Golden Oldie

Justin Davis’ Hammer is soaking up retirement with the third generation of Davis boys.

The roping world outside of Texas first got to know Justin Davis when he and Cole Davison cracked out at their first Bob Feist Invitational in 2010, and Davis did so aboard his blond bomber, then-18year-old Hammer. Hammer would help Davis attract the attention of none other than Clay O’Brien Cooper, and the Fisherranch-bred horse would set the wheels in motion for Davis’ career to take off.

Justin’s dad, Tommy, bought the gelding from family friend Gary Thornton and used him as a ranch horse before starting his heading career.

“They’d ranched, run barrels and tried calf roping a little bit on him,” Davis said. “He was a run-off when he was younger. There were times I could pull as hard as I wanted to, but it was his program and I wasn’t going to change his mind. All the top guys wanted to buy him back then. Charles Pogue, Speed Williams, Tee Woolman. My dad was riding him, and he wouldn’t sell him. My dad came to me and said he was really good, and a lot of guys wanted him, but he was too much horse for him. So I started heading and rodeoing. He’s the reason I even started heading.”