BCHET Chapter Officers & Directors

Larry Jeffers

President (2022 – 2023)

Email: jeffers.larry@yahoo.com

Hello everyone. First and foremost, I am happy to be serving on the board again and if you have any concerns or questions concerning the BCHET please contact me.

As you may know I’ve been a member of BCHET for about 15 years and I’ve been riding horses for about 16 years. Shortly after buying may first Tennessee Walker, I set out to learn all I could about the trails in the area and I stumbled upon the Back Country Horsemen of East TN. I soon learned the trails I enjoyed riding were maintained by the BCHET. I also learned that several of the trails had been built by the BCHET. I had assumed the Forestry Service (FS) was maintaining the trails but I was dead wrong. While the FS attempts to maintain the trails, the truth is they just don’t have enough manpower to keep up. Once I found this out I knew I had to help out the BCHET. Shortly after joining the BCHET I became a board member and then I became the Unaka Mountain / Limestone Cove Trail Manager. Since that time I have served as Vice President and President of the BCHET.

I currently have three horses, two Walkers and my wife Cathy’s Spotted saddle horse. However, Cathy has retired from riding and thus I am always looking for someone to help exercise my horses. My favorite place to Ride is the Smokey Mountains. Hope to see you on the trail. Happy Trails!


Karen Isaacs

Vice President (2023-2024)

Email: BCHETvicepresident@gmail.com

Growing up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, my horse experience consisted of reading books and the occasional riding lesson.  When I moved to Tennessee after graduating from college, I bought an Appaloosa gelding and an Arabian mare.  I loved trail riding around my farm in Stoney Creek.  After learning about endurance riding, I tried a 50 mile ride on my Appaloosa and was hooked.  Over the last 35 years I have ridden 13,000 miles (they keep track) in competition and many more than that in training.  My horses have been mostly part bred Arabians but also a Saddlebred, Walking Horse and of course my App.  Trails ridden have ranged from New Mexico mountains to Florida sand, across the state of Michigan and in the summer heat of Maine and Vermont.  We have some of the most beautiful trails right here in East Tennessee, so I am very grateful for all the work done by BCH members.  Early in the history of BCHET, I was on the board and served several terms as secretary then president.  I am married to Thomas Isaacs and we have a 15 year old daughter.  Our current herd is four gray geldings, all with the same Arabian sire, plus a 30+ year old Arab x Saddlebred.  My primary mount now is Forest, a 16.2 hand Arab x Thoroughbred who is very brave about some things (bears), but not others (leaves).


Michelle King

Secretary (2019 – 2023), Outpost 4 Co-Leader, Buckaroos Leader

Email: BCHETsecretary@gmail.com

I was born and raised in beautiful Greenville, SC. I moved to Blountville, Tennessee in 1995 to help my Grandmother out and to attend ETSU where I earned a BS in Biology. I’ve been in Tennessee ever since. My husband Travis, our two children, Catherine and Matthew, and I live on the farm my dad grew up on. We have 6 horses, a herd of registered Boer goats, two Australian Shepherds, an Anatolian Shepherd and three lazy cats.

I first joined BCHET 20 years ago. I remained a member until the birth of my daughter. Children and life slowed down my trailblazing days until May of 2017 when I attended an organized ride at Hinkle Branch. On that day I met some of the best trail buddies a girl could ask for. We’ve been riding and clearing trails ever since. The club is a wonderful place to meet new people and learn the trails here in our gorgeous East TN mountains. I’m passionate about the purpose of BCHET and our role as members in maintaining our current trails and creating new opportunities for horse use on our public lands. I’m always up for a mountain trail on a steady horse in good company.


Theresa Symonds

Treasurer (2019 – 2024)

Email: bchettreasurer@gmail.com

I’m a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 7. I was raised on a small farm in Washington County, Virginia, where I still reside. I have 3 horses, that I raised and my dog Pepper, a rescue heeler/terrier mix.

I have been active in BCHET for several years where I have met a lot of great friends and love riding and working the trails in the East TN area.

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Richard Jamison

Director (2019 – 2023), State Representative

Email: richglo1331@gmail.com

I have lived in Greeneville, TN for more than 12 years, having relocated from low state SC. I had horses as a young adult and then experienced a 20 year or so gap before Re-engaging in 2011. I ride a 9 year old Arabian Mare.

I began Trail riding with local friends in 2013 and joined BCHET about 3 years back. I truly love the activity and feel fortunate and blessed to enjoy our National Forests and this wonderful country.

I am proud of the work of BCHET and appreciate the opportunity to experience the joy of Trail Riding with other enthusiasts.

See you all out there soon.


Theresa Symonds

Director (2019 – 2023)

Email: tncowboy68@hotmail.com

I’m a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 7. I was raised on a small farm in Washington County, Virginia, where I still reside. I have 3 horses, that I raised and my dog Pepper, a rescue heeler/terrier mix.

I have been active in BCHET for several years where I have met a lot of great friends and love riding and working the trails in the East TN area.

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Jatana Norris

Director (2020 – 2023)

Email: jnorris63@gmail.com

Jatana Norris and her husband Lynn live on top of the beautiful Iron Mountain in Shady Valley, TN. Both Jatana and Lynn have backgrounds in Finance. Jatana still consults on a part time basis.

Jatana grew up in SC and Lynn grew up in Elizabethton, TN. They retired to Shady Valley in 2015. They have 2 sons and one grand daughter in SC along with siblings and Jatana’s mother. They also have family in Bristol, Knoxville, and Jamestown, TN.

Besides trail riding their hobbies include driving, golf, tennis, hiking, fly fishing, reading and cooking. They are active members of Bethany Baptist Church in Mountain City, TN. Jatana says “We are excited to participate in and contribute to BCHET.”


Mollie Ingle

Director (2022 – 2023)

Email: meingle14@gmail.com

Mollie Ingle and her husband, Cody, own CM Farms in Butler, TN. They have 2 kiddos, Cooper & Hadley! They currently raise quarter horses on a small scale & love to ride when they aren’t working on the farm or attending baseball games. Currently, the Ingles have 9 horses. They enjoy trail riding along with competitive trail events, roping, & working the draft horses for various uses around the farm & with the covered wagon.  They host a wagon train every year to keep a tradition that both Mollie and Cody were raised up doing.

She is an avid volunteer with their local 4H chapter and enjoys watching the kids learn about agriculture and useful life skills. Mollie’s family hosts an event each year called “Farm Day”.  This event is held at their farm with close to 300 hundred kids visiting and learning about farm life and a variety of stock.

“I am excited to be apart of BCHET and help to grow our local equine and trail riding community.”


Lisa Woodson

Director (2021 – 2023)

Email: juanitakutz@yahoo.com

I was born and raised in Warner Robins, GA, and discovered my equine passion around 3. Yes, I do bleed red and black. I joined the US Army for six years after college and traveled throughout the USA and South Korea. My parents provided me with riding lessons and summer horse camps but would not purchase a horse. My mother wanted me to play the piano, but I despised practicing daily for an hour. She quickly figured out a method for me. If I did not have an excellent weekly music lesson, then I would not take a riding lesson that week. My stubbornness prevailed for many weeks, and I was not allowed to take a riding lesson.

Life happened for 30 years before I purchased my first horse in 1999. After riding different breeds and disciplines, I ended up with flat shod TWH for showing and pleasure riding. I am fortunate to have found my life partner the second time around, who also has the equine passion. I am excited to be part of the BCHET Board and work to keep our trails open.