What is Back Country Horsemen of Kansas?
Are you a trail rider who enjoys public trails in Kansas? Do you remember your first trail riding experience and that connection between you, your trusty mount, and the natural world around you? BCHKS wants to protect that future first trail ride memory and access to the trails we all enjoy.
Join the efforts of other Kansas equestrians who are dedicated to protecting our access to public trails. With ever changing budgets and limited staff, state and national parks are in a constant dance to keep the outdoor experience available and enjoyable. Each year, equestrian volunteers contribute thousands of hours maintaining trails and making significant campground improvements. Since 2014, Kansas trail riders just like you have contributed 23,538 volunteer hours of trail and campground work, which equates to a value of $1,250,943 of labor donated to local, state, and federal land agencies in the Sunflower State!
The Kansas chapter of Back Country Horsemen of America was formed in 2014 by a group of equestrians committed to ensuring access to public riding trails in Kansas, and we work constantly toward the goal of Keeping (Equestrian) Trails Open for Future Generations. Your membership in BCHKS helps ensure that equestrians will always be able to ride our favorite public trails.
MEET OUR 2022 STATE OFFICERS
STEPHANIE HUSSChairperson
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CHERYL THOMASVolunteer Hours Coordinator
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DIANA SKINNERNational Director
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SHEILA WATKINSTreasurer
wat779@cox.net Sheila grew up showing and competing horses in 4H in South Dakota. She has been an active trail rider for the past 25 years. Sheila stays active in many different horse organizations in addition to BCHKS such as the Topeka Brushbuster Riding Club and the Kansas Horse Council. holding roles of Board President and Treasurer to name a couple.
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JEN STALDER
Vice Chairperson
jenstalder1@hotmail.com Jen moved with her family to Kansas at the age of 5 where she learned to ride bareback on an old Appaloosa named Chaps. After years of barrel racing which included two ABRA World Championship titles in 1993, serving as a 4H Horse Project leader and many years participating in the Black Jack Saddle Club she now lives in Manhattan and serves on the Kansas Horse Council Board of Directors. Back in the saddle after many years away, she looks forward to being involved in BCHKS and riding the trails across Kansas meeting other riders that share the same passion. She is most excited to bring her granddaughter, Kathrin, along for the ride and build great memories through four generations of equestrians.
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PATTIE STALDER
National Director
backdoor@bluevalley.net Pattie and her husband Bob have a small breeding farm in Pottawatomie County where they stand Connemara stallion, JEF Sir Lancelot. Raising ponies/horses provides many opportunities to travel the U.S. and meet folks with shared interests. Pattie retired from the Kansas Horse Council and Bob as a construction superintendent. They both enjoy traveling with their horses, riding with friends and family and have embraced the goal of maintaining and developing the horse trails on Tuttle Creek Lake.
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JOHN LEIGHTY
John and his wife, Ronda, are avid trail riders, primarily at Hillsdale Lake but other trails nearby. John can normally be seen riding his blind paint, Bugins, at various gaits including walk, trot, and canter. John became active in BCH of Kansas to assist the organization by increasing membership and a short term goal of at least one chapter in every region of the state. He is currently the Vice President of the Saddle Ridge Chapter.
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