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SPIRIT OF THE WESTby Hugh McLennan Feb-Mar 2010 They Cowboy’d UpTrainer’s Challenge Challenges Trainers
The Mane Event Trainer’s Challenge at the Mane Event in Chilliwack, B.C., this past October proved to be a challenge for the event organizers. Three world-class trainers had been confirmed nearly a year before the event: Josh Lyons, Martin Black and Jon Ensign. Things were looking great until Jon Ensign suffered a severe leg injury in July when a mule cow-kicked him, completely severing a couple of tendons and breaking his knee. The organizers consulted with the great horseman, Jonathan Field, and he recommended Bruce Logan of Texas as a replacement. A two-time winner of the Manitoba Keystone Trainer’s Challenge, Bruce, fortunately, had some free time and agreed to take Jon’s place. So far, so good — until Martin Black found himself in a situation he’s been in hundreds of times. He was on horseback, sorting cattle in a corral, when a bull backed him up against the rail. The result? A severe spiral fracture of his leg. His status looked doubtful. Well … we still had Josh Lyons, right? Turns out Josh and his wife were expecting a baby. Doctors recommended putting her in hospital the same weekend as the Mane Event. Naturally, Josh’s priorities were with his family and the Mane Event graciously agreed to release him from his obligations. But now what? It happened that last year’s winner, Ken McNabb, was available. Ken agreed to fill in for Josh on very short notice. Martin Black was still on crutches when Ken stepped in — and Martin said he would compete even if he had to do it on one leg. By Friday evening, it was standing-room-only at the round pen. Bruce Logan drew a great looking two-year-old gelding, appropriately named Chilliwack, and within minutes I could see this guy was good. He had the colt saddled and rode him at a trot before the first hour was up. Martin was next. His leg was obviously bothering him as he quickly assessed the rangy gelding, Bubbles, from the ground. Doing about four things at one time, he had the colt saddled and willingly side passing up to the round pen fence. He was able to mount from the fence and even though the colt had bucked a little with the saddle, the savvy cowboy said: “He’s told me he won’t buck anymore.” Then Martin confidently made the first ride. I told the crowd that the bar had been set pretty high for Ken McNabb, and then Ken started in with his ground work. About three minutes into his first session, the lights went out! The sound system failed! The entire complex suffered a major power outage. Ken completely focused on the colt, doing his ground work in near darkness, until the security people said the building had to be evacuated within 10 minutes. Ken agreed to reschedule for Saturday morning, and by noon we were back on time. When the finals concluded in the big arena, all three cowboys had completed the course — and we knew it would be close. When the judge’s tallied up their scores — the hard-won trophy went to Martin Black. Cattle rancher and horse trainer Hugh McLennan and his wife, Billie, run their cattle in the beautiful rangeland outside of Kamloops, B.C. Hugh is the host of the multi-award-winning weekly radio program, Spirit of the West, heard across Canada and the U.S.
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