NWBHC Equinealities, Colorado Rangerbred

Colorado Ranger

Influences	Barb / Arabian stallions with Range-bred mares
Characteristics	Stock Horse conformation 15.3 to 16.2 hands Mane & Tail are full and flowing especially the Appaloosa colored horses
Colors	All colors vividly and variously marked
Odd Facts	Started in 1894

Overview:

The Colorado Ranger Bred horse developed through the crossing of Gen. US Grant's stallions from a Turkish Sultan's gift. In 1878 the Sultan presented Grant with a desert bred Arabian named Leopard and a Barb named Linden Tree. Both stallions are listed in the stud books of the Arabian Horse Registry and the Jockey Club in America.

The horses were first used to start a new breed of light harness horse, but with the coming of the 'horseless carriage' it fell through. They were moved to Nebraska and bred to native mares on the Colby Ranch. A new type of versatile horse resulted with the reputation of a 'good using horse with lots of cow sense.'

The horses were introduced to Colorado through a group of mares and stallions purchased from the ranch. The stallion was a double-bred son of Leopard, and mares all sired by either Leopard or Linden Tree.

Early in the 1900s, a Mike Ruby developed a great interest in these horses. He acquired Patches, a son from Colby Ranch and Max, a halo-spotted son out of the Colorado stallion and an Arabian mare. As his herd grew, Mr Ruby kept meticulous hand written records of every mare, stallion and offspring, which are now preserved as part of the Colorado Ranger Horse Association corporate records.

In 1934 this new breed of horse was officially Colorado Rangers, horses originating in Colorado bred and raised under range condition. Verbal reference to those "ranger bred" horses led to it being more commonly known as Rangerbreds, although the official name remains, Colorado Rangers. The breed registry was started in 1935.

This is not a color breed. There is no color requirement or restriction for registration. They can be solid bays, browns, black, sorrels, chestnuts, greys and roans, or colorful blankets and leopards. However, there are strict conditions for registration based on conformation and pedigree. The horse MUST be able to trace its pedigree to one of the two foundation sires of the breed, Patches #1Z and Max #2Z. Some outcrosses that are allowed include Thoroughbred, Appaloosa, Quarter Horse, Arabian and Ara-Appaloosa. Horses with known pony, draft, Pinto or Paint parentage within the last five generations are ineligible for registration.

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Published April 1999 in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (ma)

© 1997-2018 NW Breyer Horse Club
& Refiner of Gold Creations
Equinealities in place since 1997,
Section in place 2001,
Updated 3/3/2018