THE WESTERN COW PONY 
T HE early cow pony or range horse of the western 
plains and mountains was the same type of horse 
as that used by the Indians. He, too, was descended 
from the horses first brought to this country by the 
Spaniards in their conquest of Mexico and in later ex¬ 
peditions, and was also known as the Mustang. 
When the Spaniards established their large ranchos 
in California and along the Mexican border, the Mus¬ 
tangs were used as cow ponies. They were hardy, 
sure-footed, little horses, capable of great endurance. 
It was believed at first that the blood horse, or 
horse of Thoroughbred type, had no place in the cow 
camps or on the trails of the Far West. However, this 
idea has been outgrown, and today the range horse is 
usually part Thoroughbred. 
His size, speed, and appearance have been im¬ 
proved, although it would be difficult to breed a har¬ 
dier, gamier horse than the original Mustang. The 
typical range horse commonly used by the cattleman 
of today stands 15 hands or more, and is black, bay, 
brown, chestnut, grey, or pinto in color. 
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