amounts if you become outbid by another group. The beginning bid amount is $350. Bidding begins immediately and in order to make final arrangements, will end at midnight, February 22, Remember, this is for the good of the organization, and your eager participation will be rewarded by VIP treatment at the celebration table so place your bid now to davenpeg@gdimail.net. 12

15 November/December 2007 A Vision Fulfilled By Sharon Vanderslice, BCHW Island County Chapter Out On The Trails Whidbey Island has a real treasure in 600 acres of beautiful woods which belonged to the Department of Natural Resources until two years ago. At that time it was transferred to Island County Parks and Recreation. This acreage connects through easements across private land to an additional 118 acres of county land known as Saratoga Woods and the 200 acres of Metcalf Trust property. From 1980 until November 2006, Gary Putney, founder of the Island County chapter of BCH, worked continuously to expand the original logging roads on the DNR property into a network of trails and maintain them with some assistance from BCH members. It was Gary s vision to create a trail system open to everyone on Whidbey Island for non-motorized use. Currently the trails are utilized regularly by equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers, runners, bird watchers and dog walkers. It was a great loss to the Whidbey Community and our BCH chapter when Gary lost his battle with cancer just a year ago. Prior to his death, he had requested that any donations in his memory be made to the Island County chapter of BCH for the enhancement and maintenance of these woods. As a result, just over $2000 was received by our club. Almost immediately a campaign was begun to change the name of the property from Goss Lake Woods to Putney Woods and within a few months, the name change was approved by the county commissioners. A committee of five club members was Left, Jerry Lloyd and right, Walt Werner. tasked with prioritizing needed trailhead and trail improvements and planning how the seed money from the memorial donations was to be spent. The committee s wish list was long and expensive, far exceeding the original memorial donations, but it was decided to go ahead with all of the plans and worry about paying for it later. Much to our surprise and pleasure, as the county and community learned of our plans, there was an outpouring of generosity in the form of donated materials, more money and county assistance. To date, road signs indicating the trailhead have been installed and tree and brush debris left from when the trailhead parking lot was built has been cleared. On October 6, the club held a dedication ceremony at the trailhead parking lot to unveil a new 12 high gateway into the woods featuring a plasma cut steel sign reading Putney Woods and showing a dog walker, a biker and an equestrian. In the corner of it is a man with a big hat riding a mule, representing Gary and his beloved Lulu. Soon to be installed at the trailhead is a 2' x 3' stainless steel etched map of the trails. The vandalized kiosk will be repaired and contain information on trail etiquette and LNT. All 63 trail intersections will be marked with 5" x 5" aluminum plate signs in standard brown and white park colors and mounted on pressure treated posts. We continue to be amazed at how much a small group of dedicated individuals can accomplish in a very short time with the help of a generous and supportive community. We think Gary would be pleased too. Remember to thank the advertisers that support BCHW and the by buying from them! Don t see your ad in this issue Give Crissy a call at (360) today to see how you can support BCHW! 13

16 Out On The Trails Ferry County Chapter Steak Ride A Huge Success!!! Submitted by Janice Beecher, BCHW Ferry County Chapter Newsletter Editor November/December 2007 Leading up to the Steak Ride on July 28, 2007, our club members were on pins and needles. How many riders would attend, would we have enough food, would we have enough members helping, would parking be a problem, etc. Through the Steak Ride Committee members efforts, instigated by George Young, the weekend was all we could have hoped for. The Steak Ride Committee was highly organized with several months of planning, which contributed to its success. George and Lu Young set up their camp on Thursday, July 26th. Riders came from as far away as Coeur d Alene, Idaho, Port Angeles and other parts of Washington State. The most distant rider, and our former chapter president, flew in from New York. There were approximately 145 participants. After the riders returned from the ride, a real cowboy dinner was