Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-09-08
MERITS OF RANGE HORSES.


tiers of depressed prices and a great
many others have found their way to
foreign markets in cans, and it is need
less OF say that there are many more,
both in range territory and in farming
sections as we'll, that are better suited
to go to market in this form than in
any other. This class, however, doe
not fifty represent the horse breeding
industry of either locality
Horse breeding on the range has
lately been given a new impetus,
mainly by the encouraging outlook for
better conditions and incidentally by
the severe test of depressed prices re-
sultins in a rigid application of the law
of the survival of the fitteSt. The
manager OF one of Wyoming's largest
ranches told me that during that time
he culled out 500 head from their herd
to be disposed of at any price, and
if they could not be sold they were to
be shot. This same ranch has now
about two thousand head of horses
and a better average lot of draft mares
than can be found on the farms of the
eading stock-producing states, and
only the best class of pure bred stall
lions of the various breeds are used;
and what is true of this ranch applies
to a number of others that are being
intelligently and systematically man
aged. One ranch has made an i'm
portation of twenty stations from
Europe this season. Only the best
pure bred sires are used in these breed
ing operations, and size and quality
are the main consideration in sfelec-
ton. This applies to both mares and
stations. Many have become accus-
toned to look upon the range horse
as being bred from small, inferior
mares but little removed from the
brOncho type. This is altogether er-
roneoUs under present conditions.
great many large, well-formed draft
mares weighing HOO to 1000 pounds
NAV be seen roaming over the plains
with colts by their sides sired by stall
lions weighing LOO to 1900 pounds,
and a corresponding development may
be found in the mares used in breeding
coachers and roadsters.
Horse breeding on the range has
many advantages. In the first place
if is regarded as the best and least
hazardous of range stock breeding. In
times: of severe storm, when heavy los
ses of cattle and sheep occur, the
ranchman has but little anxiety or un-
easiness about his horses, and the per-
centage of loss from this cause IS only
nominal Where horses or cattle or
sheep are combined on the same ranch,
as is generally the case, the cattle and
sheep always get the benefit of any
hav or any other feed held in reserve
for carrying young stock over the Will
fer. This is owing to the fact that the
horses and colts are better able to shift
for themselves. The high altitude, the
rare and eNhilirating atmosphere, and
the clear, sparkling water of the gravel
bedded streams or mountain sides com
bine to make favorable conditions for
developing horses of superior excel
lence and quality. This is particularly
noticeable in weIl-formed, clean limbs
and good feet, unusually free from
blemishes 1t is also claimed and 1 be
lieve with good ground, that these
horses are remarkable for their lung
power and endurance. The surround
ings and environment all tend to pro
duce a horse of marked vigor and
stamina. and combined with this we
now find on all of the best ranches
well-directed efforts in the line of care
full selection and good breeding.
The greater part of the range terri
tory is now fenced in large tracts of
land. and the horses that range there
are divided into small herds of several
hundred head. according to breed. quail
ity and type, or the purpose for which
they are kept; and in most cases stall
lions suited to each bunch are turned
in with them, although some are kept
up and the mares brought in for breed
ing The colts and young stock are
generally kept separate from the brood
mares. 1t seems almost incredible that
under these conditions, with the mares
Sh
or any feed except that afforded by
the comparatively barren prairie, an
annual increase of so to 80 per cent.
of foals should be obtained, but this Is
said to be reliable rate of increase
under these conditions.
1t is true, however, that the range
horse is compelled to endure many
hardships and the range-bred colt is
early Injured to poverty as a matter of
necessity. 1t cannot be otherwise
where colts barely six months old are
obliged to go into winter without shell
ter and with no means of subsistence
except winter-cured buffalo grass, part
of the time covered with snow, and
such nourishment as the dam may sup
ply under similar conditions and at
the same time growing another colt. |
The first winter is a critical time with |
any colt and particularly so with range |
bred colts obliged to exist under these |
conditions. 1t cannot be questioned |
hut that these colts are given a backsef |
from which they never fully recover. I
and the normal growth and develop |
ment of the horse is materially inter
fered with. The ranchmen recognize |
this and are planning to increase the |
feed supply and feed all young
stock more literally. In this connec,
ton ii is also of interest to know what !
selected, we'll bred range colts
will do when properly sheltered aid
grain fed in the agricultural states
This work has been taken up by the
Iowa experiment station with range
sheep and cattle and similar work with
colts will be inaugurated during the
winter. These colts will be
we'll and put onto grass the
following season and given ordinary
arm treatment thereafter until ready
or market, and a complete account Of
I'll items of expense will be kept.
The brand, although an economic
necessity and safeguard, is a menace to
he selling value of the horse Ranch
nen have already abandoned the large,
brands that covered Il quar-
er of a side and have substituted one
bout an inch to an inch and half in
diameter, used on the cheek where il {
5 mainly covered by the cheek piece {
f the halter or bride, and in some
asses only an indentffication mark is
ser between the front legs. where 1t
annot be observed. The colts obtain