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Year Two a Success for the Mane Event

October 24, 2005

Trainer’s Challenge participants (L-R) Doug Mills, Jay O’Jay and Chris Irwin were presented with beautiful bronze sculptures from Tymarc Art Studios. Photo Credit: Jan Mansfield

Chilliwack, BC --- The Mane Event wrapped up its second year with the spectators, exhibitors, clinicians and organizers all in agreement that it was even more successful than anticipated. Approximately 18,000 spectators came to Heritage Park in Chilliwack for the Equine Education & Trade Fair. The bleachers were full for most of the 80 hours of clinics and presentations and the aisles in the trade fair, which had over 175 exhibitors, were crowded most of the time.

On the final day it was standing room only around the main arena where spectators, who had been following the Trainer’s Challenge the previous two days, eagerly awaited the Finals. After four sessions each in the round pen with the two-year-old colts, who had limited exposure to humans at Douglas Lake Ranch where they were born, Chris Irwin, Doug Mills and Jay O’Jay faced the daunting task of demonstrating what each horse had accomplished with their training. Even though all three Quarter Horse colts were sired by Fritzi Badger, it was apparent early on in the Challenge that they were of very different temperaments. Only Doug Mills’ horse, Tip Top Thibedaux, mastered the required elements in the Final which included willingly accepting the tack (though he didn’t use a bit and bridle) and being ridden at a walk, trot and lope and through a Serpentine and over ground poles. After further demonstrating the horse’s manageability by loading and unloading him in a trailer, Mills was awarded the winner’s trophy.

“I just stuck to my program and followed through,” said Mills. “It’s been good for me to stretch a bit and grow and get out of my comfort zone.” He also commented that the horse wasn’t as easy to deal with as he appeared, and his “head issues” made him decide not to even try to use a bridle and bit. He rode with only a halter.

O’Jay was partnered with He Isa Pecos Badger who was rideable, but not ready to complete some of the required mounted tasks. The spectators responded with applause when he told them, “If I try this anymore I’m just trying to be somebody’s hero. This horse is not ready.” He then delighted the audience by playfully walking and trotting alongside the horse, saying, “Don’t you just love horses!” He said later, “As hard as you may try I think there is always going to be the better horse. And when you’ve got three trainers as good as Chris Irwin, Doug Mills and Jay O’Jay, it’s going to boil down to who got the horse.”

Irwin had ridden his mount, Tamarack San, in the round pen session earlier in the day also. But when it came to the main arena, the “broncy” horse was clearly not ready to be ridden in the intimidating environment. Managing to tack him up and bridle him with a bit, Irwin also decided not to pressure the horse into a performance he wasn’t ready for. Irwin, who admitted to having mixed emotions about the concept of a Trainer’s Challenge, saying the idea of a contest while training a horse without putting it under undue pressure is a paradox. However, he said he had been getting favorable feedback from the spectators over the two days. “They appreciated how I handled the type of horse I had,” he said.

The Trainer’s Challenge was judged by well-known course designer, coach and English judge Pamela Arthur, veterinarian and horseman Dr. John Doug Gilray as well as Doug Henry, who has been a trainer for 45 years and a top AQHA competitor. After it was over they were in agreement that it was the audience who was the big winner, having had the unprecedented opportunity to see three of Canada’s best trainers working under stressful conditions.

“The wisdom of the trainers stood out in as much as when they knew they were defeated, they walked away,” Gilray said later. “They didn’t increase the pressure and put the horse in a situation where he was going to damage himself mentally. None of these horses were injured by what happened here. They all learned something.”

Organizers were very pleased with the support that the horse community has shown for The Mane Event, and are already making plans for next year. They noted that attendance had exceeded their highest expectations, and are working to acquire more parking space, and will run shuttle buses, for the convenience of spectators next year. In the meantime, plans are on track for the first Mane Event at the Clark County Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, WA, which runs February 17-19, 2006. It will feature top clinicians, a 70,000 square foot trade fair and a Trainer’s Challenge. For more information visit www.maneeventexpo.com.

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