"Cookie"

"Cookie" was destined to be in bronc but it didn't turn out that way. He was a product of contractor Milo Dewitt's breeding program but was orphaned so ended up being raised by the Will Wells family. Like many horses he was traded around but ended up returning to the Wells family. When I came across him I was photographing a fall branding at the JO- in southwestern New Mexico. Abilene Wells was there day working and she had brought "Cookie" to the works.

When I completed this piece and reached out to her for more information, she shared this with me. She told that this stout little gelding had been with her awhile and that together they had headed a bunch of steers, drug a bunch of calves and he also helped her win quite a few of her first team roping buckles. "Cookie" is about 22 now and she told me that recently she had handed him down to a friend's son so he could learn to rope. She also shared that the bit is a Gordy Alderson that was handed down to her when he dad passed away, the "W W" being for Will Wells. The headstall was made by Dawn Salcito. 

It takes a tough horse to cover the rough ranching country in southeastern Arizona that Abilene calls home. This little dogie bronc ended up making one heck of a gelding and is still doing his best work with the next generation.

"Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?" Job 39: 19 NIV