It’s another thing to see the cattle dog riding the steer down the street.
But that’s what happens nearly twice a day in Mancos, thanks to steer trainer and wagon builder William Stone. The unusual sight always draws onlookers and picture takers. In fact, Crash, the 1-year-old dark-colored Jersey steer and Charlie, the 3-year-old dog, have become celebrities in Mancos – a town that boasts a population of about 1,300 and has the motto “Where the west still lives.”
Stone is known as the guy in Mancos who takes his dog for a walk while it rides a steer, but he’s also a Mancos Town Board member, owner of Mancos Livery and a professional wagon builder.
He says he gets the most amount of attention when he brings out Crash and Charlie.
“When we go out, everyone gives him treats,” Stone said of Crash, who loves people. Crash turned 1 on Dec. 26. He was named by Stone’s 4-year-old granddaughter, who called him Crash Boom.
Stone said both Charlie and Crash love the attention.
“They will actually pose for photographs,” Stone said.
But the docile steer, which takes treats, poses for photographs, pulls wagons and even lets people ride on him, didn’t happen overnight.
It started before Crash was born.
“I picked his mom based on her temperament. She had to be calm,” Stone said.
And Charlie, who is actually a female border collie, Australian shepherd and red heeler mix, has always had good balance.
“She has an uncanny sense of balance,” Stone said. “She has rode a motorcycle since she was 4 months old. I call her smart, spazy and spazier.”
Charlie was there when Crash was born, and they’d often play together.
And Crash thinks he’s human, Stone said.
“He doesn’t know any better. Humans are his herd,” Stone said.
Stone said he thinks Charlie feels a bit superior when he rides the steer.
Recently, Crash was practicing something Stone called a “keg run.” Leah Starr, 19, rode the steer around some beer kegs set up like barrels.
Starr said Stone walks Crash, because he lives in town, twice a day and Starr rides him once a day.
Starr says she is used to getting her picture taken.
“We are probably unique,” she said.
She hopes to train Crash to jump when he gets older.
Starr said she likes to cuddle with Crash.
“At first, I wanted to name him T-bone. But he grew on me. Now he likes to cuddle and play. He is just so warm,” she said.
Riding a steer takes some getting used to.
“They don’t move like a horse,” Stone said. “They are kind of hard to get in time with, but other than that, they are so loose.”
Stone hopes that he and Starr can be ambassadors to just how well you can train cows.
“I don’t think people realize what they can do,” Stone said. “Plus, who can resist those eyes,” he said, looking into Crash’s dark brown eyes.
Favorite treats?
“One time, someone gave him an oatmeal cookie from Absolute Bakery. He loves anything from the Absolute Bakery,” Stone said.
“And if it has jelly on top, even better,” Starr said.
Another time a lady rolled down her window and gave Crash some liquorice.
“Now every time someone has their window rolled down, he has to stick his head inside and look for liquorice,” Stone said.
Stone and Starr have big plans for Crash.
“People will stop in the middle of Highway 160 to take his photo,” Stone said.
In a town “Where the west still lives,” one steer is earning a lot of attention.
“We will see what one cow does for the economy,” Stone said.