BCHA St. Stephens Horse Park

03/01/2024

Group ride this Saturday, March 2 at the park!

Rain chance is minimal.

We’ll ride all day, starting at 10 AM, come when you can!

Come ride with us!

Not a sanctioned chapter ride, just folks getting together and sharing a love of riding.

02/13/2024

BCHA St Stephens Horse Park has events and volunteer help days in the works.
Stay tuned to the page for more information and announcements.

02/05/2024

Welcome to the BCHA St. Stephens Horse Park chapter page. We are glad that you have found us.
Stay Tuned for upcoming Volunteer Days and Trail Rides -
'Tis the Season to be riding!

02/03/2024

Back Country Horsemen of America is a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the following mission.

**To perpetuate the commonsense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness.
**To work to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.
**To assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource.
**To educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the wise use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.
**To foster and encourage the formation of new state Back Country Horsemen’s organizations.

Our grassroots members help carry forward our organization’s mission and values throughout the United States and Canada working closely with trail partners and local land management agencies to clear and maintain trails.

In 2022, BCHA members donated over 207,800 volunteer hours from 32 different states with a dollar value of over $12 million. 14,779 stock animals hours (horses and mules) were used with volunteers traveling over 1.2 million miles to locations to do volunteer work.

The total volunteer hours donated over the past 28 years was 6,950,429 with a dollar value of $192,494,393.

What We Do?
We invest in active participation by young leaders in the wise and sustainable use of wilderness and back country resources. We coordinate with conservation corps and youth groups, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management to ensure tomorrow’s leaders have outdoor and wilderness experiences. As youth groups work with us and our partners, they learn about themselves and about stewardship of our most treasured resources. BCHA, its youth partners, and other volunteers leverage funds many times over in delivering projects to clear and maintain trails.
Are you a hiker, biker, or horseback rider who gets out and enjoys trails? We do much of the work that goes unseen to clear and preserve the safety and continued enjoyment of your outdoor experience. Yup, much of our work does involve “horsepower” as well as human power. The majority of our pack trips with horses and mules assist trail crews get food, camping gear, and trail maintenance equipment into areas where four-wheeled vehicles cannot go. We help two-footed trail workers get more done by packing in what they need.

If you are interested in joining this local chapter - please reach out to us and we will get you started.

02/01/2024

Volunteering
As the leading organization in our battle to preserve our right to ride horses on public lands, Back Country Horsemen of America knows the fight is futile unless there are trails to ride. That’s why they spend thousands of hours each year cleaning, maintaining, and building trails on public lands across the country.
Please join our team of volunteers and help with the upkeep of your favorite place to ride.

Volunteer Service Hours for Back Country Horsemen of America
The total for 28 years is 6,950,429 hours for a total donated dollar value of $192,494,393 Wow!! Thanks BCHA Members for all your hard work.

01/26/2024

Sweet Trails Alabama

Everyone, please take the survey...Very Important for Trail Riders

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! WE'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN PLANNING FUTURE TRAILS IN ALABAMA. PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW TO FILL OUT THE ONLINE COMMENT FORM AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE ONLINE INPUT MAP!YOUR FEEDBACK WILL HELP INFORM A STATEWIDE TRAILS PLAN. THANK YOU AND PLEA...

01/24/2024

This or That 🐴
Which is your favorite Horseback Riding Season?

01/15/2024

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Be sure to tell your friends about us! We are a newer chapter and getting the word out is very, very helpful.
There will be more Volunteer opportunities to help at and a Spring Ride will be announced.
Stay Tuned! ❄️ and Stay Warm!

01/08/2024

We are great place to stop for a visit. Our Back Country Horsemen chapter has done some amazing volunteer trail work, stall work and the park has done some site work. Far enough off the beaten path to be peaceful yet minutes from full "in town" amenities.
There are lots of miles to ride at the park! This is just one loop where we barely backtracked over any of our terrain. A little over 16 miles total for the day, and we still didn’t ride every area. Come ride with us!

01/07/2024

We Proudly Present ~ our 2024 Chapter Officers
Carolin Dubose Bedwell, President
Tinika Criswell, Vice President
Eddie Huggins, Secretary/Treasurer
Clara Blacksher, Leanne Smith, Gene Montgomery and Ashley Harrell, Chapter Delegates

01/04/2024

We are perfect for thise travelling and needing an overnight stay!
Clean Stalls and Sites right in front so you can see your equine friends 🧡
Give the Office a Call or go Online and schedule your stop today!

