Puddles is not much for socializing.

The 12-year-old sorrel gelding is more of a lone wolf in the pasture who doesn’t care about having friends around.

However, if another horse needs emotional support, Puddles will be there. Grudgingly.

And being loved on? That’s for others.

But sometimes owner Molly Salmond can’t help herself.

“I force it once in a while because he’s probably one of my favorite horses I’ve ever had,” said the Choteau cowgirl.

There was plenty of hugging this season as the pair were seven-time winners on the Mountain Health Co-op Tour.

Salmond and Puddles lead the breakaway roping standings heading into the 50th Annual NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

Salmond is the defending breakaway roping champion. She also leads the all-around cowgirl standings.

For their success, Puddles was selected the 2025 Bill Parker breakaway roping horse of the year for the second straight time.

Other repeat winners were Friday Nite Headline, ridden by barrel racer Lisa Warfield of Helena and Annie, owned by Belgrade’s Bentz and Brooks Bolich for junior breakaway roping.

The other Bill Parker Horse of the Year winners for 2025 are: Leroy, tie-down roping, Tim Bagnell, Polson; Blevins, steer wrestling, Jhet Murphy, Helena; Bucking Nightmare, team roping heading, Shawn Bird, Cut Bank; Sadie, team roping heeling, Luke Murphy, Helena; Frosty Sugar Peppy, junior barrel racing, Chaney Akin, Cody, Wyoming.

Bill Parker is a former Northern Rodeo Association multi-time champion and the only Montana cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping and team roping. He died in 2016.

Salmond and Puddles had 10 top-four finishes this summer, including times of 1.8 seconds at Three Forks and 1.9 at Helmville. The 1.8 is the fastest time of the year.

Salmond purchased Puddles from Tanya Getten when the horse was five.

“I mainly wanted to buy him in hopes of being a barrel horse because that is what he is mainly bred to do with his father being Famous Bugs,” Salmond said. “He did OK in barrels but he truly shined in the roping due to the fact he stops so hard.

“That is probably his best and notably quality about him, his ability to stop so hard. Hence, that’s the main reason why I can be one-second.”

But that ability to stop abruptly can be a double-edged sword, according to the owner.

“He can be a bit of a turkey sometimes and over anticipate me throwing and put the brakes on before I have completed my throw,” continued Salmond. “Therefore, his best quality can be his downfall at times.

“Although, we adjust for that in our next run and make up for it.”

The fast-roping pair also won at Bozeman, Big Timber, Polson, Harlowton and Eureka. In 2024, Salmond and Puddles won Boulder with a time of 1.6 seconds.

At last year’s Finals, the two placed in the first and third rounds and were second in the average allowing Salmond to climb from second to first in the final standings.

“He took my roping to the next level and I owe much of my success to him,” said Salmond.