Our founder, Jonnie Jonckowski, has a documentary about her life on Montana PBS called Jonnie: The life of professional bull riding Montana legend Jonnie Jonckowski!
It is now available to watch for free for the next 6 weeks.
https://watch.montanapbs.org/show/jonnie/
You can check it out right now at the link above, on pbs.org or on the PBS App, where it will be free to view for the next 6 weeks. After that, it will become part of PBS Passport, which just means a Montana PBS membership will be required to view it. More info at jonnie-film.org/
About Our Jonnie:
Jonnie Jonckowski’s life has taken her from Olympic ambitions to world championship rodeo arenas—and eventually to a place where rescued animals and people in need can find comfort together. Along the way, she has faced devastating injuries, challenged longstanding barriers and repeatedly found the strength to begin again. The Montana PBS documentary *Jonnie* gives viewers an opportunity to meet the extraordinary woman whose determination and generous heart are the foundation of Angel Horses.
Her love of horses began long before the championship buckles. Growing up in Billings, Jonnie spent childhood summers working on a family friend’s ranch near Baker, Montana. At just nine years old, she helped move a herd of 90 cattle, spending a long day horseback and arriving after dark. Those early ranch experiences gave her a lasting connection to horses and the cowgirl way of life. Her first horse was a Welsh pony, which she initially kept in her family’s backyard in Billings—until the neighbors decided that arrangement had lasted long enough!
Jonnie also showed tremendous promise as a track-and-field athlete. As a college competitor, she pursued the dream of qualifying for the Olympics in the pentathlon. A serious back injury ended that ambition, bringing a difficult recovery and forcing her to reconsider the future she had worked so hard to achieve. Eventually, she found another outlet for her competitive drive: rodeo.
Bull riding demanded strength, balance, quick reactions and a willingness to face danger. It also required Jonnie to contend with a sport in which opportunities for women were limited. She committed herself to training and rode with the one-handed technique used by male competitors. Her goal was to develop the skill to succeed at the highest level, even when others questioned whether a woman belonged in the arena.
That determination carried her to the Professional Women’s Rodeo Association world bull riding championship in 1986 and a second world title in 1988. She also finished as reserve champion five times. Behind those accomplishments were years of travel, practice, injuries and the persistent effort to find places where women could compete.
Her first world championship came at an especially painful cost. After a bull stepped on her leg during the championship competition, Jonnie reached the chutes on crutches and needed help getting onto her final bull. Despite the injury, she completed the ride she needed to win. The account offers a striking glimpse of the resolve that defined her career, as well as the very real physical toll of the sport.
Jonnie’s influence extended beyond her own rides. She worked to create opportunities for other women in rough stock events, campaigning to bring women’s bull and bronc riding back to major rodeos. Her efforts helped bring women riders to Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1988 and the Pendleton Round-Up in 1991, following decades of absence from those events. Each appearance gave audiences another chance to see what these cowgirls could do.
In 1992, Jonnie became the first woman to compete in the men’s World Bull Riding Championship, returning again in 1993. Her achievements earned lasting recognition: induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1991, the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2024 and the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2025. Together, those honors recognize a career that helped broaden the possibilities for women in rodeo.
The documentary also looks beyond the public accomplishments. Its filmmakers explore a life marked by serious injuries, financial hardship and personal heartbreak, alongside Jonnie’s continuing commitment to animals and her community. Understanding those struggles adds depth to the story of the champion whose name appeared on rodeo programs. It also helps viewers appreciate how much she has carried while continuing to care for others.
In 1998, Jonnie founded Angel Horses, beginning at her own home. The organization grew from her belief in the comfort animals can offer people who are hurting, lonely or facing difficult circumstances. In 2017, Angel Horses purchased a larger property in west Billings, providing more room for that work to continue.
Today, our rescued horses and donkeys have a meaningful place to live out their lives. Some have experienced neglect or abuse; others have lost a home because of age or their owners’ changing circumstances. Here, they receive care and become part of a welcoming environment for seniors, veterans, cancer patients and caregivers, at-risk youth and children with special needs. Brushing a horse, spending time outdoors or sharing a quiet moment with an animal can offer a simple, personal connection. It’s a win-win for both animal and human.
Jonnie knows firsthand how illness can change a person’s life. In 2003, a tumor in her head required multiple surgeries and depleted her financial security. Her Christian faith remains central to the purpose of Angel Horses, where caring for animals and remembering neighbors in need are closely connected. Those convictions are reflected in the attention she gives to both the animals and the people who visit.
The work has brought its own formidable challenges. The documentary follows Jonnie caring for horses and confronting the damage caused by flooding, showing how much effort it takes to sustain the place she has built. It also reveals the importance of the people who step forward to help. Angel Horses carries her vision, supported by a community willing to share in the work.
For those of us at Angel Horses, this film is an opportunity to share more of the story behind our founder. Viewers will see an accomplished athlete, a determined advocate and a woman who continues to put her energy into helping others. We hope her story encourages people to learn more about Angel Horses, meet the animals and consider becoming part of the work through volunteering or support.
Jonnie’s championship years are an extraordinary part of her life. The care she offers today gives that story another enduring chapter—one written in the everyday work of feeding, welcoming, listening and making room for someone who needs a little kindness.