The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-13
IMPROVING RANGE HORSES.
Pure Bred sires Displaeing the Bron-
cho and Cayuse.

Chicago DrOEerS' JOurnal)
The usual idea associated with west
ern branded horses is the mustang,
cayuse or broncho, which decade ago
were distributed through the western
states in car lots and trainlOad con-
signments. They were small, difficult
TO break and never filed d public want
IN the national industries. They were
offered everywhere in almost countless
mum bers, until their value fell below
the cost Of transportation, feed. COM
missions ard incidental expenses Of
sale. Rancnmen VINO were burdened
with myriads Of these londescript
horses, with no demand for them. be-
gan a campaign of determination.
Canneries were equipped and thou
sands OF them found a sale in the mar
kets Of the old world as horse beef.
. Their ranks were decimated by wolves
and mountain lions. and they were
ruthless membranes Of the ranges.
The process Of depletion has nearly
exterminated the cdyuse which fea-
/ tuTed the markets a decade ago.
While the western ranges are ad-
mirably adapted to producing excelleI&
horses, Stockers realize that only clas-
Slled grades are now profitable 70
/ breed. The almost record prices Of
cattle and sheep has created demand
Z for the ranges that has accelerated the
eNtirpatiOn of the old-time western
/ broncho. While horses are still being
! bred in vast numbers in Montana. Ida
ho, Utah, Wyoming. Oregon and Wash
ington, the types conform TO the com
merci2l market horse Imported coach
stations, registered trOtting- bred sires
and the best imported draft stations
& are now being used by all the progress
sive breeders. and the horses from the
ranges now approximate in quality the
equines of domestic breeding. IN
qusstionably the soil, water, grasses.
climate and natural topography of the
western range country is admirably
/ adapted 10 raising horses of the best
/ type, possessing heavy bone, good feet
and extra constitutional vigor. The
/ experience Of farmers in the Missis-
slppi valley who have used the grade
draft animals Of the ranges is emf
nently favora bic to the ranch system
I OF breeding.
In the grade draft animal of semi
domestic breeding the results attained
I at some of the experimental stations
/ indicate that the best age for ranchers
/ TO dispose of their surplus is in the
yearling or 2-year-old form. The
youngsters are then easily handled
and become thoroughly domestcated
Ds the time they reach maturity and
/ make docile and efficient workers as
/ states bred hoes. II the industry
were conducted on the basis OF mar
keting the f3ais in their yeaTling or
/ --year-Old forms. il would Obviate the
/ necessity of branding the animals. and
I eastern handlers who matu-ed and IN
isned 5he horses for the market would
/ practically be al bic to get the prices
1 OF domestC-breG horses OF their class
/ III the wholesale markets. Such a
/ system Of breeding would enable the
/ western Tanchmen to keep more brood
I mares, ana as his products acquired 2
/ reputation among consumers his sur
/ Plus would command strong prices. A
| Few extensive ranchmen own large
/ farms n the east. where quarters have
| been specially fitted up for breaking
/ range horses. But experiments demon
/ strate that eastern dealers and con-
/ sumers prefer the western horse when
] matured amid the environments BY
/ which It is TO be surrounded during
/ It's natural service. II ranchmen could
/ dispose Of yeaTling and 2-year-Old fOals
/ around the normal value Of domestic
| bred animals Of the same breed, size
| and quality, there ought TO be large
I profits IN the range horse industry.