What Is Back Country Horsemen of Washington and How Can You Get Involved?

Updated

Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) is a Washington State equestrian education and volunteer trail maintenance organization. It is the kind of group a rider joins if they want to keep backcountry trails open and usable — and the kind of group a non-rider can support with money, time, or advocacy. The practical way in is to find your local chapter, since BCHW's work happens through chapters rather than from a single statewide office.

What BCHW actually is

The organization describes itself in two parts: equestrian education and volunteer trail maintenance. That combination is the point. Members are horse people who use trails, and they put in work to keep those trails passable — clearing downed trees, brushing overgrowth, and doing the routine labor that land managers often can't cover on their own.

Because it's organized at the state level but operates through local chapters, your experience of BCHW will depend heavily on which chapter covers your area. A chapter near a busy national forest may run frequent work parties; a chapter in a quieter region may focus more on education and advocacy.

What members and volunteers do

The work falls into a few broad buckets:

  • Trail maintenance — clearing fallen trees, cutting brush, and repairing tread on trails used by equestrians and other recreationists.
  • Education — teaching riders about Leave No Trace practices, stock handling, and how to ride responsibly in backcountry settings.
  • Advocacy — representing equestrian trail interests to land managers and in public processes that affect trail access.
  • Community — chapter meetings, rides, and events that connect local horse owners.

If you've ever wondered who cleared the tree off the trail you rode last weekend, this is often the answer.

How to get involved

The most direct path is to contact a local chapter. BCHW's website is the starting point for finding which chapter covers your county and who to reach out to.

A reasonable first sequence:

  1. Find your chapter — check the BCHW site for the chapter map or list and identify the one nearest you.
  2. Reach out — email or call the chapter contact and say you're interested in volunteering or joining. Ask what's coming up.
  3. Attend something low-commitment first — a meeting or a work party is a good way to see the culture before you commit to membership.
  4. Ask about membership — dues, requirements, and what's expected of members vary by chapter, so get the specifics from the chapter itself rather than assuming.

What to expect at a first work party

This is where a lot of people hesitate, so it's worth being concrete. Trail work with horses means:

  • You may or may not need to bring a horse. Some work is done on foot with hand tools; some involves packing tools and supplies in with stock. Ask the work party organizer which it is.
  • Bring your own gear. Expect to need work gloves, sturdy boots, water, and weather-appropriate layers. The chapter typically supplies tools, but confirm rather than assume.
  • Expect physical labor. Brushing, sawing, and moving material on uneven ground is the job. Fitness matters more than horse skill for many work days.
  • Check land manager rules. If you're riding on public land, there may be requirements around stock use, permits, or certifications. The chapter will know the local rules.

The single most useful thing you can do before your first work party is ask the organizer two questions: What should I bring? and Do I need my horse?

If you don't ride or can't do trail work

Not everyone who supports BCHW's mission is a rider or is physically able to swing a Pulaski all day. Other ways to help:

  • Donate — trail maintenance costs money for tools, materials, and supplies.
  • Join as a non-working member — you can support the organization and its advocacy without doing trail labor.
  • Help with events and administration — chapters need people to organize, communicate, and run education events.
  • Speak up — public comment on trail access and land management decisions is a real contribution, and it doesn't require boots on the ground.

The bottom line

BCHW is a volunteer-driven, chapter-based organization that combines horseback riding with trail stewardship in Washington State. If you want to ride backcountry trails and help keep them open, contact your local chapter and show up to one event. If you can't do the trail work, there are still ways to support the mission. The chapter is the unit that matters — start there.