The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-03-12
FALLS TRIBUNE.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH u. 1890.
SEMI-WEEKLY
THE MONTANA HORSE.

Hon. Mr.. Colman in his paper, the Ru-
raj World, corrects the Horseman, which
said that the most available portions OF
Montana for raising horses are the Gala
tin, Deer Lodge, Bitter Root and Prickly
Pear valleys. Mr.. Colman says:
THE Rural World endorses all that the
Horseman says about the ad%aptability of
ing the locations adapted to this business
it is quite in error, for nearly the whole
state where heritage is plentiful is we'll
adapted to the production of horses. We
have travelled quite extensively in Mon
tana with our eyes open, and we do not
believe that state affords a better location
than throughout the Milk river valley for
raising horses. In the vicinity Of Chi
nook and near the Bear Paw mountains
is the best locality in the state for that
business. Chinook is on the st. Paul s.
Manitoba railroad, about sixty miles east
of Great Falls. 1t is a new town near
great coal fields and has an important fu-
ture."
wherever heritage is plentiful ~througout
the state, horses can be raised in perfec-
ton. This has been demonstrated by
Robert Vaughn in the Sun river valley,
where he raised some of the best horses
foaled in Montana. Last year Mr.. Vaughn
wrote for us an article on this subject,
which merits re perusal now that the
Montana horse is again under discussion.
Mr.. Vaughn said:
l do not think t'ere is, as you ask nv
opinion, a country better adapted to breed
and raise horse than Montana, and | do
not know of any as good. l have been
raising horses in Montana for the last Is
years. During this time the mares and
young stock have been out on the range
winter and summer. l never have had to
bring any in to feed, even during the
severest winters. Two feet of snow does
not prevent the horse from getting 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
middle of May until the middle of
August l keep the mares on herd, bring
ing them home of evenings, where there
are convenient yards to handle them dur
ing the breeding season. The percentage
Of colts secured, from large bands, is from
80 to 50. When the breeding season is
the band is again turned upon the
and receive little or no attention
Until the following spring, when three
men In three days will gather the herd
bring them home. About March LIST
bring in the young colts to be halter.
broken and | give them a little oats and
vi tie hay they can eat. In six weeks
hey will be gentle. When two and three
1ears old they readily remember this first
essen.
My horses have the very best of feet
md legs and great breathing and lung
over. have horses l have been work
ng in harness and under the saddle for
2 years. They are now perfectly sound
nd without a blemish and have harly
yer been stabbed. The well bred Mon.
ana horse is the boldest and most fearless
ever saw. History says the horses rails
q on the steepest mountains of Media,
nd the Persian horse, raised under like
circumstances, are the best cavalry horses
yer produced. | believe that the Mon.
ana horse, bred in this high altitude,
aised on the hills and mountain sides,
'reathing the pure mountain air. feeding
n the rich grasses of our hills and noun
ain slopes and drinking the purest of
priHg or brook water, will in time be
heir equal if not superior. There is no
lacking to produce here the high
and best type of the horse, and already
Montana horse Is becoming famous
or his power and endurance.
MIR. Vaughn has since sold his ranch to
Thomas Couch of Butte, who.
Ike himself, admires a good horse and
Ugh grade cattle. Under the spirited man I
cement of Captain Couch and his able
Mr.. Weber, the Sun river g
anch is stocked with good horses and S
'urnham cattle, all of which are thriv-
lg because of the rich grass, pure water
nd invigorating air which there abound. |
lT would he interesting tn know what