CHAPTER XVII 



TEXAS COW PONIES AND STUD HORSE LUCK 



A LARGE number of Texas cow outfits have 

 had their notions about cow-pony crosses, the 

 word "pony" being applied to all sizes of horses, and 

 many breeders have succeeded in producing some 

 good ones ; but, in the main, cow horse breeding has 

 been a pure case of "scrambled eggs." It would seem 

 to be hopeless to try to classify or try to get any- 

 thing definite or rational in the way of distinct lines 

 of breeding beyond the basis which can usually be 

 traced to pure Spanish origin in Texas breeding. I 

 am told that Colorado and the northwestern states 

 trace their cow horses to the Mustang. Texas draws 

 many cow horses from Colorado, but they are not 

 liked so well as the Texas-bred horse by Texas cow 

 people. My own investigations deal with Texas- 

 bred horses. 



Many ranch outfits do not breed horses, but depend 

 upon purchases, as needed, usually picking up odd 

 young horses, here and there, as anything suitable 

 is found. In the main, however, they buy bunches 

 from a trader or commission some one to put up a 

 band under certain specifications. These outfits do 

 not often have so satisfactory a ramuda as outfits 

 raising their own horses. 



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