Backcountry Horsemen of California has the following goals:
- To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America's backcountry and wilderness.
- To work to insure 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 backcountry resource by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.
- To foster and encourage the formation of new units of the organization.
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How we got started:
The Redwood Unit began when John and Dee Robertson, of Eureka, learned about the Back Country Horsemen of California while attending Mule Days in Bishop California. Inspired by what they heard they came home and began plans to start a local unit. Enlisting the help of several other horse friends, they gathered names and addresses of equine lovers all over the area and sent out postcards inviting them to attend an informational meeting. Several officials from the Back Country Horsemen of California, the state organization, flew up from Southern California for the first meeting at the Freshwater School, including then President Charlie Morgan. The new unit was formed in 1991 and chose the name “Redwood Unit”. The first year's officers included: Lona Parton, President, Dee Robertson, Vice President, Karen Frost, Secretary, and Jennifer Chase, Treasurer. There were 10 units in the state at the time the Redwood Unit was established. There are now 27 units throughout California.
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The Redwood Unit made connections with local government officials, and began to do volunteer trail and camp maintenance on State and Federal public lands, working together with the BLM, USFS, and other agencies. We have continued to grow and expand our horizons, by starting several memorable annual events. Our main event and fundraiser is the Half Ass Flat Ride. Another annual event is the Packing Clinic, in which our knowledgeable members have the opportunity to educate and interact with the local community. Several of our members pack locally and throughout the United States, often packing invaluable supplies into the remote regions of our nation's wilderness. Some of our members are content to lend their support to our group's causes, without the assistance of an equine. While keeping informed on local, state and federal legislation, we seek to maintain the right to equine use of our public lands.
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The Redwood Unit is in its sixteenth year and still going strong. There are currently 180+ unit members from all over the state of California, as well as a few other states. We meet at the Freshwater school on the first Wednesday of each month January-November, and hold an awards and appreciation Christmas dinner party in December. We have recently joined the World Wide Web, and you can visit our website at www.redwoodunit.com. Inquiries into membership are always welcome and encouraged. Any questions about our unit, events and membership can be answered by contacting our officers via e-mail, phone or old fashioned snail mail.
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2008 President: Yvette Mendes
Yvette Mendes works as a full time Business Sr. Loan Services Rep. at Coast Central Credit Union in Eureka. She lives with her husband in the small town of Carlotta where they enjoy raising horses and cattle.
The Redwood Unit was founded in 1992 and Yvette has been a member since 1998. She has served as Secretary for the unit in 2003, 2004 & 2005. She served as Vice President in 2006 and President in 2007. Yvette is also the Newsletter Editor and Publisher. She has held this position since 2000 and is serving her 9th year.
Yvette says, "I've always had a passion for horses, writing and art." She was a graphic arts major in college and she is currently working on two novels.
Yvette Mendes can do it all!
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