HORSE-RAISING IN THE WEST. 147 



Some think it desirable to begin with a high class of 

 mares, worth $100 per head, and if the horse-grower 

 has the capital and is in a hurry to realize, undoubtedly 

 that would be best. However, it would require $150,- 

 000 or $200,000 to start a first-class horse-ranch of 

 that kind, and few men have so much capital to put 

 into any business. 



As in the case of a cross between Durham bulls and 

 Texas cows, the stallion leaves so strong an impress on 

 his colts that the herd rapidly improves, and it can be 

 worked up to any required standard. If I were going 

 into horse-breeding I would at first take a low grade 

 of mares. Many stockmen handle herds of 10,000 

 head of cattle, and there would be no more trouble in 

 managing that number of horses, representing a capital 

 of $1,500,000. One thousand mares and 200 studs 

 would soon raise such a herd. I doubt if it would pay 

 to engage in horse-breeding on the Plains in a very 

 small way, unless in connection with some business, as 

 in Kansas or Nebraska, where the mares are utilized, 

 and made to pay for the labor, care, expense, and 

 trouble of keeping them. Cattle-growers can use a 

 good many mares to advantage in herding, and make 

 them add to the profits of the herd by breeding them 

 every year to high-graded studs. I do not know of 

 any one who has as yet tried mule-breeding on the 

 Plains, but undoubtedly it could be made profitable, 

 and the government demand for army mules would 

 furnish a steady and reliable market. Mules are the 

 hardiest and most easily herded of all domestic ani- 

 mals. Of all the countries out West I have seen, the 