served consisting of a delicious 12 oz. NY steak, baked potato, corn on the cob, roll and refreshments. A hayride shuttle service for guests in more distant camp areas brought them to dinner in the main camp. Later they were shuttled to another camp area where silent and live auctions were held. The silent auction items were nicely displayed and people had ample time to write in their bids. Brownies and ice cream were served just before the live auction started. Trygve Culp was our auctioneer and had the audience s attention with his constant interjection of cajoling and joking to get bids higher. After the auction, Lanny Batterman and band set up their instruments to entertain the group with their great renditions of country and blue grass. A happy ending to a great weekend! This year s ride was a resounding success due to good planning and hard work of the membership of Ferry County Chapter Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. Trail Work on Pacific Crest Trail By Ed Letcher, Tahoma BCH Trail work has been going on over the past twelve years on sections of the Pacific Crest Trial from Chinook Pass to Little Crow Basin by BCH members from several chapters. Over the year, almost $3000 in Chapter expenses has gone into this project to improve and restore the tread on approximately 26 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. During July of 2006 and 2007 there was heavy tread work done in this area where there was the most need for repair. July 27-30th, 2006 the main camp was packed on pack animals and involved over twenty packers and 38 pack animals. Camp was 14 set up in the Goat Hole which is outside the wilderness area and packers brought in food, tools and supplies. The work that was accomplished during this four day period has put the Pacific Crest Trial in good condition from Scout Pass north to Little Crow Basin. July of 2007, a different approach was taken. Base camp was set up at Elizabeth Lake above the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort by chapter volunteers that used 4-wheel drive vehicles to access ski-lift roads and brought in approximately 8000 lbs. of tools, livestock feed, tents, fuel and supplies. continued on page 15

17 November/December 2007 Summerfest 2007 Out On The Trails By Penny Booker, BCHW Cascade Horse Club Chapter When I left my home at Lake Stevens at 6:30 a.m. it was chilly, damp and overcast. As I headed up to Harry O I was wondering what type of turnout we would have. Harry O is the largest overnight camping facility in the Northwest Region with an up-to-date double toilet facility, highline poles, overnight and day use areas, handicap facilities, kiosk map area and covered shelter/ picnic area maintained in cooperation with NW Region BCHW and DNR. Skagit (the chapter closest to the facility) has monthly work parties. From Harry O you can access trails through DNR, Sierra Pacific and Trillium managed forest lands. I had volunteered to help on the registration desk and also had my van packed to overload with food and supplies for the lunch that the Cascade Chapter was putting on. Between all the parking areas I think I saw about 25 rigs. I pulled in by the shelter and saw Earl and Dorothy Aalseth with their nephew drive up. He was visiting and graciously offered to help out. Adam Farnham was already camped up at Harry O. I have never worked on or attended a prize ride, so I got a real education that day. Susan Sebastin showed me how to correctly log in the riders, yeah okay, I did it wrong. Susan was very nice about the little mess I left for her, that we managed to sort out. Susan, and Lisa Ooestema, Whatcom Chapter and Penny Booker, Cascade Horse Club Chapter of BCHW at the Registration Table were very, very busy. Lisa was selling raffle tickets and I was selling lunch tickets. The prize ride started at 9 a.m. with last rider out at 11 a.m. Suddenly there seemed to be a traffic jam of rigs, people and horses coming in to park and/or camp. Some of the helpers were: Pre-marking the Trail: Debbie Lowe and Carrie McGoff (Skagit) Trail Draw Area: Debbie MacMillan, BarbaraVaché, Janine Frizzell and Jacquelynn Frizzell (Skagit), Whatcom and Traildusters Sam Miller, Mike McGlenn, Melinda Hardin, Lori Westvangand and Lee Bernethy (TrailDuster) Registration: Lisa Ooestema, Verna Walker and Susan Sebastian (Whatcom); Penny Booker (Cascade Horse Club) Lunch: Earl and Dorothy Aalseth, Adam Farnham cooking the pig, Penny Booker, Lyn Gross and her friends the 2 Dianes chopping onions and doing other chores, Bobbie Swanson doing cleanup and many more wonderful volunteers. Drag Riders Susan and Lisa. Donated prizes from Cascade Horse Club, Barbara Woo