The Gallatin Valley Back Country Horsemen of Montana
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to assuring the ability of everyone to enjoy the wild open spaces of Montana on horseback. Our chapter and members come together to plan back country excursions for fun, work, and fundraising. We welcome new members and would be happy to answer questions. You may contact any of our officers or directors or come to our meetings that are held the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Springhill Presbyterian Church, 4769 West Babcock, Bozeman, MT unless otherwise noted.
Learn more about our organization…
The actual formation of the Back Country Horsemen took place in Montana’s Flathead Valley in January of 1973. Growth of the BCH as an organization continued with the formation of additional clubs in Montana. In 1977, the Back Country Horsemen of Washington was incorporated and developed an informal liaison with the Montana and newly formed Idaho Back Country Horsemen. In 1981, a California organization known as the High Sierra Stock Users was formed and after several years of discussion, the four groups decided to merge. They would call themselves the Back Country Horsemen of America. A constitution was drafted in 1985 and accepted in 1986. A board of directors elected from each of the four units became the governing body of the new organization, thus uniting the Montana, Idaho, California, and Washington Back Country Horsemen into one organization, the Back Country Horsemen of America. Since that time, there has been steady growth within the four founding state organizations. In addition, new Back Country Horsemen units have also formed in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. There are also affiliated units in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
In the Fall of 1984, a group of riders got together to form a BCH organization in the Gallatin Valley. We found the national BCH would not let us use the name BCH until we joined the national BCH and received our charter. So we formed a group and called ourselves the Wilderness Riders Horseback Club. Archie Huenergardt was our first president.
On January 12, 1985 we held an organizational meeting at the USB at Montana State University. Loyd Fagerland and Jim Broger, expansion committee members with the Back Country Horsemen of Montana came and explained what the organization was all about. At that time there were 11 chapters in Western Montana and Idaho.
On February 7th we held our first official meeting at Wards Irrigation Building west of Four Corners and elected officers and worked on a constitution. On March 23rd Ron & Ruthie Rassley and Barb Martin attended the National BCH convention in Libby, MT and officially joined the BCH of America and received our charter. We had over 125 voting members at the time.
At that time, we started working with the Forest Service. The Summer of 1984 they had torn out all the horse facilities at Spanish Creek Campground and were going to turn it into a picnic area. Their explanation was that horse people don’t use the campground. It turns out a couple of our club members were threatened with a citation for camping there during the 1984 hunting season because they had horses there. After visiting with the Forest Service, a couple of times they decided maybe they were a little hasty and would rebuild the horse area if we helped with the planning. Together we came up with the horse area that is there now. Plus, we adopted the Spanish Lakes trail and the Forest Service opened it up to horse use again after being closed for 10 or 12 years. In 1986 Shawn Carrig (Ron Rassley’s son-in-law) designed our club logo. We had a banner made and started riding in parades and tried to work with the media to get our name and purpose known to the public. In 1987 we hosted the State Convention in Bozeman.
Each year we sponsor a Poker Ride and a Steak Ride. Occasional fund raisers have been an Art Auction and a Horseman’s Rendezvous.
Some of the projects we have been involved with over the years are:
- Truman Creek access trail head
- Gallatin Crest Trail in 1988
- Maintain Spanish Lakes Trail every year
- Old Indian Trail through Windy River Ranch
- Clearing Placer Creek trail (The first clearing in several years.)
- Clearing brush and rerouting and building trail in Middle Cottonwood
- Build hitch rails and corrals at Ramshorn Lake with the Fish Wildlife and Parks Service.
- Toilet and corrals at Sage Creek Trailhead
- Window Rock Cabin maintenance
- Spanish Creek Cabin roofing
- Corrals at Spanish Creek
- Corrals at Cache Creek
- Corrals at Ramshorn Creek
- Windy Pass Cabin maintenance
- Buffalo Fork Cabin maintenance
- Slough Creek Cabin maintenance
- Hellroaring Creek Cabin maintenance
Past Presidents of Gallatin Valley BCH
1985-1986 Barb Martin
1987-1988 Ron Rassley
1989-1990 Johnny Rolater
1991 Bettye White
1992 Phil Adolf
1993 Johnny Rolater
1994 Harry Boughton
1995 Tom Griffith
1996-1997 Kurt Stabenau
1998 Ron Rassley
1999-2000 Beth Merrick
2001-2003 Brown Parsons
2004-2006 Rich Inman
2006-2009 Dan Marsh
2010-2011 Jim Albright
2012-2014 Henry Glenn
2015 Dan Marsh
2016-2017 John Mutter
2018-2020 Henry Glenn
2021-2023 Chris Nygren
2024- Henry Glenn
- Constitution
- Expenditure Guidelines
- Qualification for Firearm
- Expense Sheet
- Volunteer Hours Forms
- Mileage Reimbursement
- 2024 Volunteer Hours Gallatin Valley BCH
- 2023 Volunteer Hours Gallatin Valley BCH
- 2022 Volunteer Hours BCHMT
- Greater Gallatin Trails Visioning & Appendices
- Crazy Mountains
Galatin Valley is a chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Montana
Our chapter works diligently to assure our access and passion for back country rides will continue for years to come.
Gallatin Valley BCH Members receive members-only invitations to backcountry events, including poker rides, trail working, and training. Members also receive current information that affects back country accessibility- news, political updates, and opportunities for speaking out to assure our pastime.
