BCHW Public Lands Committee Blog

Lots of good information is being posted on this blog. Take a look and take action!

http://bchwpubliclands.blogspot.com/

Horses for Clean Water Events - January

HORSES FOR CLEAN WATER EVENTS FOR JANUARY 2009

Don’t let the Winter Blues put a damper on your horse activities! January is a great time to busy yourself with plans & ideas for the coming warmer months. Come horse around with Horses for Clean Water at the following events:

IN JANUARY:

MAPLE VALLEY, WA
January 28th to February 11th
Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm to 9:00pm
CLASS SERIES: Green Horsekeeping: Mud, Manure & Pasture Management for Horses
Tired of seeing your horses slosh around in mud? Wondering what to do with all the flies and the manure behind the barn? Are you new to horsekeeping on small acreage? Then join HCW for Green Horsekeeping! There are many great ways to banish mud on horse properties. Learn about French drains, footing options, geotextile fabrics & other great ideas for managing horse paddocks. Find out how to compost horse manure, see different compost bin designs and get tips for reducing stall waste in the barn. Study basic techniques for good pasture management including how grasses grow, creating a winter paddock, liming, spreading compost, rotational grazing, weed control, fencing options & small farm equipment. Learn how to make your horse property chore-efficient, horse healthy, more productive during the growing season and a healthy place for the environment!
Tahoma School District’s Tahoma Learning Community, Maple Valley, WA, exact location & cost TBD, Wednesday evenings, January 28th to February 11th, 6:30pm to 9:00pm. For details & registration contact Joanne Werner at 425-413-3405.


MAPLE VALLEY, WA
January 31st
Saturday, 9am to 5pm
WORKSHOP: Caring for Your Horse and His Home Are you new to horse ownership or do you have children who want a horse? Do you know what the regular health, dental and shoeing needs are for horses? Would you like to learn about shelter requirements and horse-safe fencing? Join Alayne Blickle & her horses on her Maple Valley, WA demonstration farm for an all day, hands-on workshop geared towards novice horse owners. Topics include horse behavior, horse & handler safety, planning your horse facility, how to buy a horse, nutrition & feeding, vet & farrier care, and pasture, manure & mud management. Cost is $80/person. Contact for special pricing for families & more course details. 9am to 5pm, Saturday, January 31st. To register or for more information contact Alayne@horsesforcle anwater.com or 425-432-6116.


IN FEBRUARY:

VASHON, WA
February 7th
Saturday, 10am to noon
Farm Tour: Paxhia Farm Tour a 12 acre Vashon commercial horse property that works hard to maintain the heath of it’s natural features as well the health of as it’s Dutch Warmbloods. See beautiful cedar and fir trees as well as pastures, mud-free sacrifice areas, winter turnouts and a covered arena. An ecology block bin collects stall waste for give-away to Island growers. Learn about chore efficient horse management techniques that make horse life easier and reduce environmental impacts. BONUS: See & hear about a plug-in electric neighborhood car! Vashon, WA. Saturday, February 7th, 10 to noon, FREE! Register and receive directions with the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581 ext. 122, or paul.borne@kingcd. org.


HOBART, WA
February 19th to March 12th
Thursdays, 6:30-9pm
Workshops for Horse & Small Farm Owners Hands-on workshops on livestock management practices. See a variety of options & work with technicians to discover ways you can have less mud, better pastures, manage manure and care for your streams, wetlands and drinking water sources. Issaquah-Hobart area, WA. Thursday evenings, February 19 & 26 March 5 & 12, 6:30-9pm, FREE! To register and receive directions contact the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581 ext. 122, or paul.borne@kingcd. org.
TOPICS:
Streams and Wetlands: Living with Livestock near Water. February 19th
Mud Management: Record Rainfall / Record Mud. February 26th with Alayne Blickle as a guest speaker
Manure Management: Got Livestock? Got Manure. March 5th with Alayne Blickle as a guest speaker
Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer. March 12th


ENUMCLAW, WA
February 21st
Saturday, 10am to noon
Farm Tour: Alpacas Galore! Stay tuned for details about this beautiful alpca farm. Enumclaw, WA. Saturday, February 21st, 10 to noon, FREE! Register and receive directions with the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581 ext. 122, or paul.borne@kingcd. org.


New events added regularly at www.HorsesforCleanW ater.com.

Trail Classification Comments

I received this info from BCHW -

DEADLINE APPROACHING!
This letter is based on BCHA's response to the latest U.S. Forest Service ruling regarding the trail classification issue. This issue is extremely important to the BCH mission and keeping access to stock on FS lands; please help by doing this.

The comment deadline is this coming Monday,12/15/08. The letter is in MSWord so you can personalize it or use it as is. PLEASE STAY POSITIVE & RESPECTFUL! You could also email or print out some extras for friends and other stock users to comment.

If using email send them to: Jstephens02@ fs.fed.us
If using snail mail the address is in the header of the letter.

Questions? Read everything at the BCHA website: www.backcountryhorse.com

Download the Letter

Saving Horse Riding Trails

Just saw this on TheHorse.com.

When the U.S. Forest Service began to make changes to the trail classification system that had been in place for nearly 100 years, Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) took notice. When they realized the huge impact it would have on horse users, they made every attempt to resolve the problem. Despite their efforts, they found in 2005 that litigation was their only choice.

Under the U.S. Forest Service's proposed plan, as much as 50% of the Wilderness trail system may not have ultimately accommodated pack and saddle stock. Because of BCHA's persistence, this trail use that has been an integral part of the history of the United States will still be available.

Read the full article here.

Pole Bending - Winlock

Pole Nights At Good Life Stables in Winlock…..sponsored by River Riders 4-H Club

Friday’s are…..Nov 21st, Dec 12th & 19th
Sign ups 6:00 pm, starts at 7pm
cost 15.00
Events : Poles, Keyrace, Bi-Wrangle & Figure 8
There will also be Jackpots at the end of each night for 1.00 each run.
We will have prizes for the reserve and hi point for each night. Placings to 5th place. 4 age devisions.
If you need more info please just let me know.
Thank Chanin & River Riders 4-H
Ken Archer - ksarcher@localnet.com