Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-04-16
WESTERN RANGE HORSES
DEMANDED FOR WAR

The European war promises to mark
the final passing of the wild horse of
the range. the disappearance of the
tucking bronco so long associated
with the west, says a Denver dispatch
Even now there are practically NO
wild horses such as once roamed the
ranges and with the inroads being
made upon the horses of the west
by the war, his half-civilized brother,
the bronco, promises to disappear
Thousands of horses have been taken
from Colorado, Wyoming and other
western states. Not only have Brit.
ish and French buyers invaded this
section, but representatives of the
italian government have combed the
country for months. During the last
few weeks an Italian buyer purchased
several hundred horses and so great
was his haste to get them to his
home country that they were sent
by express from Denver to the east
instead Of by freight. There they
were to be hurried abroad a steamer
fer Italy.
Several million dollars have been
spent for these horses for war pur.
poses. The greatest demand, of
course, is for stout, sound horses
capable OF work as cavalry mounts or
or artillery. The entire country has
been gone over two or three times
by buyers for different countries and
still the demand has not been filed.
This draining of the west of horses
means that in the rehabilitation
better breed of horse will be produc-
ed. 1t is this that sounds the death
Enell of the bronco. The govern
ment has been working for years en-.
couraging the breeding of better
horses. Stations and mares of sEan-
dard breeds draft and general pur-
pose horses have been placed
throughout the west. Their progeny
are already influencing the general
trend of development of the horses
in the sections in which the work of
the government is being centered. AS
the demand for horses to replace
those sold for war service increases,
II will be animals of better breeds
which will take their places.
Another factor having a great in
fluence is the fencing of ranches
something which was unknown in
years gone by. This ended the day
Of the wild horse and the bronco.
though given to bucking and pitch.
ing, has gradually become tanner and
more domesticated.
There was a time when 1t was not
so very difficult to find horse in the
west which no human being could
ride. That day has now gone by.
The last great horse OF this stripe
was Steamboat, which died only
this year. 1t Is claimed that no man
ever rode Steamboat" legitimately.
The greatest riders of the entire west
tried and failed, all finally being
thrown in some way or other
When the British government was
purchasing horses for use in the
DNNA "oA ~ "ao hSSSoSdIy W
bronco busters, who spent weeks bat
Ting with the prospective mounts for
British cavalrymen, before they were
conquered and sufficiently subdued
to the saddle to satisfy the govern.
ment agent. This year there is little
evidence that the British or French
are In darger of suffering casualties
through encountering the American
horses.
Constant association with man
through the years between the Boer
war and the present, instead of roam
ing over unfenced plains, has had it's
influence on the horse. The never
say die" fighting spirit OF the old
bronco In his struggle dgainst the
touch Of leather and his intense hat.
red OF man. because he was represen.
tative of enslavement to the saddle.
has slowly fickered out. Breeding
and association has brought about
the inevitable. Within a few years
II will probably be hard for even a
wild west" show manager to find
western horse which will buck con.
stantly and consistently, as though
he meant it.
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