BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA

What BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA does

Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in the United States, operating as the only national equestrian trails service organization. Its mission is to perpetuate the commonsense use and enjoyment of horses in America's back country and wilderness, ensure public lands remain open to recreational stock use, assist government and private agencies in trail maintenance, and educate the public on responsible backcountry use. The organization operates through a grassroots chapter-based model with state organizations (minimum 25 members) and local chapters (minimum 15 members) across 31 states and Canada, governed by a National Board of Directors.

BCHA's primary outputs are volunteer-driven services rather than technology products. Members volunteer their time, stock, and travel over 1.1 million miles annually to clear and maintain public trails; over the past 45+ years, volunteers have cleared thousands of miles of trails valued in the tens of millions of dollars. The organization delivers advocacy, education (including Leave No Trace training for stock use and youth programs), grant administration to chapters, and member benefits such as discounted Equisure general liability insurance and product discounts. It maintains formal agreements with federal land management agencies including the National Park Service (a renewed 5-year General Agreement signed February 2023), U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

BCHA generates revenue through individual membership dues collected via state and local chapters, Equisure insurance commissions at $30 single / $60 family rates, tax-deductible donations processed via PayPal Giving and Square checkout, grants distributed to chapters, and a corporate sponsorship program targeting equestrian and outdoor recreation businesses. Distribution is channel-driven through state organizations, local chapters, and a Non-Affiliated National Member pathway, with an online chapter locator tool supporting self-serve discovery. The organization is governed by volunteer leadership including Chairman Sherry Copeland, Education Chairman Mack Long, and Director of Public Lands and Recreation Randy Rasmussen.

Name

BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA

Legal name

Back Country Horsemen of America

Website

https://bcha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Back Country Horsemen of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1973, that organizes volunteer equestrians across 31 states and Canada to maintain public trails, advocate for stock access, and partner with federal land management agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Trail Stewardship

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Equestrian trail stewardship
• Public lands advocacy
• Volunteer trail maintenance
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Backcountry horsemanship

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Members pay dues through their state or local chapter. BCHA handles Non-Affiliated National Member enrollment directly. Membership provides access to Equisure Insurance at discounted rates.
2. Equisure Insurance: Equine general liability coverage sold to members at $30 Single or $60 Family rates, providing up to $1,000,000 coverage valid January 1 through December 31 each year. Must be a BCH chapter member to purchase.
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission. Also receives and distributes grants to chapters for trail projects.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship program targeting businesses aligned with equestrian and outdoor recreation markets. Offers promotional opportunities through website and live events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BCHA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-driven membership organization that preserves equestrian access to public lands through grassroots trail maintenance and construction, advocacy with federal land-management agencies, and education programs. It operates as a national umbrella body coordinating 31 state organizations and their local chapters, and offers member benefits including Equisure insurance and access to grants and youth programs.

