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? BCHKS wants to protect those future first trail ride memories 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 struggle 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 over 34,000 volunteer hours of trail and campground work, which equates to a value of $2.25M 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 2025 STATE OFFICERS

Laura Smyth
​​BCHKS Chair
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Laura was born and raised in Kansas and has enjoyed its many lakes all of her life; boating, fishing, camping, and, for the last 18 years, trail riding on her Paint mare, Pretty. She can frequently be seen giving children pony rides on Pretty and sharing her love of horses. Her most frequent trail is Harvey County East Lake, but Eagle Ride Trail at Milford Lake holds a special place in her heart. She and her husband Kyle joined BCH in 2021, and in 2021 founded the Chisholm Trail Chapter in South Central Kansas, of which Laura is President. Laura has also spent the past 2.5 years gentling and training her own BLM Mustang, Renegade, who will become her main trail horse so that Pretty can retire to being the grandkids' horse.

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Eileen Gronniger
Vice Chair
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Born and raised on a small farm in Nemaha County, Kansas, after college Eileen moved two counties east to a Doniphan County farm when she married her husband Damian. Eileen's passion, fueled by stories of her grandfather and his way with horses, is trail riding with friends and making new friends on the many lake trails in Kansas. She is a member of the BCHKS Sunflower Chapter, The Topeka  Brushbuster's Riding Club, the Kansas Horse Council, and the Brown County Mounted Search and Rescue Unit.

Pattie Stalder
​Secretary 
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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. 

Diana Skinner
​National Director
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Charter member of BCHKS and founder of the Sunflower Chapter, Diana lives next to the horse trails at Clinton Lake.  She is the COE Volunteer Trails Coordinator for the South Shore Trails and frequently fills in as Rockhaven Horse Park Camp Host. Diana is also a member of the Kansas Horse Council and is on the Board of the Kansas Trails Council which helps develop and maintain all types of trails across the state. She is an avid rider and enjoys riding and maintaining the trails on her mule Ruby.

Sheila Watkins
Treasurer
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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.  

Cheryl Thomas
​Volunteer Hrs Chair
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Cheryl and her husband, Jim, are founding members of BCHKS and are passionate about trail riding! They have dedicated their retirement years to seeing America by horseback and to working to preserve and promote our public trails in Kansas. Cheryl and Jim live near Eisenhower State Park at Melvern Lake and spend lots of hours maintaining those trails, as well as other trails at nearby lakes.

Stephanie Huss
National Director
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Stephanie loves the passion that trail riders have for Kansas trails. There is a trail for every skill level. The views are stunning, whether it be rolling hills or sparkling lakes, and she is grateful for all of them. Her goal is to grow the awareness of the work that Back Country Horsemen of Kansas volunteers provide for us to continue to enjoy our beloved equestrian trails. 
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Jamie Studebaker
Alternate National Director
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