The Bronco Buster (also The Broncho Buster), Remington's first sculpture, was copyrighted in October 1895. He adapted the subject, a cowboy breaking in a rearing horse, from his drawing Pitching Bronco, published in Harper's Weekly on April 30, 1892. The Bronco Buster became one of the most sought-after of all American statuettes, with more than 300 authorized bronze casts produced. In his quest for perfection, Remington worked on an enlarged version of his most popular sculpture in 1909. This enlarged version was modeled completely from scratch, in a much looser and broader style. In his new model, Remington succeeded in creating a sense of monumental grandeur that is not present in the smaller work. He died the day after Christmas in 1909, after casting the plaster of the enlarged version but before any bronzes were produced. The Metropolitan's cast, number 2, is one of nineteen authorized by Remington's widow, Eva, and her estate.

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