Colorado Ranger: Horse Breed Characteristics

At first glance, the Colorado Ranger (or Rangerbred) looks like an Appaloosa. Although an Appaloosa is a good breed to be if one is a horse, there are slight differences between the Colorado Ranger and the modern Appaloosa. For one thing, modern Appaloosas tend to either look like an Appaloosa-colored Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse. Colorado Rangers tend to be more like a Mustang in body shape.

The Colorado Ranger Horse Association's studbook is still open while the Appaloosa Horse Club's is closed. According to the CRHA, about 1 in 8 Appaloosas has a Colorado Ranger in their pedigree. Colorado Rangers are allowed to be crossed with Appaloosa, AraAppaloosas, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians and Lusitanos.

Brief History

When Ulysses S. Grant visited Sultan Abdul Hamid in Turkey in 1878, the Sultan gave Grant two stallions - one a grey Siglavy Gidran Arab (Leopard) and the other a blue roan Barb (Linden Tree). They arrived in America in 1879. Neither of the stallions were spotted. They became the basis of a breed that never took off - the Americo-Arab. They were also used on mares of many breeds.

For the summer of 1896, Grant leased his two stallions to an old Army buddy of his, General L.W. Colby, who owned a ranch in Nebraska. Some of the ranch mares sent to the two stallions were the source of the Appaloosa spots. Although the stallions spent one summer in Nebraska, the foals outshone any ranch horses in the state.

Colorado rancher Ira Whipple bought a herd of mares and stallion named Tony from General Colby. Tony had black ears, but was otherwise white. Nowadays, we would call the color a few spot leopard pattern. The horses produced were superior ranch horses. In 1918, a pure Barb named Spotte was added and the stallion Max was born. Max was very loudly spotted. Max and another stallion named Patches became the foundation sires of the breed.

General Appearance

Thankfully, the Colorado Ranger was bred mostly for performance and intelligence and not for fashion or for color. Although many Colorado Rangers are spotted, many are solid-colored, with or without white markings. In spotted individuals, the hooves are often striped. The only colors not allowed are pinto patterns. Individuals built like draft horses or like ponies are not allowed to be registered, either.

Colorado Rangers are medium-sized horses, averaging 15 hands in height. They have a broad forehead that tapers down relatively narrow muzzle. The preferred profile of the head is straight. They have deep chests, strong hindquarters and a low-set tail. Their manes and tails are often longer and thicker than that of an Appaloosa.

These horses are noted for their sure-footedness, their athleticism and their incredible cow sense. They do very well as trail horses or horses for tourists to ride.

References:

"International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds." Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.

"Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America." Judith Dutson. Storey Publishing; 2005.

Wikipedia. "Colorado Ranger." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Ranger

Colorado ranger Horse Assocaition. "CRHA History." http://www.coloradoranger.com/History.html