Colorado Ranger
Encyclopedia
The Colorado Ranger is a horse breed
named for its Colorado High Plains origins in the United States of America.
by the Sultan Abdul Hamid of the Ottoman Empire) was purchased from the Whipple Ranch. Max (a son of the renowned Waldron Leopard) came from the Governor Oliver Shoup ranch at Colorado Springs, Colorado
.
They may only contain the bloodlines
of Appaloosa
, Arabian Horse
, Thoroughbred
or American Quarter Horse
breeds. There are no color requirements, except that a horse cannot contain paint
or pinto
bloodlines or markings. A Colorado Ranger horse also cannot be of pony
or draft horse
breeding.
Appaloosas are the largest source for Colorado Ranger horse bloodlines. Approximately one in every eight Appaloosas can trace their bloodlines back to one of the founding two Colorado Ranger stallion
s. Despite appearances, the Rangerbred is not a type of Appaloosa. It has its own unique heritage. However, many Rangerbreds are double-registered with the Appaloosa Horse Clubs of both the United States and Canada. There is a one in ten chance that an Appaloosa is a "lost" Rangerbred.
The Colorado Ranger Horse Association has no color preference. Some CRHA-registered horses display Appaloosa characteristics and coloration and some do not.
in the United States
, having been founded in 1938.
This breed was developed by Mike Ruby, who kept meticulous records on every offspring he bred. These records include foaling dates, coat patterns and complete pedigrees. The handwritten ledgers that Ruby made are still in existence today and all CRHA horses are still recorded by hand in these ledgers. Modern files are also kept.
One of the great triumphs that came to Mike Ruby during his colorful lifetime was the personal invitation that was extended to him in 1934 by the National Western Stock Show Commission in Denver to bring a pair of his Colorado Ranger stallions to the National Western for exhibition in the Coliseum. The horses chosen (Leopard and Fox) created a distinct sensation and caught the approving eye of the Colorado State University faculty members who urged the adoption of the name, Colorado Rangers - Colorado horses bred under range conditions. Thus the breed was officially named.
Ruby founded the CRHA in 1935 with charter in 1938 and was its first president until his death. The Association is still registering horses with the blood of Patches and Max in their lineage. The Home office has moved many times over the past 50 plus years. The CRHA is now officed in Pennsylvania. The CRHA holds an annual National Show and moves its location for the convenience of its members. During the weekend event the members not only enjoy a two day show with almost 70 classes, but they can attend the National membership meeting, the Banquet and the CRHA auction. Besides these activities, the members enjoy just plain good camaraderie. The CRHA is a family of members who enjoy their horses and the company of other Rangerbred people. This week-end event is not only a Show but a family reunion of sorts.
Horse breed
Horse breed is a broad term with no clear consensus as to definition, but most commonly refers to selectively bred populations of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a very broad sense to define landrace animals, or...
named for its Colorado High Plains origins in the United States of America.
Characteristics
The Colorado Ranger Horse Association (CRHA) registers horses that can be traced back to one of the two stallions and which also meet additional registration requirements. The breed traces back to one of the two foundation stallions: Patches #1Z and/or Max #2Z. Patches (a direct descendant of Leopard and Linden Tree - horses given to Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
by the Sultan Abdul Hamid of the Ottoman Empire) was purchased from the Whipple Ranch. Max (a son of the renowned Waldron Leopard) came from the Governor Oliver Shoup ranch at Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
.
They may only contain the bloodlines
Heredity
Heredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
of Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
, Arabian Horse
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
, Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
or American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
breeds. There are no color requirements, except that a horse cannot contain paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
or pinto
Pinto
-General:*Conspiracy of the Pintos, a rebellion against Portuguese rule in Goa, India in 1787*Ford Pinto , a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market...
bloodlines or markings. A Colorado Ranger horse also cannot be of pony
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
or draft horse
Draft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
breeding.
Appaloosas are the largest source for Colorado Ranger horse bloodlines. Approximately one in every eight Appaloosas can trace their bloodlines back to one of the founding two Colorado Ranger stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
s. Despite appearances, the Rangerbred is not a type of Appaloosa. It has its own unique heritage. However, many Rangerbreds are double-registered with the Appaloosa Horse Clubs of both the United States and Canada. There is a one in ten chance that an Appaloosa is a "lost" Rangerbred.
The Colorado Ranger Horse Association has no color preference. Some CRHA-registered horses display Appaloosa characteristics and coloration and some do not.
Breed history
The Colorado Ranger Horse Association is one of the oldest horse registriesBreed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, having been founded in 1938.
This breed was developed by Mike Ruby, who kept meticulous records on every offspring he bred. These records include foaling dates, coat patterns and complete pedigrees. The handwritten ledgers that Ruby made are still in existence today and all CRHA horses are still recorded by hand in these ledgers. Modern files are also kept.
One of the great triumphs that came to Mike Ruby during his colorful lifetime was the personal invitation that was extended to him in 1934 by the National Western Stock Show Commission in Denver to bring a pair of his Colorado Ranger stallions to the National Western for exhibition in the Coliseum. The horses chosen (Leopard and Fox) created a distinct sensation and caught the approving eye of the Colorado State University faculty members who urged the adoption of the name, Colorado Rangers - Colorado horses bred under range conditions. Thus the breed was officially named.
Ruby founded the CRHA in 1935 with charter in 1938 and was its first president until his death. The Association is still registering horses with the blood of Patches and Max in their lineage. The Home office has moved many times over the past 50 plus years. The CRHA is now officed in Pennsylvania. The CRHA holds an annual National Show and moves its location for the convenience of its members. During the weekend event the members not only enjoy a two day show with almost 70 classes, but they can attend the National membership meeting, the Banquet and the CRHA auction. Besides these activities, the members enjoy just plain good camaraderie. The CRHA is a family of members who enjoy their horses and the company of other Rangerbred people. This week-end event is not only a Show but a family reunion of sorts.