Jay grew up the son of a working ranch cowboy. His family lived near Clovis, N.M., for most of his childhood. He shared his father’s love of the cowboy lifestyle and enjoyed training horses as well. As a senior in high school he told his dad of his plans to follow in his footsteps as a “cow puncher.” Jay recalls the conversation even now. In response, his dad simply asked him, “Don’t you like new saddles and fancy bits?” Jay replied that of course he did. His dad then responded that he better be a horse trainer, because he wouldn’t be able to afford those things on a cowboy’s wage. So, that’s just what Jay did, he had already ridden a few horses for pay, but once he graduated from high school he began his career training horses. Meanwhile, Gena Willoughby grew up outside of Hugoton, Kan. Both sides of her family were involved with horses, one grandfather drove racing cart horses, the other was a rancher. She, too, took to horses, and showed throughout her youth. She graduated from high school early and at only 16 headed to Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Goodwell, Okla., with customer horses waiting. She doesn’t recall ever consciously deciding to be a horse trainer, she simply says, “It was all I knew how to do.” Now the story of how the two met changes depending on whom you ask. It’s not contested that it was at a horse show in Amarillo, Texas; what isn’t known for sure is who beat whom. Ever the competitors, both will tell you they kicked the other’s butt. At any rate, neither must have held a grudge, because they were married in 1978 and settled near Hugoton, Kan., starting their own horse training business with Gena’s parents. Willoughby and Henson Training Stables, it was called, or “W bar H.” In the past 30 years they’ve trained nearly every kind of horse from cutters to pleasure horses and even a few jumpers. But, it’s not the horses they remember most but the youth and amateurs they’ve helped guide to championships of all sorts. They have the win pictures from three decades to prove it. This “versatility” is what made the pair so perfect for coaching ranch horse versatility competitors. That’s why when Dave Currin, now president of the NVRHA was planning a versatility ranch horse clinic seven years ago in Lamar, Colo., he immediately asked Jay and Gena to be the clinicians. Dave had been sending horses to Jay and Gena for training for many years and says, “I had a huge respect for their talent and knowledge.” Dave says that ever since, he has kept asking Jay and Gena to be a part of the association because of their passion for the event. “The ranch horse event is something Jay and Gena believe in.” He adds, “They think of it as a revival of the all-around quarter horse and support it very strongly.” Jay says it was a perfect fit for them because of their experience in so many disciplines. “It really combines all the aspects of what I expect a good horse to be,” Jay says. “It takes an extremely well-rounded horse to be competitive, and that fit my program.” He adds, “It really fits me best also because I can’t do one thing for very long anyway and these horses need to learn it all.” (Gena says those who know Jay would agree, although he’s stuck to his “day job” of training horses for 30 years, he’s dabbled in dog training, bit, spur and saddle making, and his latest conquest of outdoor cooking, just to name a few.) Gena echoes Jay’s comments, saying, “It’s been good for us, because we can do it as a couple. And, we’ve always done everything on our horses, for example, I’ll turn back on my two-year-old pleasure horses to give them something else to do.” For years Gena typically rode more of the all-around horses, like those competing in western pleasure and horsemanship, while Jay focused more on the cattle events and reining, but both are knowledgeable about all of the events. In today’s age of specialization where trainers typically only train and compete in one event, Jay and Gena have enjoyed helping participants in a variety of classes. Because of this, they were excited about the chance to become involved in this fledgling event and association. Jay and Gena’s diversification is part of the reason Dave continues to invite the Hensons to coach and judge ranch horse events. “They have a very thorough knowledge of all the ranch horse events; there are very few people around that still have a full appreciation of all seven events involved and can teach each with skill.” Dave says even though the association is branching out to all parts of the country, “If I had to take my pick of all the clinicians I’ve worked with I would always go to Jay because if something happened and I couldn’t be there I know he would take it and make it go with the same enthusiasm I have for the event.” Jay’s enthusiasm has been strong since the beginning, but he says he was a bit surprised at the people who began turning out for the versatility ranch horse clinics and shows. He explains that when the ranch horse competitions first began, the contestants were mostly ranch cowboys just going to town to show off and hone their skills. However, once the classes gained publicity, he was excited to find that there were many competitors who hadn’t ridden or shown much before and were willing and eager to learn. “They really want to learn all parts of horsemanship and enjoy themselves,” Jay says of the participants in the clinics he’s helped with and the shows he’s judged. He adds that they are often drawn to learn more about and be a part of the cowboy lifestyle. Most of the contestants are there for the thrill of the cattle work, but he says, “after they’ve done it a while they really want to fine tune their horsemanship skills.” And while the Hensons love helping the participants learn more about what it takes to win in versatility competition, they enjoy getting to know the people more. “We really enjoy building relationships with the people we’ve met at the clinics and shows,” Gena says. Just as enjoyable for the Hensons has been getting their daughter Channing involved as well. She, of course, grew up riding and showing horses under her parents’ guidance and now, with a family of her own, works as a judge and clinician for versatility and other horse events. “We’ve really enjoyed getting Channing involved also, and she’s been around it her whole life, so it’s just natural,” Gena says. Channing’s husband Dustin Hawks has even joined in the family fun, he won the 2007 Kansas Ranch Horse versatility competition aboard a horse the Hensons trained. Also, joining the excitement in the past few years is Cutter “Bill” Hawks, Dustin and Channing’s 4-year-old son who’s never short on words. One can see the family tradition will likely be continued with Cutter, as he is already riding his great-grandfather’s horse Bluejay to turn back, but not without constantly asking his “Pappa,” Jay, when it’s his turn to work. |
