Page 35 - MSN_363_FebruaryMarch

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
northeast of Missoula. He also trained at
Montana arenas from the Bitterroot to the
Flathead.
Recent years found him working
horses and providing horsemanship
training to students from challenging
backgrounds near Eureka. Summers were
spent riding herd on a thousand cows
and calves scattered over thousands of
rugged mountain acres.
“I live out there. I ride long hours every
day. Those cows and calves have to survive
in the midst of growing populations of
wolves, grizzlies, mountain lion, and coy-
otes,” he grinned,” and I have to survive
along with my horses and dog.”
Trotting out of the forest after a
long day, Salisbury often would slow
his horse to allow his tiring cow dog to
keep close proximity. She was his closest
companion for years, and as twilight
came, trailing coyotes and wolves kept
her on edge.
“You know, the average fella munching
a Big Mac in some city never knows that
fellas like me help get the beef in the bun,”
he chuckled.
Salisbury noted that mountain range
cattle develop great protective instincts.
They are tougher than you think. They will
put the calves in the center of a circle with
cows facing out in times of danger. They
know safety with the herd.
Nevertheless, too many cows and calves
go down under bloody attack of slashing
predator fangs. Salisbury has seen it all.
He saw the wolf become more elusive
and distant from man after hunting seasons
were introduced. But he argued that range
riders need to use guns to help protect
livestock. Currently the opposite situation
exists, and serious penalties are given for
using firearms.
“I like and respect wolves and grizzlies,”
he commented. “I just need flexibility to
help make those critters respect my horse,
cattle, and dog.”
Besides that, he concluded, too many large
predators are feeding too close together.
Neil Salisbury, Max’s father and former
Eureka peace officer, rode this same moun-
tain range in the early 1970s. Max, reflecting
70 years of horse wisdom, noted that many
differences exist today.
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SPOtLIGHtS PAGE 35
So this old independent cowboy turned
to natural methods. By late July, his body
was wracked with pain. He moved to
Eureka when no longer able to ride the
mountains. He became determined to
endure the pain while battling the can-
cer with a combination of intravenous
drips, nutritional supplements like CBD
oil, herbs, diet, acupuncture, parasite
treatment, and pain medicine.
Life wasn’t easy. Confident he would
heal, he moved to the residence of his sister
JoAn Cuffe and husband Mike near Eureka.
Seventy years of memories, good times
“You know, the average fella munching a Big Mac in and rough times, rolled through his mind.
some city never knows that fellas like me help get Even as he lay in the emergency room bed
the beef in the bun,” said Mike Salisbury. He spent at Kalispell Regional Hospital while doctors
his summer riding herd on thousands of cows and ran tests, he took several phone calls from
calves scattered over thousands of rugged moun-
tain acres. Photo by Mike Cuffe. clients eager for a lesson or advice.
Max Salisbury, always horse conscious,
“For example, I seldom see a moose provided doctors with equine instruction
anymore,” he said. “Elk herds have thinned until they referred to him as a true horse
out, and deer are sparse, compared to when whisperer. In his discussions, he occa-
I rode with Dad 45 years ago. Change isn’t sionally recalled advice from his mother
always good. We need a balance, so I support who taught school in Michigan, Canada,
this bill to delist the grizzly. We also need and Montana. “She was strict and stern,”
better balance with the wolf. ” he chuckled, “but she had to be with a kid
That is why Max Salisbury entered like me.”
the Senate Committee room in Helena. Max figured he had ridden 4,000 horses
He strode into the room, big hat on top, and handled 10 thousand more. He con-
big shiny championship belt buckle, and ducted hundreds of lessons and clinics. He
new blue jeans with sharp creases. As a won numerous championships, buckles,
concession to the dignity of the Capitol, and trophies over several decades and com-
he polished his boots and left his spurs at peted in World Class Reining events.
the ranch. “I regret any heartbreak or disappoint-
He came to speak. And to be heard. ment I may have caused over the years,” he
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED said,“ but I tried to help people and horses
He returned to life in the wild, began have a better life.” He said he was proud of
repairing fence in April and moving cows his children and grandchildren, wishing he
to mountain pasture within weeks. had more time with them.
Suddenly more of those strange twists “I do regret that the monster in my belly
and turns came with a rush. Age and failing took away any chance to show Sen. Mike
eyes and fading stamina overcame Lady, his Phillips the life of a range rider,” he said.
faithful old cow dog. “We could have become good friends. I am
Then came Sunday, June 9, 2019, the day glad I got to speak to him and the other law
after some particularly strenuous lifting, makers,” he reflected.
and wrenching and twisting, Max Salisbury Max Salisbury understood the inevitable.
awoke with a screaming stomach pain. A A church going Christian, he was prepared
few hours later, physicians at Cabinet Peaks to ride around the bend in the trail that leads
Medical Center in Libby found indications to the pearly gates with a smile, sweep his
of cancer. Additional testing in Kalispell hat off in greeting, reach for his parents and
confirmed the suspicion in a duct between call to his faithful dog Lady. MSN
the liver and pancreas.
Traditional treatments couldn’t be used, Max W. Salisbury died at 1 pm on Sept. 11, 2019, at
or offered poor odds with severe side effects. Health Center Northwest in Kalispell.
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