Back Country Horsemen of Alaska

Working to protect natural land resources. Dedicated to preserving local and back country trails.

Mat-Su January meeting

December 30, 2025

Our next meeting is January 25th at Sarah Rodriguez’s house off Palmer Fishhook. We will start at 5:30pm with a potluck dinner and the meeting will start at 6pm. We’ll also have a presentation from Allie Shock on a brochure she made for the club on Mat-Su Borough trails. We’ll have some copies to share and a PDF of the brochure will also be on the website. 

Draft agenda

Officer’s reports: 

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary: December minutes

Old business: 

  • GPRA trails update (Colleen)
  • Membership recruitment

New business: 

  • Upcoming events? 
  • February meeting

Take the GPRA Trail Use Survey

November 24, 2025

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is working to draft a community-informed update to the Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) plan and have a survey open now for trail users (only takes about 5 minutes). They have included equestrians in there, and it would be great if we can get a lot of us to reply so they see that we are using or would like to use the trails! There is also space for suggestions to make the area easier to use and accessible. 

Some suggested wording for the comment area: “I and others would ride horses there more often if the lower parking lot was open so horse trailers could park there and had a new safe creek crossing to Carle Wagon trails or allowed to use the Pioneer Peak trail bridge.”

Take the survey now!

Save the Date for Mat-Su Holiday Party

November 7, 2025

Save the date for our annual holiday party on Friday, December 12th, starting about 6pm. Location TBD but will be held at Conifer Farms in Wasilla as the back up. At our annual party we have food, drink, silent auction, and announce the winners of the mileage challenge! 

This year is also an election year, so we’ll also be voting on the positions for the next two-year terms from Jan 2026 – December 2027.

Our current officers are: 

  • President – Colleen Fisk
  • Vice President – Sarah Gotschall
  • Secretary – Julia Schirack
  • Treasurer – Francine Long
  • Board of Directors – Sarah Rodriguez (4-H liaison), Pete Praetorius (grant writing help), Lori Benner (past secretary and more)

If there is a position you’d be interested in helping out with, please email Colleen Fisk.

Comment on State Parks Regulations

October 16, 2025

By administrative order, Dunleavy has mandated that regulations regarding State Parks be REDUCED by 25 percent by December 2027. This means the rules and guardrails for careful use of Alaska State Parks will be cut by 1/4. Think motorized bicycles, drone use, commercial vendors inside the parks, etc. The public comment period for this executive order ENDS October 31.

This is alarming to say the least. But it may also offer equestrians an opportunity to ask that horse use be expanded in the parks. Here’s the deal: Very few people know about this very short public comment period. So whatever feedback they receive will be heavily weighted. There was just one public meeting (online) on October 6. All public comments must now be received by mail or email by the end of the month. Here is the Administrative Order (AO):  

AO 360 – https://gov.alaska.gov/admin-orders/administrative-order-no-360/

Contains review of regulations and directs agencies to reduce regulations through public process.

Public notice for commenting on DPOR regs due Oct 31 – https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=221093Here is where to send an email before October 31:

dnr.dpor.AO360Comments@alaska.gov. 

Using language toward their objectives, below is an example letter. Use this letter or edit to fit your own local State Park. Please comment by Oct 31!

____________

To Whom It May Concern: 

Please continue to restrict motorized/technology uses of State Parks, including e-bikes and drones. 

One area of regulation that could be reduced is the current restrictive rules regarding equestrian use in Alaska State Parks. Reduction of regulations in this area would expand the use of the parks for non-motorized recreational purposes. Horses and riders are wonderful ambassadors for the parks, adding scenic and historic significance to one of Alaska’s greatest treasures.

Particularly, I would like to see the Chugach State Park historic Iditarod trail near the Eagle River Nature Center be opened seasonally, when trail conditions are good, for equestrian use. This trail was used historically by horses, with antique horseshoes and harnesses found near the area where a roadhouse once stood on Raven Creek. Established trails are hardened and ready for equestrian use. But currently, horses are not allowed. Seasonal use of trails aligns with national rules, such as allowing horses on Resurrection or Johnson Pass trails in the summer only.

Please consider reducing regulations for horse use in all of Alaska’s State Parks, to help make the parks more streamlined and accessible. Thank you

____________

Competitive Trail Ride Results

We had a great weekend at the Doublemint Competitive Trail Ride on the Mat-Su Greenbelt Trails. On Saturday we had 7 brave souls ride 12 miles in the rain, and Sunday with the beautiful weather we had 13 participants for our 9 mile ride! Thank you Colin as ride manager for making this happen, and Trail Masters Colleen and Julia for marking trails. Deanna and her P&R crew were fantastic support both days.

Full results

Saturday Novice:

  • 1st place: Sarah Gotschall & Libby
  • 2nd place: Christie Cordes & Poncho
  • 3rd place: Zoe Weston & Toby

Saturday Experienced:

  • 1st place: Sierra Dorman & Scout
  • 2nd place: Francine Long & Sonnett
  • 3rd place: Jayme Faiks & MJ

Sunday Novice:

Mat-Su Summer Events

May 7, 2025

Register now for the Trail Trials and Competitive Trail Ride!

June 7 – about 6 mile Trail Trial outside Wasilla $55

June 14 – about 7 mile Trail Trial in the Butte $55

August 2-3: Competitive Trail Ride

Mat-Su April ride & meeting

April 15, 2025

Date: April 26

Time: Ride 2-4 pm (ish). Probably on quiet dirt roads (trails probably won’t be dried enough). 5pm for meeting – join us then if you can’t join us for the ride! 

Location: Colleen & Colin’s place (“Conifer Farms” – get address from listerv email). We have room for a couple of trailers on our driveway, but some will probably have to park on the road. Recommend sharing trailer space if you can!

Appetizer/snack potluck – bring some snacks to share

5pm Meeting Agenda: 

Officer’s reports: 

  • President, including national board meeting
  • Secretary: March meeting minutes
  • Treasurer

Old Business: 

  • Misc trail updates: Morgan Horse, GPRA, and Mat-Su Greenbelt
  • 2025 Trail Trial / CTR updates
  • 4-H updates (Sarah R)

New Business: 

  • Other upcoming events to rep?
  • set May meeting

Mat-Su Trail Trials Save the Dates!

March 14, 2025

Save the dates for this summer’s Trail Trial series! We are once again partnering with 4-H to hold three events this summer.

  • June 7th: in the Schrock area, starting from private property
  • June 14th: in the Butte area, starting from private property
  • August 1-3: short (non-sanctioned) competitive trail ride (CTR) or long Trail Trial, likely starting from Valley Pathways like last year

BCHA or 4-H membership will be required, in addition to negative EIAs. We will likely have a discount again for volunteering (or bringing a volunteer) to one of the events. 

Registration coming soon! 

Mat-Su March meeting

February 27, 2025

Date: March 23, 2025

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm

Location: Colony High School Library

Description: Education (exact topic TBD) plus monthly meeting!

Draft Meeting Agenda: 

Officer’s reports: 

  • President
  • January meeting minutes
  • Treasurer

Old Business: 

  • Morgan Horse trail construction impact
  • June 1 Stallions of North tabling
  • Open Secretary position
  • 2025 BCHA CTR updates
  • 4-H updates (Sarah R)

New Business: 

  • Set trail work party dates
  • other events to rep at?
  • set April meeting

Mat-Su 2024 Annual Report

January 24, 2025

We had a great year! Check out our 2024 report and consider joining us in 2025. Membership information here.

2024 Mat-Su Annual ReportDownload