The Whisperer's Challenge 2003

            On Saturday August 16, 2003, the Maverick Riding Club of Cranbrook hosted the first ever “Horse Whispering in the Kootenays” colt starting challenge at the Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds, near Cranbrook, BC. Over 600 people watched with fascination as three Kootenay horse trainers -- Jay O’Jay of Invermere, John Soles of Cranbrook, and Creston trainer Steve Werklund -- demonstrated their different techniques for starting a young unbroke horse under saddle.

Each trainer drew lots for a group of two horses and then had 10 minutes to select the horse he wanted to work in the round pen. The three horsemen then demonstrated their training techniques in a round pen with the young horse they had selected for 2 and a half hours in front of the crowd. Each unbroke horse was sacked out, saddled and ridden for the first time. 

Following a short break to set up an obstacle course challenge, three highly qualified judges--Barb Barbour and Pat Pighin of Cranbrook and John Solly of Creston—scored the trainers as they rode their newly broke horses in three categories: 50 points for General Handling Ability (walk, jog, lope on the proper lead in both directions, make a 360-degree turn both ways, stop, stand for ten seconds, back up and make controlled turns); 50 points for negotiating an obstacle course comprised of a figure-8 in both directions around a barrel, pulling a log, walking between poles set up in a zigzag and hourglass patterns, walking or jogging over a series of 4 poles, going over a small jump, and riding the horse over a wooden bridge.

Following the obstacle course, each competitor did a freestyle demonstration for bonus points. Jay O’Jay had his young horse sidepass over to the rail, while John Soles executed a turn on the forehand with his horse. Steve Werklund draped his horse with a large banner bearing the name and logo of his training facility, “End of Trail Equine Training”, and trotted around the arena carrying a large flag and then cracking a bull whip while aboard his horse to demonstrate how well his horse was “sacked out”.

The judges selected Steve as the overall winner of the 3-part challenge course. He was presented with a large trophy donated by Pine Butte Ranch. Stan Aylward and D.J. McIvor from Creston, and Bronco Horvath from Cranbrook did a great job as announcers. In addition, the event raised over $3000 for the Cranbrook Regional Hospital Foundation, and due to its popularity with the crowd, organizers are already planning for a repeat of this year’s informative and successful challenge.