BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA – MISSION STATEMENT
“To educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the care and use of equestrian resources by trail riders and the general public commensurate with our heritage.”
Show-Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen (SMMBCH) supports and is guided by the National Mission Statement. The challenge is developing and administering programs that fulfill the mission. The SMMBCH Education Committee is committed to the following:
- To encourage and educate trail riders to understand the impact of recreational use and to ride responsibly to protect our riding areas from environmental impact. Cross-tying to protect trees is a simple example of riding responsibly. Staying on trail, crossing water at designated or safe crossings, being respectful of private property and all trail users are other examples of rider ethics.
- To encourage and educate other recreational users (non-riders) and public land agencies to be open to scientifically proven fact vs. opinion or personal agendas concerning horse behavior, horse manure, and trails. Trail users unknowledgeable of horse behavior may unknowingly cause accidents while sharing trails. Horses are herbivores and trail users need educating to the fact that horse manure poses no threat to human health. This is not the case with pets such as dogs and cats. (Visit the Reading Room for factual data.) Trail erosion is mostly due to poorly planned trails and the elements of wind and water. All users have an impact, not just horses as some ill-informed proclaim. SMMBCH advocates for multiuse and shared trails.
- To promote the Leave No Trace (LNT) 7 Principles that SMMBCH has embraced. SMMBCH has three LNT Master Stock Educators qualified to teach Awareness and Trainer classes. Many SMMBCH members are Trainers and qualified to hold Awareness events. LNT Master Stock Educators are trained in teaching horse camping and use of trail stock (horse) with minimal impact to the environment. LNT Trainers and Master Educators are willing to speak/teach all user groups and individuals on the LNT Principles.
- To encourage Youth to become involved in trail ethics, trail access, and protection of horse trails for the future. Today’s youth has lost the freedom to ride many trails their parents and grandparents once enjoyed. With the loss of equine trails over the past years, it is vital to involve youth in the struggle to keep and protect our current horse trails.
Educational resources available from SMMBCH
For more information contact: Marsha Copeland, Education chair. 417-345-5753 / mcope@centurytel.net