Habitual publican and horse-wrangler Charlie Fenton is on the trail for men’s mental health, hosting a 24-hour endurance ride to raise funds and awareness of a scourge on society.
Saddle Up for A Mate is aiming to get riders on horseback, joining Fenton on a ride through the night for a very worthy cause.
The man is himself a fourth-generation publican, taking his place in the game in late 1977. He has also spent time as a hotel broker, an endurance rider and polocrosse* player, and some time back penned the hoteliers’ handbook, The Publican’s Mate.
In the 80s he began buying his own pubs, over the years holding Leeton Hotel, Victoria Hotel in Griffith, Grand Bar & Brasserie in Bowral, Mittagong Hotel, Royal in Taree, Old Bar Tavern, Glasshouse in Coffs Harbour, Lansdowne Hotel Sydney, Erskineville Hotel, and the Bargo Hotel.
Whilst at Leeton he established the endurance club, the Murrumbidgee Riders Association, which ran a 200-kilometre ride to Leeton from Hay, taking 11.5 hours.
In 2023 he acquired his 11th pub, the Crookwell Hotel, and the subsequent refurbishment and revival has involved educating staff to talk to all people who enter, “whether it is the Prime Minister or the guy that picks up the garbage”.
Roughly 200 kilometres south-west of Sydney, Crookwell is an idyllic NSW country locale that lays claim to being the Jack Russell capital of Australia, counting around 2,600 residents, with families that have been locals for five or six generations, between them keeping more than a thousand of the furry friends.
Fenton says Crookwell is a “seriously old-school” town, where you can still safely leave your doors unlocked and your wallet on the bar.
But like too many country towns, with members of the community sometimes separated by the tyrannies of distance and long hours, Crookwell has seen too many suicides.
The inn-keeper is calling on the people of Crookwell to get together more often, for their own wellbeing.
In pursuit of this he concocted the idea of the 24-hour horse endurance ride.
Saddle Up for A Mate begins at 3pm at Crookwell Showgrounds on Friday, 28 February.
Fenton has three Australian stock horses of his own (Brigalow, Slinky Minx and her offspring, Harold Colt). He has been riding them every day to prepare, and hopes he can do the 24 hours, planning to rotate and rest the horses.
At the finish, at 3pm on the Saturday (1 March) those present will be entertained by performances from Crookwell singer-songwriter Chalkie White, Southern Highlands country singer Ross Webb, and William “Big Willy” Wallace.
Importantly, there will also be several speakers discussing men’s mental health.
Entry to the event is free, and so is overnight camping.
The Crookwell publican is easy-going about how people participate, suggesting individuals, teams or relays, so long as they “come along and participate”.
Anyone wanting to contribute can help by simply being involved, or through sponsorship, donations or by spreading the word.
Four weeks out, Fenton reports around 80 riders are set to saddle up on the day. He sees the event as an extension of the camaraderie typical of what makes the local the second home.
“I believe we have to get back to basics and take some time and speak to our customers.
“I tell my staff ‘Don’t judge anyone and speak to everyone! They come to the pub to forget about their problems and want to have a laugh and a yarn!’”.
Full details on the event at Humantix – Saddle Up For A Mate.
Mental health crisis help can be found at:
Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
*Polocrosse is a team sport that originated in Australia in 1938. Played on horseback, combining elements of polo, lacrosse, and netball, it is sometimes known as ‘Rugby on horseback’.
