Backcountry Horsemen Purpose and Mandate

 

There are many reasons to join a Backcountry Horsemen Chapter: to make good friends, have a group to go riding with, learn new skills, get the latest low-down on new products and training; the list could go on and on. But once your basic need to be around horse people is satisfied, most people want to give back and learn how to protect the environment and way of living that we all love in the back country.

 

Backcountry Horsemen of America has formalized this by the following purpose statement:

 

To work toward the perpetuation of the legal and moral claim by American people to use horses and mules for recreation on public lands.

To unite horsemen as a viable contracting group to work with governmental and public agencies to achieve the goals and objectives of the corporation as stated in its Articles of Incorporation.

To educate and inform horsemen and others interested in or affected by the policies and programs of the corporation about the impact of stock use on backcountry lands, especially the fragile areas.

a. to minimize or prevent irreparable damage to such areas;

b. to encourage responsible citizen involvement in governmental actions affecting such public lands; and

c. to demonstrate that horsemen are citizens concerned about protecting the environment as well as sustaining economic equilibrium for the community and the county. 

d. to oppose unjustified restrictions on, and closure to, stock use on public lands.

 

 

In order to fulfill these purposes, like it or not, we must become politically involved; one way to help our Legislative Liaison, Bob Brooke, is to keep records of where we ride and how much we volunteer. SEE FORMS.