and Jenny McCall. Proceeds from the prize ride are used to maintain and update facility. This is an annual event support by the Northwest Chapters and all the wonderful people that attend! Trail Work continued from page outstanding people, representing the Tahoma, Pierce, Enumclaw, Wenas and Nisqually BCH Chapters restored tread between Sourdough Gap and Bear Gap. Tread was re-established on 3 miles of trail desperately in need of restoration from years of heavy use by hikers and horses. The tread was extremely narrow or non-existent in places and on very steep terrain. This restoration will improve the safety for all who use this section of the Pacific Crest Trail for years to come. Complete feed was donated by the Grange in Issaquah and by Land O Lakes Purina. The total value of animal feed donated over the two years was approximately $1000. A special thanks to Bob Pacific, USFS, for his help and contribution of tools and supplies and reducing the cost involved in completing this tremendous project. I have been involved in working on this project for twelve years, but only in the past two years have I been involved in the planning and organization. This annual event would not have taken place without the long standing dedication to preserve and protect this great area by Ron Downing, Pierce County Chapter BCH. Thank you Susan Branch for doing a great job as BCHW Treasurer! Trail Riding And Pack Trips In Washington Where to ride and how to get there with the special chapter on Map & Compass Use is again available because of requests for a 3rd reprint. This is a limited and final reprint! 36 trail maps, trail tips, stock first aid, 150 trail guides and over 300 pages. Copies may also be ordered from: Runnin W Inc. P.O. Box 1307 Wilsonville, OR for $18.95 plus $2.75 for postage. 15

18 Neighs & Giggles November/December 2007 Neighs & Giggles Read for the fun of it! A Close Call By Sandi Kampen, backed up by Patti Zutter Patti and I were delighted to discover a quiet canyon of overgrown logging roads to ride during the Labor Day weekend. We were looking forward to exploring an abandoned homestead with its pear and apple orchard on a side road. Last year, I enjoyed seeing a wild turkey family strutting along the road. We flushed several ruffed grouse and were very proud that Buddy and Joker ignored them. Of course, sharing a pasture with quail flocks does take the edge off the startle response from flapping wings. Patti and I were happily catching up on news and events in our lives when Joker froze and went to point. Buddy quickly followed suit, with his heart pounding so hard he shook. Close by two huge bears were trying to escape notice by climbing a really spindly vine maple tree. The two fur balls looked like giant brown lolli pops swaying back and forth. Finally, they dropped down and disappeared into the bushes. I m sure that hour it took them to do so was really only seconds, but time froze as did our horses. After Buddy and Joker started to breath regularly again, we continued the ride choosing not to check out the orchard in the direction the bears took. We were very proud of our brave and wise horses. Later, Patti checked out proper bear country behavior and found we Sandi on Buddy and Patti on Joker had inadvertently done everything right: made lots of noise chatting, stopped to let the bears escape; and looked big (one Tennessee Walker and one fat Quarter horse). Of course, it was a terrific adventure because the encounter ended safely. Submitted by Linda McAskill, BCHW Tahoma Chapter Tia and Nugget eating snow on picnic table. Quartz Mountain from Riders Camp Buck Meadow trailhead September Remember, memberships expire December 31, Contact your chapter treasurer for a renewal application or see page 19 for the 2008 membership application. At the Trail s End In Memory, Paul E. Eveleth, BCHW Mason County Chapter June, 1945-August 30, 2007 Paul Eveleth, 62, a devoted horseman and inspiring individual, passed away August 30 after losing his battle with cancer. Longtime resident of Shelton and member/director of the Mason County Chapter and BCHW Expansion Chairman, Paul had a deep love for horses and worked to promote the BLM Horse & Burro adoption program, along with repairing the trails in the Olympic National Forest. Once named Backcountry Horseman of the Year, he enjoyed competing as a packer and went on to become a state champion two consecutive years. Paul also took a great interest in the rodeo during recent years and served on the Mason County Fair Board as director or co-director with a commitment to return the rodeo as part of the county fair. Paul is survived by a son, two brothers and many nieces and nephews. 16

