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Volunteer Hours: 2010
National Hours: 315,442
Local Hours: 1,743

5% Discount for BCHET Members
5% Donated to BCHET when Mentioned

Board of Directors:

Karen Isaacs: President (2009 - 2012); Newsletter

Karen and her husband Thomas live in the Stoney Creek section of Carter County with six horses and two dogs. Their gelding herd includes an Appaloosa, two Racking Horses, a Saddlebred and two half-Arabians, each of which is a retired or current endurance horse. Karen participates in competitions of up to 100 miles in one day. She mostly stays in the southeast, but has been to rides in New Mexico, Vermont, Michigan and California. Traveling has made her aware of the trend that is occurring to close trail riding areas to horseback use. She believes it is very important to have a local organization working on maintaining and increasing the opportunities to trail ride. In order to fund her horse habits, Karen works as an Electrical Engineer employed by Siemens in Johnson City.

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Mike McClelland: Vice President (2008 - 2012)

Mike was a founding member of BCHET: He was president of BCHET from its inception until 2007. An avid trail rider, Mike spends many weekends on local trails and has traveled extensively with his horses including several trips to Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and New Mexico going packing in the backcountry. Mike lives on 17 acres near Bluff City and has 4 Walking Horses, and a Standardbred. Mike's favorite place to ride locally is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His other hobbies are traveling (he's been to every state except HI) and outdoor activities of all kinds including hiking, backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking. He also enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dogsledding while on winter camping trips in Minnesota. Mike is employed by the State of Tennessee as an environmentalist in the Division of Water Pollution Control. He is married to Susan and has a stepson Nick Kummer. Susan and Nick have learned to ride over the course of the last year.

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Kristen Cornett: Secretary (2009 - 2012)

Kristen and James Cornett live in Bluff City on the Holston River, with their two children, Emaline and Cooper. Kristen has ridden since a young age, but just recently bought her horses. She and her daughter enjoy riding together at White Fork Ranch, where they currently board their quarter horse and haflinger mix pony. Kristen’s other hobbies include canoeing and kayaking on the river, fishing, and camping. She works as a systems analyst at Epic Technologies in Johnson City.

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Tori Tolliver: Treasurer (2011 - 2012)

Tori has been riding horses and spending time in the out doors all of her life. She tries to be a responsible trail rider and to promote good trail stewardship as well as encouraging others to do the same.

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Larry Jeffers: Board Member (2011 - 2013)

Larry and his wife Cathy live in the Hampton area of Carter County with two horses and two dogs. Larry and Cathy purchased their first and current horses (mares) 3 years ago and are very pleased with the Tennessee Walker and extremely pleased the Spotted Saddle Horse. Since the purchase they have been very busy clearing land for pasture and using the trees from the land to build a log barn. Their favorite place to ride locally is Holston Mountain and their most enjoyable ride so far, was riding in the Smoky Mountains National Park. Larry being an avid outdoorsman realizes the importants of protecting our access to public lands and intends to provide BCHET his support in maintaining and expanding our trail access. Larry’s hobbies are trail riding, hunting (small and large game), fishing, camping, and home projects of all types.

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Duane Lowry: Board Member (2012 - 2014)

Duane Lowry and wife Carolyn live in Elizabethton but keep their horses on Gap Creek. Duane has two black walkers and Carolyn has two walking mares. They ride on Holston Mountain, Meadowcreek, and at Iron Mountain Horse Camp. Duane rides once per week and helps on trail maintenance in the winter months and is always ready to go on a trail ride.

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Tom Connor: Board Member (2011 - 2013)

Tom is retired from the Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division and lives on 42 acres in South Greene Co. bordering the National Forest with Nancey, they have 12 horses and 3 dogs. We love trail riding and camping. My favorite trail is Weavers Bend and Meadow Creek Mtn. I also like to travel and see new sights. I am a Leave No Trace Master Educator and believe in the BCHA efforts to keep our public lands open to horse and pack stock.

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John Scott: Board Member (2011 - 2013)

John Scott and wife Amy are owners of White Fork Ranch. A 56 acre farm where we board horses and have riding instruction.We are also the home of "Cowboy Camp." Check us out at White Fork Ranch. We have 2 children, Jordan and John Thomas. We all enjoy spending time in the back country with our horses.

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Marty Neal : Board Member (2012 - 2014)

Marty Neal resides in Blountville, Tennessee with his wife Denise and daughter Amber. Marty is an Univeristy of Tennessee alumnus and is employeed by Eastman Chemical Company.  Marty grew up in the Baileyton area of Greene County and has ridden most all the trails from Greene County up to Mount Rogers Virginia.  Marty enjoys gaited horses.  He has a speed racking standardbred gelding, a standardbred/ TN Walking Horse gelding, and a young racking filly.  Marty believes in preserving the right to ride in the national forests and is anxious to share the riding experience with his young daughter.

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Herb Heinze: Board Member (2012 - 2014)

Herb is retired and lives on 17 acres in South Greene with his wife, Cathy, 5 horses, 1 dogs, and a cat. The horses are his Show and Trail Tennessee Walking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse, 1 bay trail horse, 1 sorrel trail horse, and 1 retired horse black & whites spotted saddle. He believes that when the trails and packing areas are developed in the Cherokee National Forest, we will have some of the best riding anywhere in Tennessee. His favorite trail is Wolf Creek in the Del Rio area. This trail head has been completed in 2009, with grant money and work by BCHET volunteers. Besides horses, Herb's other interests include old cars and trucks, his 1957 Corvette and 1950 Dodge half-ton pick-up truck and in the past, he has sailed competitively. Herb is a past president of the BCHET. He has also served as President of the Common Council of the city of Delafield, WI; President of the Naga-Wicka Lake Improvement Association; Commodore of a Yatch Club and on a school Board. He believes in giving back to the community and improving our life for ourselves and those who follow us.

Marilyn Benton: Board Member (2011-2013)

Marilyn lives in the Indian Springs area of Tennessee with her husband Lew. She has various careers from programmer analyst, realtor, bus driver, along with being a reflexologist and a therapeutic horseback riding instructor.
“I have been riding since I was a toddler.  Grew up in Ohio riding fields & roads, lived in MI for a while riding roads & service roads for gas pipelines, then I discovered what trail riding really was when we moved to TN.”
I worked at Small Miracles Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Kingsport, TN as both a volunteer and as an instructor for about 6 years.  I had always said that horseback riding was therapeutic (mentally) but I had no idea how physically therapeutic it was until I became involved with Small Miracles.  I also learned that volunteering is therapeutic. (Check it out at www.small-miracles.org)
I became involved with BCHET shortly after its inception.  I was happy to find new people to ride with (who were safe) and discover new trails.  As time has gone on I’ve discovered more than new trails & new friends.  Thru BCHET and its members I’ve come to appreciate our trails and all the effort it takes to develop, maintain & protect them.
Trail riding offers a variety of scenery, varying levels of difficulty & challenge, and a way to connect with nature, your horse & friends, and some good ol’ horse therapy.
With the organization of BCHET and the trails available to us we have a great opportunity, in our own back yard, to connect with nature, horses, friends and the community.  Come check us out to see how  you can become involved.
If you would like to ride some time give me a call.  I would love to show you some new trails.
Marilyn Benton 
423-323-1988 (home)
423-571-1698 (cell)

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