The Short Version
In the early 1970s the Forest Service was ready to limit equine use. The back country was being loved to death by the placement of permanent camps, corrals, piles of garbage, not to mention human waste, and dying trees due to stock being tied to them causing root damage. The Forest Service was suggesting that many camping and prolonged use areas be closed to stock use. Four men realized the urgency of this matter and determined that education was needed. Sitting around the campfire Ken Ausk, Dulane Fulton, Dennis Swift, Roland Cheek began to organize their thoughts which led to the creation of the Back Country Horsemen organization. The first chapter was created in 1973 in Kalispell, Montana. The second chapter started in 1974 in Missoula, with the Bitter Root chapter being the third chapter starting up in 1976 in Hamilton. Since then BCH has grown into a state organization, expanding to a national organization, BCHA. There are currently 31 state organizations and potential states as well as nearly 12,000 members.
Membership to our chapter automatically enrolls you in the State and National organizations, with receipt of newsletters from all.
A Longer Version
The Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) has a more detailed history of our BCH founders and the BCH history on their website. Visit https://www.bcha.org/about/who-we-are/history-founders/
… Or go to the source!
Watch a video created by the only remaining BCH founder, Roland Cheek, titled “The Beginning of Back Country Horsemen: The Most Influential Trail Riding Group in America”. It is available in two formats: