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Trainers Challenge - Final

May 29, 2008

Red Deer, AB --- Steve Rother of Oregon took home the Championship trophy Sunday for the second year in a row at the Mane Event Trainers Challenge at Red Deer’s Westerner Park.

“I was nervous as usual,” said Rother, after accepting the special edition Mane Event trophy from Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine representative Terri Mason. But he said his horse felt the same in the large arena where the Finals were held as she did in the round pen where the four training sessions had been held over the 2 ½ days of the Challenge. “Very rarely do I get that feeling,” said Rother. “My horse had an open mind for everything I threw at her.”

Drawing last in the order of go for the Finals in the larger Lammle’s Arena, Rother completed all the required elements. After dramatically standing on top of his horse cracking a whip, he trailered his horse - while mounted - and left the ring with five minutes to spare in the allotted half-hour.

“My horse had an open mind for everything I threw at her,” said Rother. “There is nothing more I would like than to be able to go out there for another day or two to work on that spot on her right front and send her on her way. The sky is the limit with that little horse.”

Montana’s Jon Ensign, who drew first in the order of go for his first appearance in a Trainers Challenge Final, later admitted to being nervous. “I was just trying to survive and get done in the right amount of time,” he said. Asked if he had learned much from the experience, he said, ““I learned a lot the first 15 minutes on the first day!”

“I was just trying to survive and get done in the right amount of time,” said Ensign. “I don’t think I would change a thing with my horse.”

“I thought that mine was really needing support and looking for support. I really like that in a horse. The toughest thing I had with her was her right hind leg. I wish I had more time for her sake to help her get over that a little bit more.”

It was a loud, enthusiastic crowd that packed every seat and standing space at the arena for the Finals. When Craig Cameron of Texas appeared to be moving on to the optional part of his demonstration, they helpfully reminded him that he had forgotten to back his horse up, one of the required elements.

“I didn’t have as good a run out there as I would have liked to, but she is a high energy mare and very electric and I tried to really make that work with her in a subtle way.” He used a hackamore with her because she was a little heady, he said. And the larger arena gave her even more energy.

“But I think it came out good and everyone was a winner,” Cameron said of the Challenge. “The main thing is that it is good for people, good for horses, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s great horsemanship.”

“The real winners are the people that are watching who are together making this business work for everybody. We’re the blessed ones here. We get paid to do what we love to do, but they are the people out there taking care of God’s great creature and that’s the horse.”

Ensign and Cameron both ended their sessions also by loading their horses in a trailer. And in the end, it was only a one point spread in the judge’s calculations that saw Rother named the champion.

After the Finals presentation judge Mel Hyland said he felt some of the horses came with some issues. He said Rother dealt with the shoulder issue with his horse the best he could without really having to get in her face or get really firm with her. He also remarked on how all three fillies were so similar in size and structure and the same style.

Bob Kaufman, judging his first Trainers Challenge, said he didn’t know what to expect coming into the event. “A lot of credit goes to the very first guys years ago who used to give clinics,” he said. “But I saw some things here that are not only better for the horse, but better for the entire industry, for the public, for everything.”

“I think the individual trainers here progressed in some ways as much as those horses did. I think that everybody here, including those of us that have horses, that ranch, or are in any discipline, would benefit from everything that was done here.”

Ron Hoffman said that when he first judged a Trainers Challenge last year at the Mane Event he had some reservations, wondering if it was fair to take green horses and expect them to do much in three days. “These guys are pretty interested in getting through this with a sound piece of material that someone can go on,” he said. “I commend them for not trying to change these horses faster than they can go, and for getting the quality work done that they do in a short period of time.”

Considering Asked if they think there is much difference between a Canadian audience and an

American audience. Steve “There is absolutely no comparison to this crowd of people compared to anything I have seen down there. I’m sure it exists, but I’ve never seen it where I’ve traveled in the US.. “ Craig said “Canadians are great. They love the cowboy and the western way of life. They’re independent thinkers but they are hungry for knowledge and really supportive. I love coming up here because I feel right at home.

Second day of the challenge Jon Ensign said, “The biggest audience I have ever been around was two hours ago and everyone made me feel welcome and that I was a part of something.”

Hugh McLennan, the voice of the Spirit of the West radio program and commentator and timekeeper for the Trainers Challenge, summed it up saying, ”I love the Mane Event. It brings out the finest talent there is in the 21st century horse world. And if you love horses you just love the whole environment.”

“Central Alberta is the heartland of the equine world. I am just proud and pleased to be part of the Mane Event and the Spirit of the West is proud to be a sponsor.

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