01/02/2024

2024 Chapter Officers
Carolin Dubose Bedwell is acting President
Tinika Criswell is acting Vice President
Eddie Huggins is acting Secretary/Treasurer
Clara Blacksher, Leanne Smith, Gene Montgomery and Ashley Harrell are acting delegates

We are looking to add a few more delegates for this year. If you are interested, please reach out to the Chapter President or message this page.

01/02/2024

Our BCHA St. Stephens Horse Park chapter and Pebble Springs Jockey Club would like to thank Shelley Flynn and our local Tractor Supply in Jackson, AL, for helping us obtain two much needed wheel barrows for the stalls at St. Stephens Historical Park!
This is just one improvement, of many, coming to the Jockey Club Campground.

01/01/2024

What trail miles did you have in 2023?
What are your goal miles in 2024?
Happy New Year Everyone and Thank You so much to all the Volunteers and Chapter Members that have done so much at our beautiful park, in such a short time. We look forward to continued growth this year

12/30/2023

Some folks will be riding at the Park on Monday, Y'all Come on!!

12/25/2023

All of us here, Wish you a very Merry Christmas!

12/21/2023

Historian Jim Long tells the legend of Methodist circuit rider Lorenzo Dow, who engaged with proselytizing the citizens of Old St Stephens. They became annoyed with his efforts and tarred and feathered him before running him out of town. Supposedly, he cursed the town with a plague of bats and owls.

https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/old-st-stephens-legend/old-st-stephens-video/

12/20/2023

Historian Jim Long tells the story of the Alabama Territory‘s first capital, St. Stephens in Washington County, including details on subjects such as population, cultural activities, and tavern licensure.

https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/media/st-stephens-alabamas-territorial-capital/

12/15/2023

On this day in 1819, Alabama was granted statehood! 🎉🎈🎂
~ BUT ~
Up until 1819, while the state was still a territory, the territorial capitol was St. Stephens, AL. You can visit this amazing park today to camp⛺️, rent cabins🏕 swim🏊‍♂️, fish🎣, hike🚶‍♀️, and bring your horses 🐴 to ride the beautiful 15 miles of trails! So much history here! ♥️
Pebble Springs Jockey Club

12/14/2023

From everyone that is a Chapter Member - Thank you for following this page and we would appreciate sharing it with your friends.

12/13/2023

In 2004, Congress declared Dec. 13 as National Day of the Horse in the United States. This year, we ask our Facebook community to tell us what your horse(s) mean to you. Share in the comments!

12/11/2023

We have all had time to reflect on the 1st Fall/Winter BCHA Chapter Ride. We, as a chapter, would love to hear from you. What were your highlights? What can we improve on?
Volunteer Days will be still be needed, just at the first one was. This is the passion of many and the successes of all. What a great way to pull people together and share stories, laughter and smile that last.
Thank you again for making this 1st event a fantastic one!

12/11/2023

Just a few more from Saturday. What a great turn out. So happy to see the smiles and those wearing them.
Thank You from the St BCHA St. Stephens Horse Park chapter!

12/10/2023

Trail riders in Alabama - sharing great news! Our state is looking for our input on expanding trail systems, especially for equestrians! Please take a few minutes to visit www.SweetTrailsAlabama.com and take the survey on their main page!

Let your voice be heard!

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! WE'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN PLANNING FUTURE TRAILS IN ALABAMA. PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW TO FILL OUT THE ONLINE COMMENT FORM AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE ONLINE INPUT MAP!YOUR FEEDBACK WILL HELP INFORM A STATEWIDE TRAILS PLAN. THANK YOU AND PLEA...

12/10/2023

We had a fantastic turn out! Thanks to EVERYONE who showed up today.
More photos to come but we had to share a few

12/08/2023

Well, Travel Day is upon us. We have been counting down all week and preparing to enjoy a fantastic Saturday with tremendously fun people 💯🥰 See you tomorrow!

Stalls are all reserved, Day Riders are still welcome. Haul In and if a stall comes available - claim it! Pay at the Office, please.

12/07/2023

L👀k‼️ at that rain chance now!!
Keep those plans

12/07/2023

I sure hope you have that Horse Trailer packed and ready! December 9, 2023 will be this Chapter's very first BCHA Chapter Ride at St Stephens Park. Come join the fun.
Sad News - all the stalls have been reserved.
Good News - Day Riders are Still Welcome!!
See you soon!

12/06/2023

SO EXCITED and we hope that you are too.
Even with the weather, we can have fun. The Pavillion and upper restrooms are ours for the day!
Don't have a long face and let the chance of rain stop you, Come On!