The Range Horse 329 
of stallions has been to keep the stallions up and herd 
the mares, bringing in the ones which are in heat. This 
results in a smaller percentage of the mares getting in 
foal but a larger number of the colts that are dropped 
are saved, due to the better care which the mares are 
receiving. Another benefit of this practice is that the 
stallions may tend to more mares and especially the mares 
which one wishes him to serve. When the stallions are 
loose on the range, it is an all too common practice to drive 
mares to those that are known to be the best colt-pro- 
ducers, and therefore the better stallions are very often 
overworked and injured. 
After the breeding season is over, the range stallion 
that is kept up is handled very similarly to the stallion 
in other places. Usually a large paddock or field is suit- 
ably fenced so that he may run in it and keep in good 
physical condition. If he is a light-boned stallion or one 
that will stand the range conditions, he is usually turned 
loose with the mares and allowed to roam with them. 
This method will often catch some of the mares that have 
failed to get in foal earlier in the year. It will also insure 
that the stallion receives plenty of exercise, which is not 
always the case when kept in close quarters. 
GROWING STOCK 
Different conditions of range necessitate different 
methods of growing the younger stock. The common 
practice, however, is to let the stock run, furnishing them 
with the hay that is absolutely necessary in the winter 
and gradually letting them attain their growth. Under 
this practice, the horses at four or five years of age will 
usually not weigh over 1000 to 1200 pounds. On the 
