Insert Photos

Buck and his brother, Smokie, in front of the horse trailer they took on the road. The house in the background is 3219 North Fourth Street in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

 

Buck and Smokie practicing their rope tricks.

 

Smokie on his first horse, Running Doe.

 

Ace Brannaman in Idaho, supervising his sons’ roping practice.

 

Seven-year-old Buck practicing rope tricks in his Whitehall, Montana, home.

 

At a performance for the Special Olympics: Ace, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Buck, an unidentified contestant, and Smokie.

 

Buck and his pal Sampson the bull. Buck taught Sampson to do almost anything a horse could—including lower his head for bridling.

 

Buck and Smokie at the Shirleys’ ranch.

 

Buck’s graduation day from Harrison High School. Buck is flanked by Smokie and his aunt, Anne Annis (left) and his foster parents Forrest and Betsy Shirley (right).

 

Buck on his horse Billy, doing a Texas Skip in Three Forks, Montana, 1980.

 

Buck meets the locals on a Friendship Force tour of Japan in 1980.

 

Buck at the Madison River Cattle Company. It was here that Buck’s life as a horseman truly began.

 

Buck works Bif near Monida Pass, Montana. Bif was a difficult horse to start, but a close kinship developed between the two.

 

Although Buck’s venture into the game of polo was mainly inspired by the attraction of warm Florida weather, he nevertheless rose to the occasion.

 

No matter where Buck traveled, the stories of his rope tricks traveled with him. In West Palm Beach, Buck swings a big loop over a crowd of dignitaries, including author George Plimpton.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Buck Brannaman at their wedding at the Cold Springs Ranch, with Betsy Shirley.

 

Buck and Mary on the big day with daughters Lauren and Kristin.

 

Buck holding daughter Reata.

 

Buck during an interview with ABC in Australia. Features on Buck’s techniques were widely carried on television in that country.

 

During one of Buck’s clinic trips to Australia he was asked if he had ever saddled anything other than a horse. This picture says it all.

 

Buck takes a break at his Sheridan, Wyoming, ranch during the filming of one of his instructional videos on roping.

 

Buck at a clinic in Eagle, Colorado, working with a young horse to untrack or “free up” his hindquarters. This maneuver helps the horse understand turning when asked by the rider.

 

The moment of “hooking on,” when horse and man connect. Here the horse chooses to come closer to Buck as Buck moves away. It is as if they are linked by an invisible thread.

 

A horse’s first ride is about establishing comfort with the rider’s presence and about direction. Here Buck asks the horse to turn by moving away from his lariat.

 

Buck’s mission is giving horses the best possible start in life. Here he visits with a mare and foal on his ranch.

 

Buck introduces Robert Redford to the correct use of the flag and to Rambo, Buck’s new horse who would ultimately play Redford’s horse “Rimrock” in the film The Horse Whisperer.