Horse
Pronunciation:
ˌkä-lə-ˈra-(ˌ)dō ˈrān-jər
Breed Description:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse is well-suited for ranch work, all Western events, and trail and pleasure riding. Colorado Rangers did not actually originate in Colorado, but rather had their start with two stallions given to Ulysses S. Grant by the Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1878. The Colorado Ranger breed of horse (also known as the Colorado Rangerbred) is not a color-driven breed, but -- in order to qualify for registration -- the pedigree may not show paint or pinto breeding in the last five generations. Colorado Rangers come in a wide variety of color patterns -- from bays, blacks, grays and roans all the way to colorful blankets and tri-colored leopards. Some individuals have a distinctive Appaloosa coloring (leopard spots). In fact, it is estimated that one in every eight Appaloosas is a Colorado Ranger. The Colorado Ranger breed of horse generally has a small head, with a straight profile and pointy ears. Their necks are long and muscular, chests deep, and backs short. Their legs are also muscular and heavy-boned. They are athletic, with renowned "cow sense" and excellent working abilities. They also have great stamina and excel in endurance competitions.
Temperament:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse has an even, easy temperament.
Height:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse generally stands from 14.2 to 16 hands high.
Health Problems:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse has no known breed-specific health problems.
Grooming:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse requires regular grooming.
Origin:
The Colorado Ranger breed of horse traces its roots back not to Colorado, but rather to two stallions given to Ulysses S. Grant by the Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1878. These horses were a gray Arab named Leopard and a blue-gray Barb named Linden Tree. These two horses are listed in the studbooks of both the Arabian Horse Club and the Jockey Club, and they have influenced many breeds in the United States.
The two horses were first taken to Virginia, where Randolph Huntington used them as part of his efforts to develop a superior road horse. (His timing was unfortunate, given the rise of the "horseless carriage" at this time.) During the summer of 1896 -- when Leopard and Linden Tree were nearing old age -- they were lent to Ulysses Grant's old Army friend, General Colby, who crossed them on large numbers of his ranch mares in southeastern Nebraska. The resulting foals; some spotted or colored, drew the attention of Western breeders for their overall quality and attractive colors. Ira Whipple, a horeseman from eastern Colorado, procured a group of broodmares from the Colby Ranch, all sired by either Linden Tree or Leopard, as well as a black-eared white stallion named Tony, who was a double-bred grandson of Leopard.
In the early 20th century, Mike Ruby, of the Lazy J Bar Ranch, bought one of Tony's sons, a stallion named Patches, and Max, son of Waldron Leopard. He used these two stallions as the foundation sires for his breeding program. He showed the two stallions at the Denver Stock Show in 1934, and it was there that the Colorado Ranger breed of horse received its name, a reference to the fact that the horses were bred on the open range in Colorado. In order to qualify for registration as a Colorado Ranger breed of horse today, the horse's pedigree must be traceable back to either Patches or Max #2 (son of the original Max).
