Bobby Brooks Kramer- Renowned Montana Cowgirl
Bobby Brooks Kramer, a nationally renowned cowgirl who was one of the early women to ride rodeo broncs for prize money, died of natural causes in Billings, Montana at the age of 91. in January 2005. In 2000, she was inducted into The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame at Fort Worth, Texas. She grew up on a ranch as the daughter of the Prairie County Sheriff and spent her life in the wide-open spaces of Montana. In the summer of 2004 the Western Heritage Center in Billings featured a photo exhibit titled " Bobby Brooks Kramer: A Montana Legend." She has also been featured in a pair of documentaries, " I ' ll Ride That Horse " and " The Last Stronghold." Mrs. Kramer, showed her American Quarter Horse Association gelding, Red, at ninety years of age, and won one of four highpoint awards for riders 17 and older at the Billings Saddle Club, where she was a lifetime member.
Bobby Brooks Kramer grew up in Garfield County in Montana gathering and breaking wild range horses and riding broncs in rodeos. For six decades, Bobby has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the horse industry in Montana. Riding since she was three, Bobby has carried on the ranching traditions of her parents and grandparents. She and her husband formed the Hanging Diamond A Horse Ranch after both pursued notable rodeo careers. Bobby produced award-winning horses in cutting, trail, reining and pleasure riding. http:// www. cowgirl. net / HallofFameHonorees / Kramer, Bobby. html
18,000 Miles in Nine Years on Horseback
Bernice Ende, known to many as Lady Long Rider was camping at Big Medicine down the road in Hot Springs, Montana with her two horses a twelve year old Fjord and a five year old Percheron / Fjord cross. Bernice has been riding thousands of miles over the last nine years, eighteen thousand to be exact.
Her first year, 2005, she did two thousand miles on horse back, zigzagging across the west only stopping to sleep with a tent and bed roll, on her way to the southwestern states.
Over the years she has made her way across parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona ' s Highway 66 and along the Oregon coast.
She will be the first one to tell you she has no clue how it all started. A DVD she sells documents the first ten thousand miles. Her first horse was a Tennessee Walker, and she ' s taken two dogs along at different times. This year she is on no set route visiting the trails and byways of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Bernice depends upon the kindness of others for her food and spent last winter in Trego, Montana. Five months of not riding was rough on her. A former ballet teacher it was her walk and presence that attracted my attention. If you are interested in this amazing woman ' s long rides go to her website at: www. endeofthetrail. com
The West Old & New Page 13
Long Rider Bernice Ende visited Hot Springs in the middle of June. Photograph by S. F. Roberts