Entry No. 17 — the Helena file — filed under: outdoor
Ryder Horses Metal Sculptures & the Conoco Rodeo Bull
Helena welder Bill Ryder builds life-size horses, a driftwood-and-metal elk, and a rideable rodeo bull out of scrap steel, tire and bicycle chains, old fixtures, and rescued sewing machines. The eight-foot bull parked outside the Highway 12 East Conoco has eyes that light up golden-red after dark, and locals have genuinely tried to ride it. More of his stainless-steel horses stand at the Myrna Loy Center, and one at Valley Veterinary Hospital on Montana Avenue is a known landmark.
The story
Bill Ryder is a Helena welder who looks at pile-of-junk scrap steel, bicycle chains, tire chains, and rescued sewing machines and sees animal muscle. Instead of tucking his work away in polite indoor galleries, he drops his fabrications straight into Helena's daily terrain—life-size stainless steel horses on front lawns, a metal-and-driftwood elk, and a heavy iron bull resting beside gas pumps.
The centerpiece of Ryder's public work sits parked in the asphalt lot outside the Conoco at 3122 East US-12. It is an eight-foot rodeo bull welded out of scrap metal, hunkered down right alongside Highway 12 traffic. Pull up during daylight and you can trace the mechanical guts of the build; swing by after dark and internal wiring lights up golden-red eyes that stare directly into the Montana night.
Tracking down the rest of Ryder's herd turns into a quiet scavenger hunt through town. One stainless-steel horse stands sentinel outside Valley Veterinary Hospital on Montana Avenue, while others sit on the grounds around the Myrna Loy Center or pop up on private lawns. There are no velvet ropes, signs, or ticket booths—just bare scrap metal sitting out in the open air.
What it's like
Pulling into a gas station lot to inspect folk art feels inherently absurd, which is precisely why it works. Park away from the pumps at the East US-12 Conoco and walk right up to the eight-foot iron bull. Up close, you can spot bicycle chain link woven into muscle tissue and salvaged sewing machine parts holding the steel frame together. Locals have genuinely attempted to climb onto the bull for a ride, though you do so at your own risk against cold steel edges. Time your visit for dusk so you can catch the golden-red eye lamps turning on against the neon glow of the station canopy.
The move: Make a self-guided scavenger hunt of Ryder's horses around town, ending at the Conoco bull after dark to catch its glowing red eyes.
- 📍 Helena
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Rodeo bull at Conoco, 3122 E US-12, Helena, MT 59601 (more horses scattered across town lawns)
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Giant Buffalo Skull ("Herd Bull") — Pair Ryder's scrap-metal rodeo bull with another oversized steel beast across town: a 15-foot sheet-metal buffalo skull sitting on the museum lawn.
- Chip Clawson Sculpture Garden (Ode to Edward James) — Keep the DIY outdoor art tour going by visiting Chip Clawson's private surrealist ceramic garden hidden in a Helena yard.
- The Bullwhacker Statue — Trade Ryder's scrap-iron bull for traditional bronze on the Last Chance Gulch mall, where a whip-cracking bullwhacker drives invisible oxen.
- Old Fire Tower (Guardian of the Gulch) — After checking out the glowing eyes at the Conoco, drive downtown to see the 1874 wooden watchtower perched over the old mining gulch.
Good to know
Where is the rodeo bull located?
It is parked outside the Conoco gas station at 3122 E US-12 on the east side of Helena.
Where else can you spot Bill Ryder's metal horse sculptures?
You can find his stainless-steel horses outside Valley Veterinary Hospital at 1450 Montana Avenue, around the Myrna Loy Center, and scattered across various private lawns throughout Helena.
What materials are the sculptures made from?
Ryder constructs his pieces out of scrap steel, tire chains, bicycle chains, old fixtures, rescued sewing machines, and in one instance, driftwood combined with metal.
Is there any cost to see the bull or horses?
No, all of the outdoor sculptures are visible from public sidewalks, parking lots, or roadside pull-offs for free.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · signaturemontana.com · gasbuddy.com · livelytimes.com
last checked: 2026-06-24