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 2025 STATE OFFICERS
Laura Smyth
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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.
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Pattie Stalder
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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.
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Sheila Watkins
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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.
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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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