Training at the 2013 Free Wildernes Skills Packing Clinic
Training at the Free Wilderness Skills Packing Clinic

The fourth mission statement of the Back Country Horsemen organization is;

To educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the wise use of the backcountry resource by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.

This is one of the main purposes Back Country Horsemen was founded on. We promote, actively teach and support Leave No Trace ethics (LNT) for all aspects of our state and federal public lands.

The improper use of stock on public lands can have a lasting effect on our fragile backcountry; through education we encourage the wise use of these resources. The Back Country Horsemen LNT training program provides guidelines for protecting the backcountry while still taking in all its natural beauty. Leave No Trace is about preserving our privilege to use stock on public lands by learning to minimize our impacts as much as possible. Training includes: how to plan and prepare for traveling and camping with horses and mules with the least impact, how to select a durable camp site while respecting wildlife and other users.

LNT traveling training display
LNT traveling training display

For more information read What is Leave No Trace and Leave No Trace Principals for Horsemen.

For more information about horse-oriented LNT presentations, contact our master training coordinator, education@bcho.org.

Come see the Back Country Horsemen of Oregon LNT traveling training display at one of our next events, our display demonstrates proper techniques for riding and camping in the backcountry. The BCHO Leave No Trace traveling training display demonstrates proper techniques for riding and camping in the backcountry.