About Us

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Welcome to Cook Quarter Horses! We are located in Ryndon,NV - just outside of Elko, Nevada on I-80. Cary & Merrilee Cook along with their daughter Sadie & her husband Mike Ricks enjoy every aspect of the horse business. We have been involved in the industry for over 30 years. From a small start in Idaho we have developed an outstanding group of talented horses over the years.

From a very young age Sadie has been horseback and has learned invaluable insight into the workings of a horse. She was lucky enough to be raised on a working cattle and horse operation in Tendoy, Idaho. And she quickly credits that upbringing amongst ranching horsemen, dedicated 4H leaders and a patient mom & dad for her success.

Sadie competed successfully in Horse 4H, the Central Idaho Horse Show Assoc., Little Britches Rodeo, High School Rodeo and The Intermountain Pro Rodeo Assoc. As a youngster she would do anything that involved a horse -including becoming Lemhi County Rodeo Princess and Rodeo Queen. Her senior year Sadie captured the Idaho High School Rodeo Dist. 1 All Around Cowgirl Title, her second straight goat tying championship, and her third straight barrel racing championship. She placed in the top four and qualified for the State Finals in all five events--Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Breakaway Roping, Team Roping, Cow Cutting, and Goat Tying. After High School, Sadie continued to train horses and also worked part time at Blue Cross Vet Clinic for 5 years before deciding to devote all of her time to training.

Sadie credits much of her current success to the countless hours she has spent riding with her good friend and mentor Sue Smith. Sadie met Sue in the fall of 1994 when she purchased NHR Perfect Rumbo, a 4 year old mare, from her. Sadie hauled Rumbo to many Futurities with Sue, gaining a great deal of knowledge and insight into training and competing at another level. Sadie went on to have much success with Rumbo winning multiple rodeos and barrel races. She placed 11th in the 4th go at the American West Finals in Reno, NV in 2001 and picked up a check in 3 of the 4 rounds against 1200 runners. In 2001, Sadie won the ImPRA All-Around Cowgirl title with the help of Rumbo, ending up 5th in the barrel racing for the year. And her breakaway horse Saint Poco Rey, a gelding she purchased as a 4 year old and trained in breakaway. At the finals, Sadie won the 1st go and won 2nd in the average, ending up 4th for the year. The next year injuries sidelined these two outstanding horses. Rumbo was retired to broodmare. Poco eventually recovered and in 2005 Sadie and Poco hit the rodeo road and again qualified for the ImPRA Finals. At the finals, Sadie won the 2nd go round and ended up 5th in the year end standings.

In 2005, Sadie and her husband Mike Ricks moved to Elko, NV, where together they purchased 5 acres establishing their operation in a new location. In 2008, Sadie was the year end Nevada AW4D Open Champion with the help of The New Answer and Keeper Flying, both of which she trained, and also Ricky the Red Streak. Nowdays, Sadie stays busy training and competing on her own horses as well as training a few futurity colts. She has also produced multiple barrel, breakaway and goat tying horses that her clients have gone on to be quite successful with.

She never outgrew her passion for her horses and enjoys passing her knowledge on to her students. Sadie believes in teaching with positive re-enforcement and coaching students on the mental aspects of competing as well as improving their horsemanship.

Sadie and Mike spend their winter months in Arizona where Sadie continues to train horses, rope and barrel race. Mike has been a huge help to her-is a great partner-and is very supportive. He has started team roping and enjoys working with the horses.

Cary Cook was raised in Salmon, ID. He was always the main horse support for Merrilee & Sadie. Since he retired as Broker of Cook Real Estate he has become seriously involved in team roping and has enjoyed much success in the last few years. In 2008, Cary won the #10 USTRC Silver Bit Classic, winning his first saddle. That year he also placed at the Idaho/Nevada ACTRA Finals which allowed him to compete at the ACTRA Finals in Reno, NV. He was the ACTRA Arizona Year end Champion in 2009 and recently won the 2010 Arizona ACTRA Finals #4 saddle. He is currently competing on Baby Likes to Rocket, Merrilee’s old barrel horse. Proving that our horses excel in multiple events.

Merrilee has been involved with horses all her life. In 1987, she was in a horrible accident on a barrel horse that left her with a broken back. She spent much of Sadies childhood as chute help, 4H leader, horse show & rodeo mom, groom, and driver. Until she purchased Baby Likes to Rocket from Sue Smith in 1999. Sadie started Rocket in breakaway roping for her mom. And then Rocket gave Merrilee the confidence and trust she needed to start barrel racing again. Merrilee won her first saddle on Rocket at the NBHA Western National in Ogden Ut. Winning the 2D Senior Championship. Merrilee and Rocket went on to win the year end AW4D Idaho Senior Championship in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2007, she won the target saddle at the Fall Finale in Gooding, ID on another colt she purchased from Sue Smith, Keen Cash Machine. Keen was killed by lightening in 2009. Merrilee is currently competing on Dashers Wonder and enjoys hauling down the road barrel racing with her friends and daughter. She appreciates working beside Sadie, Cary & Mike with the horses. Merrilee also likes working with the younger children and watching them progress and gain confidence with their horses. Cary and Merrilee spend the fall & winter roping , barrel racing, and just working the ranch horses in Arizona.

Here at Cook Quarter Horses, we help riders overcome obstacles and fears, build their confidence, and become better horsemen. We enjoy helping people find a horse that allows them reach the goals they set. Stop by the ranch or give us a call anytime, we love visiting with old friends and new friends alike.