19 November/December 2007 Equine Education Local Backcountry Horsemen Rebuild Fire Damaged Trail Bridge By Dave Swanberg, BCHW Okanogan Valley Chapter Six members of the Okanogan Valley Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington recently rebuilt the trail bridge spanning Windy Creek on the Cathedral Driveway Trail 510A near the eastern boundary of the Pasayten Wilderness. The old bridge had been partially burned by last summer s Tripod Fire and was no longer considered safe for use by pack and saddle stock by U.S. Forest Service personnel. Chapter members Dave Swanberg, Tom Windsor, Bob Crowell, Trygve Culp, Stan Kvistad and Cathy Carl removed the old bridge, felled and peeled new sill and stringer logs, packed bridge decking, and constructed the new bridge over a three-day period. Culp, Windsor and Swanberg made an initial assessment of the project during mid-may of this year and selected sill and stringers for the bridge at that time. Bob Crowell, one of the Chapters packers, hauled in the 28 3 inch by 10 inch bridge planks using his saddle horse and 2 pack mules, using the Chapters new lumber bunks. FREE Horses for Clean Water Events In November: In January: Winter Horse Farm Management Saturday, November 10th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Olympia, WA Workshop & Farm Tour Join Horses for Clean Water for an allday workshop on ways to prepare your farm so it will be easier to care for this winter. Morning presentations include: Buying Horse Property, 6 Tips for Managing Mud and Manure Management for Horse Owners. Afternoon session includes a farm tour of an environmentally sensitive horse property where you can view many of the discussed techniques on the ground. Improve horse health, owner convenience, farm productivity, neighborhood esthetics and the health of the environment. Steamboat Island, WA. FREE! Registration & directions, Sara Carter at ext 136 & scarter@thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff at ext. 22 & karinls@masoncd.org. Farm Tour: Managing Horse Property in Winter Saturday, November 17th, 10 a.m.-noon Fall City, WA This large-scale reining horse breeding operation is beautifully set-up and managed. Tour this 20-horse Fall City, WA facility with the owners to hear & see how they designed & built it from the ground up. Learn what works for chore efficiency and what doesn t. See winter pasture management techniques in place, tour a covered arena which doubles as turnout, hear about dust control, see gates designed for tractor access, and learn about green alder shavings which compost beautifully in their cement compost bins. FREE! To register and receive directions contact the King Conservation District at , ext. 125 or signup@kingcd.org. Natural Ways for Managing Horse Properties Wednesday, January 9th, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Olympia, WA Join HCW at the Olympia Library, Olympia, WA. to learn how you can control dust, mud, bugs & weeds naturally all while reducing dependency on fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals. See different designs for low-cost ways to put native trees, shrubs and animals to work for you on your property. Get an early jump on managing your horse property and plan ahead for spring! Plenty of free parking after 5pm. Pick up free designs for bird & bat boxes, as well as resource info for purchasing native plants. FREE! Registration & directions, Sara Carter at ext 136 & scarter@thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff at ext. 22 & karinls@masoncd.org. In February: How to Design & Build a Winter Paddock Saturday, February 9th 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mason County, WA location TBD If you are tired of seeing your horses slosh around in mud up to their hocks then this workshop is for you! Learn about ways to eliminate mud and see many designs for winter paddocks. See footing examples, talk with vendors and construction experts that can give you the whys and hows of building a safe, mudfree, odorless outdoor paddock for horses. FREE! Registration & directions, Sara Carter at ext 136 & scarter@ thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff at ext. 22 & karinls@masoncd.org. 17

