The Bear River Riders was organized in 2005 as a non-profit organization by people who share a love of horses and competition. They have always been a family organization with events for all ages and skill levels. Go to one of their gymkanas and you will see children with their little legs almost sticking straight out from the saddle, controlling an animal sometimes weighing more than 1,000 pounds and working them through the barrels or competing in a pole bending event. For the last several years, Helen Fuller has worked with the Bear River Riders and served as president of the group this past year.

“I grew up riding horses,’ Fuller said. “I have been involved in rodeo, doing barrel racing, team roping and pole bending since I was very young. I guess I’ve always been a cowgirl.”

Her passion for horses and competition led her to become the director of the Sumas Junior Rodeo royalty when she lived in Washington State, where she was born.

“I’ve always been a ‘rodeo mom.’”

When her husband Mike landed a new job, they packed up and moved away from thick forests and lush greenery to the wide-open spaces of Wyoming.

Fuller went to work at Boot Barn and quickly found many others in the area who shared her love of horses. She became involved with the Bear River Riders for a couple of years and then took a short break, but it wouldn’t last long. 

“I have been actively involved in Bear River Riders since 2012,” she said. “It’s such a wonderful group of people. Serving as the president has been a great honor.”

Helen Fuller will soon be relocating to Arizona. He husband has been suffering with respiratory problems and Helen has gone through two surgeries in the past year.

“This past winter was so cold, it affected us both,” Fuller said. “We had to make a tough decision. We sold our house and have been renting it while getting things ready in Arizona. And I really wanted to complete the gymkhana season here.”

Fuller had to have her hip replaced as well as ankle surgery. 

“I have located some groups in Arizona I can ride with but I will miss the people at Bear River Riders so much,” said Fuller. “It is a great organization. They are a very family-oriented group who also love to compete. It amazes me how much they work with each other. One of the members, Genesis Martinez, had their trailer break an axle on the way to one of our gymkhanas. One phone call and soon Joe Brown took my truck and trailer and took off, bringing Martinez to the arena. Martinez competed and was able to score enough points for the season to win a saddle. Missing that one event could have been costly.”

Fuller says the Bear River Riders enjoy a sense of family.

“We have the lead line and walk trot events,” said Fuller. “They give young people an opportunity to compete and learn more about their horses. They can even have the opportunity to win a saddle. For me, it has been so enjoyable to watch these kids grow over the years and become young adults with a passion for horses.”

The Bear River Riders are setup to enhance the versatility of both riders and horses. To be competitive all year, participants must claim their horse for the year. Riders who use different horses for different events lose points for their year-end total. The horse you claim at the beginning of the season should be used all season and for all events. The horse will perform barrel racing, pole bending and a bonus event that can change at each event. 

A rider may have a horse that does well in barrel racing but not as well in poles. Being consistent, trying to participate in every gymkhana and being involved in the club’s volunteering plan leads to higher scores and the winner of each division, or age group, wins a saddle at the end of the season. 

Membership in the Bear River Riders is currently $30 for a family and $20 for an individual. Entry fees for a gymkhana is $30 to compete in all three categories. The club pays out 80 percent of the entry fees to the winning riders in each division and the rest goes to cover the costs of saddles and the year-end banquet that will be held on Oct. 21 this year at the Machine Shop.

“The Bear River Riders is a great organization, especially for people with children,” Fuller said. “It is a joy to see how a child’s face lights up when they ride and it’s better than video games. Parents need to know that owning a horse is expensive. You have to buy a horse, and I would suggest buying from someone reputable and when buying a horse, think of your child’s safety. Buy safe horses for them to learn about riding. Owning a horse will require a lot of feed, water and care. Veterinarian bills, farriers and more will add to the expense. Talk with members of Bear River Riders for suggestions about buying and caring for a horse and learn what training will be needed for both horse and rider.”

Members of the Bear River Riders have found that the pleasure of friendly competition, friendships that flourish on their trail rides and the feeling of accomplishment their children have when riding are all worth the efforts.

“We have a lot of members who ride the horses they have in their back yard,” Fuller said. “In this group, members are rewarded for their hard work and consistency.”

If you are thinking about becoming a member of the Bear River Riders you can get more information at bearriverriders.com.