Product overview

Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization, not a technology product company. The organization provides advocacy services, volunteer trail maintenance programs, youth education initiatives, and member benefits including equine liability insurance through Equisure and discounts on equestrian products (Cavallo Boots). BCHA operates through a network of state and local chapters across 31 states, partnering with federal land management agencies to maintain trails for horseback riding on public lands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BCHA Membership Annual membership in Back Country Horsemen of America that gives individuals and families access to the national organization, state chapters, member benefits, advocacy representation, and participation in volunteer trail stewardship.
• Equisure Insurance Program Member-access insurance product provided through BCHA that delivers equestrian-specific liability coverage to members riding on public lands.
• BCHA Youth Programs Programs designed to introduce and engage young riders in equestrian trail use, backcountry horsemanship, and volunteer stewardship.
• Grants Program BCHA-administered grants that fund trail projects, education, and stewardship activities for state organizations, local chapters, and partner organizations.
• Equestrian Education Programs Training and educational programming covering horsemanship, backcountry riding, trail stewardship, and related topics, delivered to members through the national Education Chairman and state organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cleared thousands of miles of public trails valued at tens of millions of dollars over 45 years
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• American Endurance Ride ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for advocacy and trail preservation. AERC is a major equestrian endurance riding organization that shares BCHA's mission of preserving equestrian access to trails and public lands.
• American Hiking SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading voice for hikers and trails advocacy. BCHA collaborates with AHS on protecting non-motorized trails and advocating for trail maintenance funding.
• American Horse CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing the horse industry. BCHA works with AHC on legislative advocacy and policy issues affecting equestrian access.
• American Trails / Trails Move People CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on trails advocacy and preservation. BCHA partners on trail maintenance initiatives and advocacy campaigns.
• Coalition for Recreational TrailsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking to protect and enhance recreational trail access. BCHA participates in coalition activities for trail advocacy.
• Equestrian Land Conservation ResourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization dedicated to protecting equestrian access to land. ELCR shares resources and advocacy strategies with BCHA.
• International Mountain Bicycling AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMBA works on mountain biking advocacy. While BCHA has differed on e-bike policy, both organizations share interest in trail access preservation.
• Leave No TracecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCHA has taken a leadership role in Leave No Trace education for stock use. The organization trains members in Leave No Trace principles for equestrian activities.
• National Wilderness Stewardship AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on wilderness stewardship. BCHA collaborates on wilderness management and access preservation.
• Partnership for the National Trail SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNTS works to protect, preserve, and promote the National Scenic Trails system. BCHA partners on advocacy for equestrian use on national trails.
• The Wilderness SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading wilderness advocacy organization. TWS partnered with BCHA on the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (H.R. 4886) and wilderness protection issues.
• TrailMeisterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner. TrailMeister provides trail information and services to equestrians, supporting BCHA's mission.
• Equestrian Legacy RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor. Equestrian Legacy Radio provides promotional support and media coverage for BCHA activities.
• National Parks ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency managing national parks. BCHA signed a 5-year General Agreement in February 2023 for mutual cooperation on service, education, and trail maintenance projects. Encourages park units throughout the nation to partner with local BCH chapters.
• United States Forest ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency managing national forests. BCHA works extensively with USFS on trail maintenance projects, volunteer coordination, and policy advocacy.
• United States Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency managing recreation areas and waterways. BCHA partners on trail maintenance at USACE-managed properties.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency managing public lands. BCHA works with BLM on trail maintenance and equestrian access preservation across western states.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leave No Trace: National outdoor ethics organization where BCHA holds a leadership role in stock-use education. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit delivering education and stewardship programs to outdoor recreation communities.
• American Trails: National nonprofit coalition focused on trails advocacy and preservation. Listed as a core BCHA partner for trail maintenance initiatives and advocacy campaigns; directly comparable nonprofit peer in trail stewardship.
• National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance: Partnership-focused wilderness stewardship organization. BCHA collaborates on wilderness management and access preservation, making it a comparable volunteer-driven stewardship nonprofit.
• American Horse Council: National organization representing the broader horse industry. BCHA partners with AHC on legislative advocacy and policy issues affecting equestrian access, making them a directly comparable equestrian advocacy peer.
• International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA): National mountain biking advocacy organization with overlapping interest in trail access preservation. BCHA lists IMBA as a partner; both build and maintain trails on public lands, though they sometimes conflict on e-bike policy.
• Partnership for the National Trail System (PNTS): Coalition dedicated to protecting National Scenic Trails. BCHA partners with PNTS on advocacy for equestrian use on national trails, making it a directly comparable trail-system advocacy peer.
• American Hiking Society: National nonprofit advocating for hikers and trails, listed as a core BCHA partner. Both organizations collaborate on protecting non-motorized trails and advocate jointly for trail maintenance funding, making them directly comparable mission-aligned peers.
• Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR): Organization dedicated to protecting equestrian access to land. Listed as a core BCHA partner; shares resources and advocacy strategies with BCHA around preserving equestrian land access.
• American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC): Major equestrian endurance riding organization sharing BCHA's mission of preserving equestrian access to trails and public lands. Listed as a core BCHA strategic partner; both serve equestrians and advocate for trail preservation.

Broad incumbents

• The Wilderness Society: Leading national wilderness advocacy organization. Has partnered with BCHA on legislation like the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act, but operates at significantly larger scale with a broader (and sometimes opposing) wilderness protection mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bcha.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/bchamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/back-country-horsemen-of-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA