Back Country Horsemen of Alaska

Working to protect natural land resources. Dedicated to preserving local and back country trails.

Mat-Su January meeting

December 11, 2024

Post-holiday party! Let’s get together for a post-holiday celebration at Sarah Gotschall’s house. Check your email for the specific address.

We will start with a potluck dinner at 6pm followed by a business meeting around 6:30pm. 

Agenda

Officer’s reports: 

  • President
  • November meeting minutes
  • Treasurer

Old Business: 

  • Open Secretary position
  • 2025 CTR
  • Spring trail clearing at Valley Pathways (Colin)
  • Update on membership (Colleen)

New Business: 

  • Support requested for Colleen for attending National Meeting in Prescott in April

Reminder for annual dues

December 1, 2024

Happy December! This is the first reminder to send in your dues for 2025. Dues have been increased by $5 to reflect that increase in the dues we pay for each member to National BCHA.

Mat-Su dues: You can print and mail this form with a check, or pay via Paypal (with $2 fee) and email Francine the form (mailing information is on the form).

Kenai dues: You can pay and submit membership or renew on their website here.

Dues help support trail work, allow us to have insurance for the board, and support the national organization with their education and policy efforts. It also allows us to host events like the Competitive Trail Ride and mileage challenges, along with prizes. Thank you for your support!

Mat-Su November 24 Meeting

November 12, 2024

Let’s get together for a winter meal and catch up after a busy summer and fall! Meeting at Conifer Farms, see email for address.

November 24th. Potluck dinner at 6pm with meeting at 6:30pm

Meeting Agenda:

  • Approve minutes 
  • Presidents report
  • treasurer’s report 

Old Business:

  • CTR report (Colin)
  • Trail Trial report (Sarah G)

New Business:

  • Dues increase
  • Volunteer hours 
  • Next year’s CTR
  • Membership 
  • Donation to nationals

Competitive Trail Ride Results

July 31, 2024

Thank you all for helping make the Crevasse Kicker an amazing experience for all this past weekend. With late changes to the trail, an untried campsite, and rough weather to start us off, it was exciting to see excellent teams on the trail and in camp.

A special thank you to our outstanding trail-master Francine and her assistant Sarah G for what can only be described as fool-proof trail marking! And with safety riders Bill and Kaylene, we knew everyone was going to make it back to camp safely. Our ride secretary, Stephanie, put in a lot of effort to ensure that you had everything you needed and you were in the loop. Sarah R designed and ordered the amazing ribbons and solicited awesome prizes. Thank you to Branded Feed and Tack and M Bar D Feed & Tack for your generous donations!

Deanna and the P&R Crew were ahead of schedule and able to handle all the groups with no delays!

Judge and Scribe teams of Susan, Colleen A., Colleen F., and Karol were indispensable with their years of knowledge and I know we are all grateful that they were willing to share their expertise with everyone.

The full results are:

Novice Youth:

  • Estelle Maurits and Toby 1st/1st
  • High point Youth Novice Team: Estelle Maurits & Toby

Novice Adult:

  • Julia Shirack and Kilo 2nd/1st
  • Alana Wright and Ruben 1st/4th
  • Jennifer Hanson and Rainy 5th/2nd
  • Stacy Sawyer and Bo 4th/3rd
  • Cam Budke and Willow 5th/2nd
  • High Point Adult Novice Team: Julia Schirack & Kilo

Competitive Pleasure Youth:

  • Faith Steward and Scout 1st/2nd
  • Elsa Rodriquez and Yukon’s Finale 2nd/1st
  • High Point Youth CP team: Elsa Rodriguez & Yukon’s Finale

Competitive Pleasure Adult:

  • Ivana Haverlikova and Dolly 1st/3rd
  • Lydia Hanson and Gus 2nd/1st
  • Roy Redifer and Arkyn 4th/2nd
  • Lindy Jones and Karma 3rd/6th
  • Terri Mielke and Dynur 4th/4th
  • Pete Praetorius and Tyri 6th/5th
  • High Point Adult CP Team: Lydia Hanson & Gus

Ride Manager’s Sportsmanship Award: Lexi Malone

Volunteers for the Competitive Trail Ride

July 19, 2024

We are looking for volunteers for the competitive trail ride on the Crevasse-Moraine/Mat-Su Greenbelt Trails July 26-28.

