Colorado Ranger

The Colorado Ranger, or Rangerbred horse, has a well-documented and interesting history, dating back to 1878 when General U.S. Grant made a visit to turkey. he was presented with two first-class stallions - one Arabian called Leopard and one Barb called Linden tree. They were shipped to Virginia and lent to one of the great horsemen of the time, Randolph Huntingdon. Huntingdon had developed a type of light harness trotting horse and believed the stallions would improve his stock. Huntingdon used Leopard and Linden Tree for 14 years, creating the Americo-Arab, but sadly, in 1906, due to financial ruin, his stock was broken up and sold.

The next chapter in Linden Tree and Leopard's life began in 1894 when they went to General Colby's ranch in Nebraska. Here the two elderly stallions stood at stud for one season and gave rise to a crop of foals with distinct characteristics. The stallions were used on various local mares and the progeny proved its worth in a ranch and cow working capacity. The new breed became known as the Colorado Ranger. In 1918, a spotted Barb stallion called Spotte was introduced to the breed and many Colorado Rangers today can be traced back to him. Another important early stallion was Max, also spotted, and he left his mark on all his progeny.

There are many different coat colors exhibited within the breed, many of which are spotted, and coat coloring is not restricted by the breed association. To be registered, the Colorado Ranger has to meet specific conformation and pedigree requirements, and the only outside blood that is allowed to be used is Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Appaloosa, and Luistano. Typically, the Ranger has an excellent temperament and disposition, and, as well as being very good cow-workers, also make first-class riding horses.

In appearance they have attractive heads with alert and mobile ears. The neck should be of good length and very muscular, they are deep and wide through the chest, have rounded barrel, and a compact back. The hindquarters are extremely powerful and the overall impression of the breed is a solid, muscular, small, 'power house' type. They stand at between 14.2 hh and 16 hh.

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