I first met Charlie when his adoptive parents, Veryl Goodnight and Roger Brooks flew him into Santa Fe, New Mexico in the spring of 2000. Charlie had been abandoned by his herd shortly after his birth on the Medicine Lodge Ranch in Idaho and Veryl and Roger had been asked by the Park Ranger to care for Charlie until he was mature enough to take care of himself. Charlie was named after Veryl's great, great, great uncle, Charles Goodnight. I was fortunate enough to participate in the care and feeding of what soon would become a 2,000 lb force of natural energy. From bottle feeding to daily exercise in the arena, I watched Charlie grow into something I knew was very special. Once when I was trying to lead him back into his pen, Charlie chased me through the garden trying to get to the carrot I was holding in my hand. (Read about that eventful January night.)

Charlie’s life was cut short when he was placed with another herd in Taos, NM. Preferring humans to his own kind, he injured his neck trying to tear apart a fence searching for a familiar face.

It was impossible not to become attached to Charlie, my friend. I painted him up close and personal in Charlie and again in My Friend Charlie, you'll find him on the prairie where I always imagined him being.

For more information about Charlie, visit Veryl Goodnights web site.