The Range Horse 327 



popular on ranges where good winter pasture or feed is 

 not available. Many of the smaller ranchers are breed- 

 ing range horses, but these are of better type than for- 

 merly and it is easier to find a market for them. A marked 

 change has come about in recent years in the general 

 type of range horse. Formerly, the thorough-bred and 

 standard-bred stallions were favorites on the range, due 

 to the production of saddle horses, but at present, on 

 account of the small demand for light horses, these animals 

 are not meeting with favor and heavier-boned stallions 

 are being used. This results in a more rugged type of 

 horse which for wearing ability and constitution is hard 

 to surpass. 



RANGE MAEES 



During the breeding season there are two methods 

 of handling the mares. One method is to turn them 

 loose upon the range and let them run, usually with more 

 or less herding. The other method is to turn them on 

 adjacent ranges or pastures, but to drive them to the 

 corral for breeding purposes and also to take care of the 

 colts when necessary. The latter method is becoming 

 the more general as it results in the use of a better class 

 of stallions and while as many mares may not get in foal 

 as when the stallions run loose with them, the percentage 

 of colts actually saved is larger. 



After the breeding season is over, the mares and colts 

 are usually left free to seek their own pasture and very 

 often they are not rounded up until fall as the colts are 

 usually branded before the mares are turned out. The 

 better horse-men herd their mares to some extent to keep 

 them separated from other bands and on the better pas- 

 tures. This treatment pays, as closer watch may be 



