Hello from Big Sky Horse Park!

Fall is on the horizon, and the park is still buzzing with activity! As summer winds down, we’re excited to share the upcoming events that will carry us through the rest of the season.

Upcoming Park Events:

• Sep 6-7: Working Equitation Under The Big Sky

• Sep 13-14: Equus International Film Festival, Equus International Film Festival will be held September 11-14th in Missoula, with demonstrations both Saturday and Sunday at the Big Sky Horse Park! The demonstrations at the BSHP are FREE to attend! Find other festival information and tickets HERE

• Sep 20: Flying Colors Mini Event #2

• Oct 4: Halloween Omoksee

• Oct 11: Homecoming Parade

Park Improvement Project Update:

Big Sky Horse Park is operated entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors and a dedicated team of committee members. We’re proud of the fact that all of our operations, events, and improvements are driven by passionate volunteers who care deeply about the park and the community it serves.

We have several active committees, each playing a vital role in how the park functions, grows, and continues to improve:

• Maintenance

• Events

• Finance

• Membership

• Strategic Long-Term Planning

Our Strategic Long-Term Planning Committee helps bring together ideas and input from all other committees to prioritize and plan future projects.

We’ve identified three key focus areas to guide our investments:

1. Improve the participant and spectator experience

2. Support park maintenance and infrastructure

3. Build a Dressage / Multi-Use Complex (including a second dressage arena)

Here’s how we’ve already put your support to work:

• Purchased a second arena drag ($8,000) — ideal for dressage and MEA footing, allowing our original TR3 drag to focus on the Western arena

• Acquired a second dressage court setup ($5,000)

• Invested in a new Kubota tractor in 2024 — partially financed, with $5,000 already paid from reserves

We currently have approximately $15,000 remaining for future improvements which is why our committees and planning remain imperative to the success of the park!

Want to get involved? Whether you’re passionate about planning, equipment, community events, or want to help guide spending priorities — we’d love to have your voice at the table. Contact Karla to learn more & get involved, krnichwander@gmail.com

Meet the 2025 Maintenance Crew:

The Missoula Horse Council is happy to introduce our 2025 Maintenance crew led by Zane Webb.

Zane comes onboard the park and brings with him over 15 years of course builder experience, footing expertise along with working throughout the West Coast at all the major venues in event organization.

Additionally, Zane is able to bring his equipment and diesel mechanic talents to the horse park table, which is invaluable as keeping the equipment fleet running and functioning properly is a daily need. Zane makes his home in Florence at On Point Sport Horse and you’ll find him at the park many days with a couple German Pointers helping out.

Speaking of helping out, the park maintenance is complimented by Tracy Thompson. Tracy too hails from the Florence area, and has been a great addition to the park maintenance team by organizing the shop and storage areas, along with arena grooming work and general park maintenance.

Although the events and park maintenance is new to Tracy, she has stepped up and treats the park as her own and is always looking to how to make it better. Make sure and introduce yourself to them as they’re the reason the park is seeing improvement in the arena footings and overall looking better and better!

We’d be remiss without mentioning our appreciation to Bill Bucher for his many years of work keeping the park maintained!

Thank you for helping make 2025 an unforgettable year at The Big Sky Horse Park!

We’re so grateful for the organizers, volunteers, and community members who make Big Sky Horse Park a place where riders of all disciplines can learn, grow, and have fun together.