Arizona republican., 1897-09-12
BRoNCHOs MAKE A RECORD.
Two Western Horses Ridden 2,40O
 Miles in Ninety Days.


 Chicago, Sept. 11.-"No horses in the world excel the range horses of OUT western states for military pur- poses. and I think the trip just fin- ished by my COW boy friends here proves my assertion" said Dr. Will liam A. Bruett, special commissioner Of the bureau of animal industry of the department of agriculture, yester- day, referring to William and Bert Gabriel. These young men have just demonstrated that the bronchos and range horses of our plains can cover a distance of 2 400 miles in nine ty days and subsist On grass and wa ter along the route, without grain, and, more important still from mili- tary point of view, without being shod. I can say without fear of con tradiction that no other horses in the world could have mace the trip under those conditions. The route, begin ming at Sheridan, Wyo., and ending at Galena, this state, covered all kinds Of country, turf, sand, rock, clay and mud. When they entered on the last 100 miles of the journey the horses were in as good condition in every way as when they started from Wy omlng, but from Dubuque to Water 100, Iowa, the road along the Missis- sfpp1 river was either over Jagged rocks or through deep mud. The heels and frogs of the horses feet were so badly bruised that, although they could pave completed the distance to FCh1cago, teleg1'aphed the men to let the noble little animals stop at Ga aenG Had the horses been shod at SIOUX Clty, Iowa, as I telegraphed. -hHoWlng the roads over which they would have to travel to Chicago. the Pnorses would have reached here in hrst class condition Saturday. The telegram failed to reach the men and they brought the horses through nander my original instructions.
 What are the instructions"
 TO begin with the department of 1aSrlcuIture some time ago determined 20 create, if possible, a foreign de- mand for our native western horses I Q do this it was first necessary in prove the merit of these horses. par 11cularly for cavalry and military 11se- as nearly all foreign countries are now buying large numbers of horses Tor military purposes It was urged against the native American horses that they were lacking in size and endurance for that work. To answer this objection it was decided to have horses of the two types known as <fronchos and rangers make trip in company from Wyoming territory 10 Chicago, a distance of 2.5OO miles. i 10 ride these horses we happened to 1 'have just the men in the local bureau at the stock yards of the department. 1 ssVo brothers named William and AL sssrA Gabriel. They had been cow bow for years, and were thoroughly i eaarr rrHaS with the entire western f,rrw. \They were willing to accept l 6h six, Hully realizing it's hardships, 1 ssa1, on June 5 they started for Chi sea- Their instructions from the department of agriculture were to proceed to Sheridan, Wyo., select 1 1rom a ranch two horses which had never been bridled Or saddled and | Dnng them to Chicago without feed 1 a-g them any grain so long as it was possible for the horses to find graz | Ing, making the trip as quickly as possible without injuring the horses"
 Are you satisfied with the test of | The horses?"
 
 them to finish at Chicago. But that l IS my oniy regret. AS a test of en- Entrance of the western range horses F am sure the department of agricul- Eure will be more than satisfied with | the result as it demonstrates the anil nal is all that has been claimed. As 1 said before, no other horses in the world could have mafe such a trip hinder the conditions. I believe that 1 aI Will change the opinions of the | agents of foreign governments who l nave feIt that our range horses were 1 100 ngnt for military purposes I in- Ienn 10 take some of the buyers of | horses for export down to Galena and let them see the horses just as they. are after their unequalled journey,
 It Is fact not known as it should | be that the western range horse has in his veins the blood of thoraNghbred [ and standard bred Percherons. 'Clydesdaass, Mamblatonlans and other famo1f strains. Stallions of these scla1 have been sent to the ranches aI0 the result is aD increase in the size and quality of the horse. The range horses, as they are called in distinction from broncnos, range in weight from $50 to 1,150 pounds. The bronchos, which are of Spanish ori- gin, and have no improved blood in them, weigh from 7!0 to 900 pounds. The trip just made. however, shows that the broncho is equal in endur- ance to the larger horse, and Is a wonderful weight carrier, but is not as pretty as the range horse The Ifnland abroad for our western
 ses is growing, and I believe it
 l rapidly increase. One of the i'm
 ftant features possessed by the Fange horse is small, hard hoofs, which will stand the wear of paved streets GIT rough country. The range horses are more intelligent, ambitious, tractable and enduring than those