Badger Mountain

          In 1925 a bay bald faced colt was born on the Willms brothers wheat ranch near Douglas, Washington. This colt was destined to be one of the most famous bucking horses in the world. When he was big enough to ride he was traded to  some neighbors, who intended to use him for a saddle horse. The young horse bucked off more than a dozen men before they decided he would only be a work horse. He liked the harness even less than a saddle so the neighbors took him back to the Willms brothers. The Willms had no use for a horse of that kind on their farm so they took him to a near by rodeo.

 

          The young bald face horse proceeded to throw every rider who mounted him.  By 1932 he had been bucking over three years and no cowboy had ever came close to riding him. Attending some of these events was a newspaper man named M. E. Hatcher. He was a friend of Leo Moomaw’s and he told Leo he’d better go take a look at this big bay horse.  At the first opportunity Leo went to the Willms brothers ranch. Henry Michel was the first to try the horse. The ride was over 3-4 jumps. Leo worked a trade for him, named him Badger and put him in the draw. The very next day he threw Henry in 3-4 jumps.

 

          The list of bronk riders who tried and failed to conquer Badger Mountain reads like a “Who’s Who” of rodeo history. Some cowboys tried him as many as ten times and failed to ride him ten times. Some on the list are: Casey Tibbs, Gene Rambo, Bill Linderman, Bill Ward,  Jack Wade, Burl Mulkey, Jerry Ambler, Buck Tiffin, Bev Connor, Guy Cash, Vic Swartz, Bob Burroughs, Jackie Cooper, Stub Bartlemay, Mose Kruger, Johnny Tubbs, Ike Roberts, Norman Stewart, Cecil Bedford,  Felix Cooper, Ole Rice, Shirley Hussey, Joe Kelsey and a great many others.

 

          By 1951 age was taking it’s toll and the great Badger Mountain was taken home to be cared for as long as he may live in peace. In May 1954 he was run into a bucking chute to check his teeth. After a few minutes in the chute he collapsed and died. Presumably his great heart failed. Badger my have preferred to end his life that way.