General News
6 August, 2024
Golden girl of Australian rodeo out to claim another Isa buckle
Leanne Caban says Mount Isa has become a second home
Leanne Caban loves coming “home” to Mount Isa.
While the champion barrel racer grew up in Julia Creek before heading to the coast to finish her schooling, the 55-year-old says the Buchanan Park arena holds a special place in her heart.
“I just love it in Mount Isa,” she said.
“You get the adrenaline going and you’ve got the crowd right on top of you cheering you on.
“As a competitor, there’s no better place, I reckon.”
Now based in Emerald with her husband Dale, Caban is a professional horse trainer and breeder who continues to travel on the rodeo circuit to put her skills and horses to the test.
She is right at the top of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) standings for all-round cowgirl, having amassed more than $30,000 this season.
Nipping at her heels is none other than her daughter Maddison, who is in second place but is no chance to catch her.
That’s not because she doesn’t have the ability – the teenage star is off to the United States to test herself against the best abroad.
Caban insists she’s still got her daughter covered in the saddle, but admits the former Mount Isa junior champion is catching up quickly.
“She’s very natural,” her mum told North West Weekly.
“I think she’ll enjoy the challenge of being in America.”
Caban said she had a new companion for the northern road trip.
“Mum is my sidekick,” she said of her mother Eileen.
“She turns 80 next year so I said to her that it would be great if you could join me on the road.
“I was a bit worried she wouldn’t be able to get in and out of the truck, but mum said, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got a ladder.’”
There will also be family in the stands at Buchanan Park, cheering Caban on as she competes in the barrel racing and breakaway roping events.
“I’ve still got family in Mount Isa that always comes to the rodeo and cheers us on,” Caban said.
“I don’t know how many years I’ve been coming to Mount Isa but I don’t think I’ve missed a year since I started coming (in 1985).
“To not be able to come or not be able to be competitive would be a very sad day for me.”
Caban won her first barrel race at Kalkadoon Park in 1993, setting a new Australian record at the time on a horse known as “Trash”.
She backed up her win in 1994 and since then she’s added many more buckles to her collection, including in the breakaway roping and the barrels.
Partnering Caban in the arena this year will be none other than champion horse Akka Dakka.
They are going for back-to-back barrel racing buckles, and three straight all-round titles.
Caban said it gave her great confidence being on his back.
“He’s won three Nebo Rodeo titles in a row, he’s been Horse of the Year two years in a row and he’s won the Australian title two years in a row – so to have a horse like that I know that if just do my job, he’ll do his,” Caban said.
Producing a champion horse is a tough job and Akka Dakka was nearly lost to the sport in 2020.
He was diagnosed with a spinal disorder where neurological compression impacted his ability to do the most basic of tasks.
Akka Dakka required specialist surgery, an operation that involved the shaving of the bones in his spine where the impinging vertebrae came together.
Caban said her companion spent six months in the paddock and another six months of intensive rehabilitation before he could even be considered for a return to the arena. Once he found his fitness and confidence, Akka Dakka quickly started producing the goods.
Even without Maddison nipping at her heels, the reigning champion said she expected some hot competition this weekend.
“My sister in law is one to watch out for,” she said.
“That mare of hers, Jay Lo, is phenomenal.”
Wendy Caban is a five-time Mount Isa barrel race champion and four-time Mount Isa all-round champion.