Calendar of Events for 2008

Updated 5/20/2008

General Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at Belgrade Alliance Church in Belgrade. Meetings begin at 7 pm unless otherwise noted.

Trail Ride participants should contact the Trail Ride Boss before the day of the ride so that club members can be notified of changes in time or location, and arrangements can be made to break large groups up into smaller units, each with their own trail guide, if the turn out is large. Departures from the trail head are generally at 10 am, but please confirm this with the Trail Boss.

Items in italics are NOT sponsored or endorsed by GVBCH, but are provided for your information.

January 3rd Board Meeting January 17th General Meeting	July 3rd  Board Meeting July 6th  Poker Ride Clearing July 11th Flag for Poker Ride July 12th Poker Ride @ Bridger Bowl July 12 & 13, Montana Appaloosa Horse Show Gallatin County Fairgrounds July 13th Poker Ride De-Flag July 16-20th Gallatin County Fair July 17th General Meeting July 26th Trail Clearing Spanish Peaks
February 7th Board Meeting February 21st General Meeting/ Wild Game Potluck  6:00 pm Brian McNeil and Mary Erickson	August 7 Board Meeting 1st or 2nd week-end Wally & Dan to lead overnighter into Big Brother/Jerome Rocks August 16th  Stacy Bragg Paradise Valley ride August 21st General Meeting August 23rd  Steak Ride @ Spanish Peaks August 31st  Virginia City Poker Ride
March 6th Board Meeting March 20th General Meeting Get Ready to Ride – Do Your Paperwork Now  brand inspector, rep from State Lands, Health certificate forms, anyone or thing that I can get to tell us what we legally need to have to ride in certain areas March 28-30th Great Falls Convention	September 4th Board Meeting September 10th  Rich Inman  trail boss TBA September 13th State Board Mtg. September 14th  Sandy Kypfer Trail Boss Mt. Ellis September 18th General Meeting September 20th  Trail Work Wally to lead TBA destination
April 3rd Board Meeting April 5th Horse Safety Clinic @ Fairgrounds April 17th General Meeting Jerry Kawasaki – Bear Proof Panniers & Stretching and Strengthening exercises to get ready to ride (this part is participatory) Don Funke & Janice Cartwright  April 20th Wilsall Ride with Janice at the ranch (cancelled)  April 26th Red Bluff Ride Rich Inman (cancelled)	October 2nd Board Meeting October 17th General Meeting
May 1st  Board Meeting May 3rd Gallatin River Ranch Ride May 10th Spanish Creek Trail Maintenance May 15th  General Meeting  Jim Albright LNT training May 24th Virginia City Poker Ride May 31st Open House 10:00AM-4:00PM Mountain Magic Ranch 13204 Buffalo Jump Road, Three Forks, MT 59752 Darla Nassif 980-0779	November 6th Board Meeting November 20th General Meeting
June 5th Board Meeting June 7th  National Trails Day Spanish Lakes Larry Thomas 586-6878 June 14th State Board Mtg. June 14th Poker Ride Norris MT call 570-4729 June 21st  Pat Green’s Poker Ride June 21st Rich Trail Ride TBA? June 26th General Meeting (Note one week later) June 28th Trail Clearing Spanish Creek.	December 4th Board Meeting December 6th Christmas Party

Rules of the Ride

WHO All breeds and sizes of equines, equestrians, guests and pedestrians are welcome. Join us decked out in the tack style of your choice. Dogs and Stallions are NOT permitted on club rides

REGISTER Members and guests sign the Trail Boss's ride register and waiver acknowledging the Montana Equine Law which states that horse activities are inherently dangerous and that riders accept this danger while engaging in equine events.

HELP We love company on the trails that we have committed to clearing for the Forest Service. Trail work is scheduled mid-week and on weekends. The formation of new work groups is encouraged. Tools are provided, but riders should bring work gloves, water, lunch and their favorite hand tools. It’s a lot of fun. Try it, you’ll like it.

CARPOOL Share a ride: save money and reduce parking congestion at the trail head. It’s fun and helps others with no way to get there.

PREPARE Horses should be taught to stand quietly while tied or hobbled. Please flag the tails of horses that kick, and maintain a horse’s length between your horse and the horse ahead of you.

TRAIL BOSS Contact the Trail Boss ahead of the ride for details, locations and times. Arrive in time to saddle up and be ready to depart at the appointed time. The Trail Boss will ask for volunteers to carry the Human and Horse first-aid kits that accompany every ride. Please notify the Trail Boss if you must leave the group. The Trail Boss knows the trail and will lead or appoint a leader as well as describe the trail for riders. Offer or ask for help whenever needed.

TRAIN Be prepared.

• The Forest Service requires certification for chain saw and cross cut saw use, as well as the practice of First Aid. The Forest Service encourages trail workers to carry bear spray and provides training.
• Horse Safety Training is offered on April 5th, 2008, and everyone is encouraged to attend, but it is not a requirement for participation, though someone in every group must have training.