Back Country Horsemen Guidebook
1. Back Country Horsemen of America
Concern about the possibility of losing the traditional right to use
recreational stock in the back country was the primary reason in forming
this organization. What has always been our traditional right appears
to be in question. We believe continued horse use, in harmony with
the capacity of our public lands, is in the best interest of the majority
of Americans. The following is the mission of Back Country Horsemen
of America:
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To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America's
back country and wilderness lands.
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To work to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.
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To assist the agencies responsible for the management of public lands in
meeting their goals.
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To educate, encourage, and solicit active participation in the wise and
sustaining use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general
public commensurate with our heritage and "leave no trace" principles.
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To foster and encourage the formation of new state Back Country Horsemen
organizations.
We as Back Country Horsemen hope to achieve our purpose as a service group
to the back country resource. We offer our time and equipment to
government agencies for such tasks as packing out trash, clearing trails,
building trailhead facilities and other projects, which will benefit both
horsemen and non horsemen. Our main contribution is educating people
to reduce environmental impact. To further this cause we have assembled
this guidebook. We have used suggestions and information from the
following storehouse of knowledge: commercial outfitters and packers, backpackers,
horsemen, professional foresters, resource managers, "leave no trace" personnel,
and state Back Country Horsemen organizations.
The horse has earned a noble place in our Western heritage; its usefulness
and devotion have been second to none. Surely it is our charge, indeed
our duty, to see that horse use is preserved in its rightful place.
This can best be accomplished by our individual efforts to shoulder the
responsibilities of promoting wise horse use with minimum adverse impact
to the back country.
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