564 AMERICAN HORSES. 



equipped to break their young stock thoroughly and do 

 not brand them, such horses seU as natives, and strictly 

 on their merits. It is safe to state that the character 

 and disposition of the range horse and his individuality 

 are being greatly improved by the enlightened policy of 

 the more progressive ranchmen. His temper is being 

 bettered by closer communication with man and better 

 methods of handling, and the standard of breeding is 



Fig. 560. — Texas cob (15 hands). 



"being raised by the use of large numbers of pure-bred 

 sires that have been brought n from the Eastern States 

 and Europe. At the same time, the wonderful quality 

 and endurance of the native stock have been retained, 

 and, however we may look upon the range horse personally, 

 we must admit that the foundation is there for a very 

 excellent horse stock. It cannot be said that even a large 

 part of the range horses sold on the western markets 

 show much evidence of breeding. The work of improve- 



