Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-02-21


the Montana horse, written by Robert
Vaughn, OF Great Falls, the we'll
known ranch owner and breeder of
fine horses. We reprint it from our
annual number in order that it may
receive still wider circulation. 1t will
be seen that Mr.. Vaughn is fully in
accord with Commissioner Colman
regarding the merits of the Montana
horse:
~ do not think there is, as you ask
my opinion. country better adapted
to breed and raise horses than Mon.
tana, and | do not know of any as
good. ] have been raising horses in
Montana for the last fifteen years.
During this time the mares and young
stock have been out on the range
winter and summer. ] never have had
to bring any in to feed, even during the
severest winters. Two feet of snow
does not prevent the horse from get
ting to the grass. He will paw with
one foot and then with the other, and
the colder it is the more diligently will
he paw. In this way he keeps warm,
gets plenty to eat and is always in
good condition. From the middle OF
May until the middle of August keep
the mares on herd, bringing them home
OF evenings, where there are conven-
lent yards to handle them during the
breeding season. The percentage of
colts secured from large bands, is
from 80 To 81. When the breeding
season Is over The band is again turned
upon the range and receive lit lie or no
attention until the following spring,
when three men in three days will
gather the herd and bring them home.
About March I st ! bring in the young
colts to be halter-broken and | give
them II little oats and all the hay they
can eat. Ia six weeks they will be
gentle. When two and three years
old they readily remember this first
lesson.
My horses have the very best of
feet and legs and great breathing and
lung power. ] have horses have been
working in harness and under the
saddle for IL years. They are now
perfectly sound and without blemish
and have hardly ever been stabbed.
The well bred Montana horse is the
boldest and most fearless ! ever saw
History says the horses raised on the
steepest mount aims of Media, and the
Persian horse, raised under like cir
cUInstances, are the best cava1ry
horses ever produced. believe that
the Montana horse, bred in this high
altitude, raised on the hills and noun
tain sides, breathing the pure noun
tain air. feeding on the rich grasses of
our hills and mountain slopes and
drinking the purest OF spring or brook
water, will in time he their equal if
not superior. There is no element
lacking to produce here the highest
and best type of the horse, and already
the Montana horse is becoming famous
for his power and endurance.
'Of late years many imported draft
horses have been brought to Monta ana
for breeding purposes and. they could
not he brought to better country to
improve the breed. You hardly see
one of these ponderOus animals that
is sound. Their feet and legs are es-
pecially weak. Now, | believe that
IN few generations, with judicious
breeding i'm Montana, these defects will
he entirely overcome. The day will
come when we can produce a better
Clyde horse than they can in Scotland
n better English draft than they can
in England. and better French horse
than they can in France. We may not
produce as large "A horse, but it will be
"a better one. The ideal Montana
horse, weighing 800 pounds, will do
more work and draw heavier load
than the 1000 pound horse of Scot
land and England. believe the time
will come when these countries will be
importing horses from Montana for
breeding purposes. What we need
now is more good practical breeders
with good stock to begin with.
ALREADY some OF our thoroughbred
colts have broken records and gained
distinguished hOnors on the eastern
turf and our young trotters are COM
ing TO the front fast. The day will
come when the well bred Montana
horse will be eagerly sought for"