Backcountry
Horsemen of California
Los Padres Unit
PO Box 6773, Santa Maria, CA 93456
RIDE
CALENDAR/PARADE PROTOCOL
NEW2012 MONTHLY TRAIL RIDES FOR BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN LOS PADRES UNIT
These rides are on the 2nd/3rd Saturday/Sunday of each month between 9:00 -9:30 am The location of the ride may change due to weather, so please call or check the website before you go.
Please call ahead of time so we can get a head count. If no one calls or Emails the ride will be canceled. If you need directions or more information call: 805-717-2998, 805-934-8422, or email at TLGarretson@gmail.com
Please be early we will leave at 9:30 sharp. We will not wait around for stragglers.
These rides are for CURRENT MEMBERS Non-members may submit an application to join the club at the time of the ride.
AS A GROUP RIDE WE STAY TOGETHER - WE WALK ALL TRAILS WE RIDE SAFE
For the TBA rides - check the website/or make sure I have your email address.
January Saturday the 14th - This ride has been canceled.
February Sunday the 12th -Morro Bay - This ride has been canceled
March Saturday the 10th - santa Barbara area TBA
April Sunday the 15th hwy 166- TBA
May Saturday the 19th San Antonio Lake -north shore
June - Sunday the 10th paradise rd - river trails
July Saturday the 14th Montano De Oro - east boundary
August Sunday the 12th Cerro Alto
September- Saturday the 8th Santa Barbara area -TBA
October- Sunday the 14th - Lopez Lake cougar trail
November - Saturday the 10th Margarita Lake - front side
December Sunday the 9th La Parisima Mission
These rides are designed for different riders, Please dont bring Green Broke horses on the longer/difficult trails. Kids are welcome on all rides at parents risk. I hope you enjoy the rides you take and each year we will try to find different places. If you have any you like, let me know, I will try them out and may put them on the list. Ride with old friends and make new ones.
The Unit is looking for a Parade Chairperson - please contact Bill Chaides at 805-471-1197 if interested.
Also for our Parades - here is the PARADE PROTOCOL
Anyone wanting to ride in the parades needs to make sure their horse can handle the commotion of the crowds, bikes, kids running, wagons, loud music, dancing horses, flags, horns, and old tractors. We will try to hold a desensitizing class before the first parade.
We are riding as a group and need to be dressed accordingly. Off-white (eggshell) LONG sleeve shirt, burgundy scarf, blue jeans, boots and a light colored STRAW hat. There are regular BCHC shirts available to order. If interested in ordering, please contact Nancy Kimmell at 805-471-1198 or NJK@TCSN.NET. Spurs, half chaps, chaps, etc. are optional.
Anyone riding in the parade WILL sign in with the BCHC parade leader at least ½ hour before we are to line up, which is usually ½ to 1 hour before parade time. The Parade leader will have a BCHC banner hanging from their trailer, make sure you know the miles traveled and the time for travel, as those will be needed for sign up. Anyone coming in late will have to catch up on their own, make sure you sign in before you catch up. The sign in sheet will be in the back of the trailer with a pen. We will leave the staging area as a group. Make it a habit to be at the staging area 2 hours ahead of parade time this gives you time to check in, get ready and settle down your horse.
Riders will line up in twos with at least ½ to 1 horse length between you and the horse in front. Try to stay even with your partner. If your horse gets antsy, circle him/her to the outside as often as needed. DO NOT ride up into the horse in front or behind you, We want to show our professional side. If your horse becomes uncontrollable, get off and walk him, if that doesnt work, find a side street and walk him back to the trailer, we would rather be safe than sorry. REMEMBER SMILE we are there to enjoy.
The banner will be in front, The American flag and State flag will be next. When we have our Unit flag made, that person will ride by themselves behind the other 2 flags. Anyone packing or ponying, will ride by themselves and will be scattered throughout the group. Forest Service Wilderness Volunteers who want to wear their USFS volunteer uniforms, will ride behind the BCHC group.
I know these are a lot of rules, but a fun parade can turn into a disaster if there is no organization and rules. We would like as many members as possible to ride in the parades, but because of insurance, we REALLY need to know at least 15 days in advance how many will be there, so if you want to enjoy a fun and rewarding experience call ahead and come join us.
We do have a few extra shirts handy if anyone forgets theirs or we have a new member who hasnt had a chance to get one yet.
"DEDICATED TO THE GENTLE USE OF CALIFORNIA TRAILS AND BACKCOUNTRY"
Webmaster 
Updated: 1/13/2012
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