By Leslie Knibbs

AUNDECK OMNI KANING FIRST NATION — “When I do go to a show and I make mistakes, I look forward to making adjustments, and then can’t wait to go to the next show to see how we do.”

Simple words from one of the most successful Western Horse Show competitors in Northern Ontario, or perhaps many would say one of the best province-wide. Sixty-year-old Rodney Madahbee from Aundeck Omni Kaning (AOK) has been competing in Speed Events in horse shows and country fairs for nearly 40 years.

Rodney does not think of it being just himself competing, but rather he and his horse as one. Reaching that magical point when the rider becomes one with the horse is an elusive moment for many riders. Not so with Madahbee. For that brief stretch while racing around the barrels or the poles in a speed event, both Rodney and his horse are borrowing a freedom that most of us will never know. For centuries, Indigenous peoples have looked to a horse as a majestic animal blessed with spiritual power of independence, freedom, and competition.  There is something dreamlike happening when spectators witness a champion rider floating around the barrels or poles, Rodney and a few others make it look so easy.

Madahbee loves working with horses. For him, it’s about competing and the challenges. The journey and the enjoyment begins when prepping and training a new horse for competition.

“I do like horses that are young. Just because I like to train them the way I want to. Nowadays, the competition that we compete against are a lot better, especially the horses.”

Unlike many riding competition enthusiasts, Rodney does not train a young horse in a chute or use a 20-foot lunge line, he does it from behind the horse.

“When I start to train a young horse. I start by getting them used to a bit. That usually takes two or three days after they learn to stop and when to go and also directions. I will put the saddle on them and drive them from behind with driving lines going through the stirrups. I go through the stirrups just to get them used to them hitting them on their side. Once they get used to the saddle after a few days, that’s when I start the process of getting on them. Usually, I have them tied up at the hitching post and get off and on them until they get used to that. Once that happens, I will take them for a ride. They are usually pretty good.”

Rodney spends most of his time travelling to events in Northern Ontario although he has competed at the Ancaster Fair in Southern Ontario. While on the road, he travels with a fully-equipped trailer housing the horses, as well as living accommodations for himself with most of the comforts of home.

Recently, he competed at the Massey Fair, North Bay, and will travel to a show in Laird next. His favourite events are Poles, Barrels, Flag, and the Dash for Cash. All of his horses are registered Quarter Horses. This year, he is showing a four-year-old and a five-year-old. He has a two-year-old at his home on Manitoulin Island still in training.

Rodney’s history with horses goes back 47 years when he went to work as a 13- year-old for John Wilkins Riding Stables near Little Current on Manitoulin. His father always had horses so he’s been around horses all of his life. For four years he operated his own riding stable renting out horses for pleasure and trail riding. At its peak, the stable had 22 school horses for rent. He lives on about eight acres in AOK. Madahbee is a long-time member of the Carpenters Union working out of the Sudbury area on various projects and is a member of the Northern Ontario Horse Association (NOHA).

Jennifer-lee Teresinski has been competing in horse shows since her youth and has watched Madahbee perform for years.

“Every single kid and adult stop in their tracks to watch Rodney’s runs cheering him on,” she said recently in an interview.  “What I would say [is he] is a perfect example of true showmanship and horsemanship. Always a sportsman, to others… He enjoys the ride with each horse he trains; he’s kind and humble. [You] can see the shuttle smile each ride… handling horses.. It’s nice to see one of the last true cowboys of Algoma area still setting a mentor example for many.”