Members of the Pierce County and Nisqually Back Country Horsemen chapters got into a festive spirit on Sunday, Dec. 10 as the organizations gathered for a Christmas party and fundraiser at the Pierce County Fairgrounds.
Back Country Horsemen has 31 separate chapters across Washington, all with a common mission to “perpetuate the commonsense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness, and to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.” Back Country Horsemen is also the only national equestrian trails service organization. The organization advocates for the protection of local trails and riding experiences at local, state and national levels.
Cathy Dye, president of Pierce County’s Back Country Horsemen chapter, said all proceeds raised from the Christmas party go directly toward trail maintenance and equipment for those projects.
She said the Christmas party is a way to show members appreciation and featured a potluck.
“There’s a dessert auction, and all the items for the silent and live auction are donated,” Dye said. “We have some older members that we love having out. After they hang up their spurs and can’t ride anymore, what do they do? We try to create more events to keep them involved.”
She describes members of the organization as environmentally friendly and people who take pride in taking care of Washington’s trails.
“Thousands of hours go in a year for working on trailing. There’s people that every time they go riding, they’re trimming trails and working on them. The next generation, if we don’t keep up with it, they won’t have it,” Dye said. “A lot goes into that extra work, and there’s a lot of really good people in these groups.”
Dye said the Pierce County chapter has adopted Sahara Creek as its area for its maintenance project and has kept up in that area since the 1990s. She estimated that, last year, total volunteer hours for the group would be worth approximately $270,000 to the state, but noted members do it for their love of the outdoors.
“Every chapter in the state is doing the same thing with thousands of hours out there. It’s a good thing,” Dye said.
Frank Servine, president of the Nisqually Back Country Horsemen chapter, said all members of Back Country Horsemen organizations have something in common with their passion for horses.
“I’m Native, and to me, the horse is a spirit animal. It’s a healing animal. That’s what brings us together. That’s the camaraderie — the horse,” Servine said. “The organization is a camaraderie. These are a bunch of hard-working people between the Nisqually chapter and Pierce County chapter. We often work together with other clubs to keep trails open for the public. That’s our main objective. It’s our mission statement to keep trails open and to work with the state to keep them open for the horsemen.”
He said the Nisqually chapter works with Fort Lewis to keep trails on the base open and recently spent $10,000 on installing a parking lot at area 23 on the base.
He said that the horse industry pays more taxes to the state than any other user group. Servine added, statewide, members of the horse industry pay the state billions of dollars in taxes.
“Those interested in horsemanship should think about joining one of the horse clubs to keep the trails open,” Servine said. “Take our motto and tread lightly. Go and be polite to the other horsemen.
“BCH is a family,” he continued. “The club originated in 1976, but it fell apart. It started up again in 1990, and my wife and I became members then. I’m motivated by the people. They keep electing me even though I don’t have time, but the vice president, Kathy Talbot, and the rest of the board members are wonderful in doing what I should be doing, to be honest. I have a wonderful crew.”
Those interested in joining the Nisqually Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen can contact Servine at 360-791-2537 for inquiries about how to sign up, or join the Nisqually Back Country Horsemen’s Facebook page.
Those interested in joining the Back Country Horsemen’s Pierce County chapter can go online to www.bchw.org to find a chapter and sign up through its designated website.