20 Calendar of Events Calendar of Events Winter Horse Farm Management Workshop & Farm Tour (free event) November 10, 2007, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Steamboat Island, WA Sara Carter: (360) ext.136 scarter@thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff: (360) ext. 22 karinls@masoncd.org Farm Tour Managing Horse Property in Winter (free event) November 17, 2007, 10 a.m.-noon Fall City, WA King Conservation District (425) ext. 125 signup@kingcd.org BCHW/USFS & State Land Managers November 30, 2007 Cle Elum Ranger Station Jeanne Koester: (509) backcountryrider@gmail.com Fourth Board of Directors Meeting December 1, 2007 Cle Elum Ranger Station Jeanne Koester: (509) backcountryrider@gmail.com Natural Ways for Managing Horse Properties (free event) January 9, 2008, 6-9 p.m. Olympia Library, Olympia WA Sara Carter: (360) ext.136 scarter@thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff: (360) ext. 22 karinls@masoncd.org How to Design & Build a Winter Paddock (free event) February 9, 2008, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mason County, location TBD Sara Carter: (360) ext.136 scarter@thurstoncd.com or Karin Strelioff: (360) ext. 22 karinls@masoncd.org Check out the BCHW website at Calendar of Events Form November/December BCHW Membership Gathering and Jubilee Celebration March 21-23, 2008 Kittitas County Fairgrounds in Ellensburg Dave and Peg Swanberg davenpeg@gdimail.net Go Play Outside Youth Expo May 18 & 19, 2008 Benton County Fairgrounds Patrick Zellner: (425) pzellner@ci.renton.wa.us Want your event featured here your event with details included in the form below to bchw@wamedia.com or mail it to the address below.! Please clip out and mail! Chapters! See below for how you can get your event listed on the BCHW 2008 Calendar of Events at no charge! Name of event: Sponsoring Chapters: Date of event: Cost (if any): Location: Contact person: Phone number: address or website: Please mail your event to: Washington Media Services or your event to Crissy at: bchw@wamedia.com Attn: Crissy McGee, THN Editor PO Box 7184 Olympia, WA Event listings must be submitted using the event form, which is also available on There will be no cost to members who wish to have their event on the calendar, as long as more than one chapter or organized group is participating in the event, i.e. more than one chapter or a group of members organizing/hosting the event. Please mail event to address listed above or to Crissy at bchw@wamedia.com. For questions, please call Crissy at Thank you! 18

21 November/December 2007 BCHW Store & Membership Application Join BCHW Today!! Please clip out and mail! Quantity (circle color where applicable) Price Send Order to: Baseball Logo Caps: Dk Blue, Dk Green, Donna Geerdes $ Scarves: Green Yellow Red $ Allen West Rd. Bow, WA Truck $ Bumper $ 1.50 Shoulder $ 3.00 Volunteer Patch 50 Hr $ Hr $ Hr $ 1.75 Name: (Please Print) 500 Hr $ 1.75 BCH Guide Book (If $ 1.75 (If not $.50 BCHW Calendars Address: $ (Shrink $.50 City $ 1.95 BCHW Silhouette Sticker: Black $ BCHW Christmas Cards State Zip (If $ 9.00 (If not $ 8.00 TAX (7.7%) $ TOTAL ENCLOSED $! Please clip out and mail! 2008 Membership Application: Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Inc. All adult members need to sign the form. Chapter Members: Turn in to chapter treasurer. Independent Members mail to: BCHW ATTN: MEMBERSHIP, 110 W. 6th Ave., PMB 393, Ellensburg, WA I would like to help preserve the Horsemen s rights to use horses on public lands. ( )New Member ( )Renewal/Past Member Mmbr #: County Legislative District Adult Names (please print) Children Names (please print) Phone ( ) Cell ( ) Chapter Address City State Zip Occupation Do you want to be a Volunteer o Yes o No What would you like to volunteer for State membership for 2008 calendar year. Family Membership $ 49 Single Membership $ 36 Additional State Donation $ Chapter Dues $ Optional Memberships (includes Family or Single Membership) Contributing Member $ 65 Sustaining Member $ 100 Patron Member $ 250 Benefactor Member $ 500 TOTAL ENCLOSED $ Recognizing the fact that there is a potential for an accident wherever horse use is involved, which can cause injuries to horses, riders, and spectators, and also recognizing the fact that Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Inc., including chapters, officers, directors, or members cannot always know the condition of trails or the experience of riders or horses taking part in Trail Rides or other BCHW functions, I do hereby release the above named from any claim or right for damages which might occur to me, my minor children or horses. Signed Dated Signed Dated Signed Dated Dues are not deductible as Charitable Contributions for Income Tax Purposes. Dues may be considered ordinary and necessary business deductions. The information on this membership application will be shared with BCH of America, and if so designated by the applicant, the appropriate local chapter of BCHW. Otherwise, the information will not be divulged to any other person or organization without the express permission of the applicant. 19