Review the sign up form for jobs and times: 

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C084FABAE28ABFECF8-50173926-2024

Look forward to seeing many of you there!

Kenai Peninsula Happenings

May 1, 2024

Much is happening on the Kenai Peninsula. Here’s a snapshot:

The KPBCH gets many questions about what is happening on the Peninsula and around the state. We’re honored to be a search engine for equestrian events! To help us all plan our summer riding season, we’ve put together a Statewide calendar with all the “universal” equestrian events (clinics, rides, camps, rodeos, etc.) that we could find on the internet. Each of those events are links to that organization’s page or the specific event page if we could find it. You can find that calendar at the top our our own Events Page on our website by using the button below. While you’re there, you’ll see that we’ve got some fun things happening as well!

  • Our Summer Trail Challenge began May 1! You can start any time logging your ridden miles and sending them in to win a prize!
  • May 19th we’ll be hosting April Cantrell with The White Horn Saddle Fitting to do a saddle fitting demo for us. You can find her information on our site and book an appointment with her as well.
  • Equine veterinarian, Dr Mike Beyer, has fit us into his busy schedule to speak with us about Equine Nutrition and Supplementation for Alaskan horses. This takes place Wednesday, May 22 at 6PM at the Soldotna Library. Come learn with us!
  • We’ll be doing a Trail Work Day on our Kasilof Equestrian Trails June 8 if you would like to explore the trails while making them ready to ride! We’ll be clearing downed trees and making ready for the mulcher to come through before the Fun Ride.
  • June 13 will be our Annual Fun Ride! Bring your horse, a friend (with a horse), a dish to share, and explore those freshly-cleared Kasilof Equestrian Trails! One of our stations will be at the NEW PARKING LOT! You read that right. IT’S HAPPENING! The equipment will be rolling in in August to finish the job. We’re SO CLOSE!

This and more on our Events Page. Check it out!

KPBCH Events

Trail Trials open for registration!

April 18, 2024

We have finalized our sign ups and information for the Trail Trials and Competitive Trail Ride (CTR) we are organizing with 4-H this summer on the Mat-Su Greenbelt trails. You have the option to volunteer or bring a volunteer to at least one of the events to get a discount on registration cost. Please keep in mind that the CTR especially will require many, many volunteers to make it successful! You do have to be a current BCHA or 4-H member to participate. We are opening up registration to current, local BCHA and 4-H members now, with a cap of 30 participants per event. So register ASAP before we open it up to a wider audience and they fill up!

Trail Trial #1 May 25: https://forms.gle/Ueke7MMgwsobTEjRA

Trail Trial #2 June 22: https://forms.gle/UFQGYZabV1LVXCBQ6

CTR July 26-28: https://forms.gle/scSC4MziyeLQLfc6A

If you haven’t paid dues yet for this year, you can learn how to become a member of the Mat-Su or Kenai Chapter on the membership page.

Kenai Peninsula Chapter Meeting

February 6, 2024

Did you spend the last cold snap out-of-state horse shopping and now you’re wondering how to get your new equine best friend to Alaska? There will be a KPBCH membership meeting on Tuesday, February 13 at 6PM at the Soldotna Library where we will go through the ins and outs of horse transport from out of state. Keep an eye on the KPBCH website for more information.

Pick*Click*Give

January 4, 2024

Exciting news!! We’ve been accepted into the Alaska Permanent Fund Pick*Click*Give program! Do you utilize Pick*Click*Give when filing for your PFD? Would you consider the Back Country Horsemen of Alaska for your donation? Your generous funds will assist us in maintaining trails and keeping them open for stock use to keep you riding!

Kenai Peninsula Chapter Meeting

December 30, 2023

The next Kenai Peninsula Chapter meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6pm at the Soldotna Library. See the “Meetings” tab for more information.