Horsemen's group helps riders gain confidence

Calvin Bratt
Tribune editor

  WHATCOM -- Even a good horse and rider out on a Northwest trail could get spooked by some unfamiliar situation. That's the reason behind the Confidence Builder Ride.
  The annual event of the Back Country Horsemen's Whatcom County chapter takes place this Saturday on Virgil Stremler's property, 9480 Van Buren Rd.
  Stremler said he and other members of the horsemen's club created the major pieces for the obstacle ride about five years ago: logs in the way, a bridge over a stream, and cedar puncheon across a wet area.
  The trail through the woods also includes a little campground that can be used as a lunch stop.
  The Confidence Builder Ride, from about 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is free and open to anyone who needs to prepare either a horse or rider for what might be faced on an actual high-country ride, said Fran Van Diest, in charge of the chapter's newsletter.
  The participants often are young riders and horses, but not necessarily, she said. Minors must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet.
  Other objects that horses are taught to get accustomed to are tarps and barrels.
  Brian Kooiker of Circle A Ranch and Debbie McGuire of Irish Acres will assist in the training.
  A chili and hot dog lunch will be served for a $5 donation, with children age 6 and under free.
  Van Diest said she usually works on the noon meal for the ride, while husband Roy helps out with riders. The Van Wyck Road couple has seven horses and two mules.
  It's that time of year for Back Country Horsemen to get back into the hills, on trails, especially to get them cleaned up from any winter storms and timber falls.
  A work party was busy at the Heady Road trailhead off Silver Lake Road in mid-March and a crew will be out on Stewart Mountain off Y Road on April 26, Van Diest said.
  The Back Country Horsemen (and women!), numbering about 140 locally, have a good working relationship with the public agencies that manage much of the land for horseback riding, including the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.
  "We do a lot of trail maintenance work, and our objective is keep trails open for all people," Van Diest said.
  Members of Back Country Horsemen in 36 chapters in Washington often pack in the equipment and supplies needed for remote trail work.
  Rocky Leavitt, a Bellingham chiropractor by day, spends a good part of his off time, at least in autumn, packing his five mules into high country to help in trail building.
  Leavitt said that with the disappearance of the Forest Ser-vice's own trail building effort, the duty has fallen to a partnership of hikers and horsemen. The Pacific Northwest Trails group especially is a coordinator and contractor.
  "If the horse groups and the hiker groups did not work together, it would not get done," he said.
  Leavitt, of Kendall, and other members of Back Country Horsemen worked for three years rebuilding the Excelsior Trail. They got to Hannegan Pass Trail last year and hope to continue on to Whatcom Pass this year.
  He can pack loads of wood and up to 250 pounds of gravel on each of his mules, which Leavitt said he prefers to horses.
  Most of the work is in the North Cascades National Park, although some is also in the Mount Baker and Pasayten federal wilderness areas, he said.
  For more information, call the Van Diests at 734-2567 or Kathy Lockerbie at 398-2404.
  E-mail Calvin Bratt at editor@lyndentribune.com.