Backcountry Horsemen of America

Backcountry Horsemen of America
Name	Backcountry Horsemen of America
Formation	1973
Headquarters	United States

Backcountry Horsemen of America is a national nonprofit federation advocating for recreational stock use, trail access, and natural resource stewardship across the United States. The federation brings together volunteers, outfitters, and outdoor professionals to influence public land policy, support trail maintenance, and provide education for stock users in settings from the Sierra Nevada to the Adirondacks. Through chapters and alliances, the organization interacts with federal agencies, state parks, and regional coalitions to preserve pack and saddle stock traditions on public lands.

History

The organization was founded in 1973 amid policy debates involving the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, and regional user groups following shifts in the Wilderness Act implementation and wilderness management after the National Environmental Policy Act era, and early founders drew inspiration from advocacy by Sierra Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, and regional packers. Early national activities connected with events such as the Endangered Species Act enactment and controversies over access in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, leading to coalition building with groups like Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the American Hiking Society. Over decades the federation engaged with landmark processes involving the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the North American Wildlife Conservation Model community, and consultations with the Bureau of Land Management, shaping trail use policy alongside stakeholders including the National Wild Turkey Federation and regional conservancies such as the The Nature Conservancy.

Organization and Membership

The national federation comprises autonomous state and regional chapters modeled after volunteer organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and Sierra Club. Leadership structures include a national board comparable to boards of the National Park Foundation and the Wilderness Society, while chapters coordinate with county land managers, local outfitters, and institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution for outreach. Membership categories reflect parallels with the American Hiking Society and the National Audubon Society, encompassing lifetime members, family memberships, and commercial partners including outfitters affiliated with the Professional Outfitters Coalition and university extension programs such as those at Colorado State University and University of California, Davis. The federation interacts with federal advisory bodies like the Forest Service Advisory Board and state departments analogous to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Programs and Activities

Chapters run trail stewardship projects modeled on volunteer programs like the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program and the Student Conservation Association, offering pack support for wilderness trail crews in areas such as the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Educational workshops mirror offerings from organizations like the American Red Cross and the National Ski Patrol in first aid and emergency response, and partner events include joint outings with the Equine Land Conservation Resource and historical programs with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The federation stages pack trips, youth mentorship programs similar to those of the 4-H and Future Farmers of America, and collaborates on research with institutions such as the University of Montana and the University of Wyoming.

Conservation and Trail Advocacy

Advocacy work aligns the federation with allies including the National Forest Foundation, the National Park Service Advisory Board, and state trail coalitions like the Colorado Plateau Trail Guild. The federation participates in planning processes for designated areas including the Yosemite National Park, the Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park, and engages in comment periods affecting legislation like the Land and Water Conservation Fund reauthorizations and regulatory actions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Chapters partner with agencies on invasive species control initiatives similar to programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and collaborate with conservation nonprofits such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the The Wilderness Society to secure trail corridors and habitat connectivity in landscapes including the Sierra Nevada, the Bitterroot Range, and the Gila Wilderness.

Training and Safety

Safety curricula reflect standards used by organizations like the National Park Service, the American Red Cross, and the National Outdoor Leadership School, offering pack string management, equine first aid, and backcountry veterinary awareness. Training emphasizes compliance with federal directives from the United States Forest Service and state livestock regulations modeled after those of the Montana Department of Livestock and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Courses are delivered in cooperation with veterinary educators at institutions such as the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and instructors often hold credentials comparable to mentors from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and emergency responders from the National Association for Search & Rescue.

Publications and Communications

The federation issues newsletters, digital magazines, and policy briefings paralleling communications from the American Trails organization and the National Park Foundation, and maintains a presence at trade gatherings similar to the Outdoor Retailer show and conferences hosted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Publications include trip reports, technical notes on packstock management, and advocacy toolkits distributed to chapters and stakeholders such as state natural resource departments and partner NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation. Communications channels range from printed periodicals to social media outreach modeled on practices by the Sierra Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club, ensuring coordination with land managers at the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service.

Category:Outdoor recreation organizations