Whistlestop Gallery
Artists and artisans of the Robson Valley
Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia
Photo courtesy of Eileen MacDonald
Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia (BCHBC) by Rozina Shaw and Jayde Richter
Rozina
Rozina Shaw is an artist born and raised in Dunster, BC. Drawing lots of inspiration from growing up in the valley, Rozina’s work showcases elements of the beautiful local nature and her experiences there. She hopes to attend university and study arts in the near future! She is a proud employee of the Whistle Stop Gallery, and is honoured to have been able to contribute to this project that showcases the incredible place she loves so much.
Jayde
Jayde Richter is a Visual Arts student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. She grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan where she attended an arts-focused high school. Upon graduation, she moved to the Robson Valley for its natural beauty and welcoming community. When she is not studying or travelling, she’s always drawn back to the valley and resides with her family in Dunster, BC. She is also a former employee of the Whistle Stop Gallery and McBride Visitor Center, and cherishes her time spent working there.
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(We cherish the time you spent with us, Jayde)
For thousands of years before colonization, Indigenous peoples have walked the land that is now the Robson Valley. What is now Tete Jaune had hunting, fishing and trading camps, and allowed access to the Fraser River for use as a portage. The Robson Valley was hostile land that could not be navigated by horse back.
When settlers first arrived in the West, they could not bring their horses past Tete Jaune. They were led either by boat or, occasionally, on foot by Indigenous guides to what is now McBride. It wasn’t until the building of the railway in 1913, that horses were introduced and thus began guide outfitting.
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Guide outfitting is the practice of providing “hunting, fishing, and wilderness adventure experiences” according to the Guide Outfitting Association of British Columbia. Originally both a form of early tourism and a necessity, as time went on, it became more of a selected interest. Guide outfitting and equine culture in general became a large part of life in the valley.
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In the mid to late 1900s, there were a large number of permanent businesses in the valley for guide outfitting, and for a period of time they were quite successful. A guide-outfitting company would supply the horses, equipment, and expertise to go on trips, the people attending them required no prior knowledge for the experience. These outfitting trips were a unique opportunity for people from different areas to get a taste of the beauty of BC’s nature in a way that was sustainable and local. Unfortunately, as time went on and the world began to move faster and faster, people showed less interest in riding a horse into the mountains for multiple weeks. Although many of the original guide outfitting companies in the area no longer found profit in the business, there are still places within the valley that offer trail rides and the chance to see our home through the equine lens.​
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Photo courtesy of Eileen MacDonald
Horse and riding culture has always been a huge piece within the heart of the valley, and this area has been home to many experts of the field, and people who are excited to learn from them. Naturally with the agriculture industry having such a strong pull in the area for a long period of time, horses were utilized in the everyday for most people around. With so many horses in our valley, many people developed a passion for them as well as the way of life that came along with them.
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In 2009, a pursuit in the equine community of the valley arose a new chapter of the BC Backcountry Horsemen. The BCHM is a non-profit organization that was created to help maintain and restore equine trails around North America in order to allow people to have easy and better access to the experience. Although the chapter within our area is only 15 years old, it was already gained much support (around 40 members), and spear-headed some very impressive projects. Aside from keeping up the maintenance of preexisting trails, the Robson Valley chapter of The Backcountry Horsemen has also built a campground on Belle Mountain to be accessed through equine adventure. Aside from the practical side of the organization, it has also created a social opportunity and community among people in and out of the valley. The BCHM unites people with a common passion and brings them together to make tangible changes in their communities.
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In McBride, the Bell Mountain Equine Trails and McIntosh Equestrian Camp serves as an example of this. Opened in 2023, this newly developed horse camping site gives campers a place to stay for up to 14 nights and provides access to Bell Mountain and the Robson Valley trails that are suitable for horseback riding. All of this is maintained by the BCHM.
People in the Robson valley have always been united through a love of nature and horses, from the very beginning to the present, and although the shape of that passion has changed over the years, keeping the passion going and involving more and more people is important.
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Thank you to Rozina Shaw for providing us with information about BCHBC.
Thank you to Eileen MacDonald for providing us with your insight into back country horsemanship.