36-foot buckaroo takes shape in Albany
A towering steel cowboy sculpture created in Albany will soon take its place along U.S. Highway 180 in Breckenridge, welcoming travelers into town with a bold display of local pride.
The 36-foot-tall sculpture of a cowboy on a bucking horse was built by Albany-based sculptor Joe Barrington. Though crafted in Shackelford County, the statue is not staying local— it was commissioned by a private Breckenridge citizen and will be installed just outside that city as a new visual landmark.
The piece is both a tribute to Breckenridge’s cowboy heritage and a nod to the school district’s buckaroo mascot. Barrington said the sculpture draws inspiration from the iconic statue that sits atop Breckenridge High School, capturing a stylized version of the region’s ranching roots.
“It is a challenge to make something static look like it has movement, but I like the posture of the rider and the bridle,” Barrington said. “The rider looks as if he is just fixing to be in trouble.”
Barrington spent about a year completing the sculpture. The intricate work on the rider’s head and hands took place inside his Red Star Studio in Donkey Flats, while the larger components—such as the horse’s body—had to be assembled outdoors. Only the final branding remains before the piece is ready for transport.
“The hands and head were the most tedious parts, along with some of the other small details,” he said. “So I did those first to get them out of the way and be able to put the time into them and make them look good.”
As the project progressed, it drew attention from curious passersby. “If eight-year-old boys had control of money, I’d sell a lot of sculptures,” Barrington joked.
The sculpture is expected to be moved in the coming weeks. The base is already being prepared in Breckenridge, and Barrington will personally haul the rider and saddle to the site. A local rock hauler will transport the horse flat for safer travel. Once installed, the sculpture will receive a final touch— a green “B” to represent Breckenridge High School.
The cowboy statue is one of several recent projects for Barrington. This summer, he created and installed a yellowhammer bird sculpture for the town of Rotan, another piece honoring a local school mascot. He’s also currently developing a prototype of steel cowboy hats for Texas Tech University’s Society of the Spurs donor program.
Looking ahead, Barrington will represent Albany next month at the Fabricator Olympics in Pennsylvania, a fabrication competition featuring 50 participants who will be tested on speed and skill across six technical stations.
“This is the first time I have ever done something like this,” he said. “But I thought it would be interesting to see how it goes and the varied experience among competitors.”
Back in Donkey Flats, residents are already wondering what sculpture might come next from Barrington’s studio— and whether the Albany Lions might someday get a massive statue of their own.
