Colorado Ranger Horse Breed Guide: Characteristics, Health & Nutrition

The Colorado Ranger is an American horse breed originating from the high plains of Colorado. Often described as the “using horse” of the high plains, Rangerbreds are versatile horses with a unique history.

Colorado Ranger bloodlines trace back to horses that were gifted to Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War General and 18th president of the United States.

Today, the Colorado Ranger Horse Breed Association helps owners discover the heritage behind their beloved Rangerbred horses. Only horses that directly descend from breed’s foundation sires are eligible for registration as Colorado Rangers.

This breed profile will review the history, characteristics, health problems, and nutritional needs of the Colorado Ranger horse breed. Keep reading to learn more about feeding and caring for Colorado Ranger Horses.

Colorado Ranger Horse History

Colorado Rangers have a rich history that connects them to several cultures and prominent figures of American history. While not as well-known as other breeds developed in the Western United States, these horses belong to the oldest Western horse breed registry still in existence today.

Origin

After serving two terms as the U.S. President, General Ulysses S. Grant embarked on a world tour that took him to various countries, including Turkey in 1878. While visiting Turkey, Grant received two stallions from a Turkish Sultan as a gift. These stallions included an Arabian named Leopard and a Barb named Linden Tree. ^[1]

After they arrived in Virginia the following year, General Grant entrusted Leopard and Linden Tree to renowned horseman Randolph Huntington. The stallions primarily covered mares in Huntington’s breeding program.

In 1894, General Leonard Wright Colby convinced his old comrade to bring the stallions to his Nebraska ranch for a single breeding season. The stallions significantly influenced Colby’s herd of cow horses, and demand grew throughout the region for Colby horses. ^[1]

A.C. Whipple, a respected rancher from Colorado, acquired several mares descended from the two stallions. The spotted stallion he purchased, named Tony, was a double-bred Leopard grandson.

The Whipples developed a line breeding program with these horses to concentrate traits passed on to Colby’s horses from the Barb and Arabian stallions. Although the Colorado breeders were uninterested in colour, the resulting offspring often had spotted coat patterns. ^[2]

Tony’s descendent Patches became one of the foundation sires of the Colorado Ranger breed. Colorado breeder Mike Ruby owned Patches and a half-Arabian spotted stallion named Max, the second foundation sire of the Rangerbred line.

Historic Use

Huntington used Grant’s Barb and Arabian stallions to improve his breeding program for light harness horses. He named the resulting horses Americo Arabs, but the introduction of the automobile led to the dispersal of his herd in 1906. ^[1]

Leopard and Linden Tree’s descendants produced by the Colby Ranch worked as cow horses. The breed’s stamina, good disposition, and strong working ability allowed them to excel in their jobs and they gained popularity in cattle operations throughout the high plains.

Ruby displayed his stallions at the Denver Stock Show to thousands of visitors in 1934. The horses subsequently became known as Colorado Ranger Horses to reflect their birthplace on the range conditions of eastern Colorado. ^[2]

Unlike other ranchers at the time, Mike Ruby kept written records of his breeding operation and offspring produced by the horses he purchased from the Colbys. These records would provide the foundation of the new breed registry.

Breed Registry

Founded by Mike Ruby in 1935, the Colorado Ranger Horse Association (CRHA) maintains the official registry for the breed. The CRHA initially limited membership to 50 individuals, which led many Rangerbred owners to register spotted horses with The Appaloosa Horse Club instead.

After lifting membership limits in 1964, registration was made open to all horses that descend directly from Max or Patches. Today, the organization offers free pedigree analysis for Appaloosa owners to determine if their horses belong to the lost generation of Colorado Rangers.

Unlike the APHC, there are no breed colour requirements. Only horses that meet pedigree requirements are considered Rangerbreds. However, outcrossing is allowed with breeds from approved external registries, including the APHC, AQHA, AHA, and Jockey Club. ^[3]

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Breed Characteristics

Ranchers initially bred ancestors of Colorado Rangers for their abilities as cow horses and suitability for life on the range. These traits make the breed a versatile mount for pleasure riders today.

Conformation

Colorado Ranger Horses vary in height from 14.2 to over 16 hands. Most Rangerbreds have a refined stock horse type that reflects their Arabian, Barb, and cow-horse ancestry.

Unlike Arabians, the breed should have a straight facial profile. Long necks, deep chests, sloping shoulders, muscular hindquarters, and a short back are ideal.

To prevent extremes in height and type, the CRHA does not allow the registration of horses with known Draft or Pony parentage within five generations. ^[3]

Colours

The CRHA does not impose color restrictions for registration eligibility. However, horses with documented Pinto or Paint Horse lineage within the past five generations are ineligible for registration.

Many Colorado Rangers have the same spotted colour characteristics as Appaloosas. But any solid colour is also acceptable. Colours seen in the breed include:

• Bay: A reddish-brown body with black mane, tail, and lower legs.
• Chestnut: A solid reddish-brown coat without any black.
• Black: A solid black coat throughout.
• Gray: A coat that starts dark and lightens with age, often resulting in a white or flecked appearance in older horses.
• Roan: A mix of colored and white hairs, which can be blue roan (black and white hairs), red roan (chestnut and white hairs), or bay roan.
• Dun: A diluted coat color with a dorsal stripe down the center of the back.
• Grulla (or Grullo): A slate-gray color with black points and often a black dorsal stripe.
• Palomino: A golden-yellow coat with a white or cream mane and tail.
• Buckskin: A yellowish or gold coat with black points (mane, tail, and lower legs).
• Appaloosa Patterns: Includes leopard spots, snowflakes, or blankets.

Temperament

Colorado Rangers are athletic horses with good dispositions and cow sense. Their versatility, intelligence, and bold personalities make them easy to train.

The breed is a good option for beginner riders who want an uncomplicated, reliable, all-around mount. However, personalities can vary between individual horses of any breed.

Disciplines

Rangerbreds are known as “using horses” because they can do nearly anything. Many still work as cow horses on ranching operations. But most are versatile pleasure horses that enjoy participating in multiple disciplines with their owners.

Colorado Rangers compete in both Western and English disciplines. Their cow sense makes them excellent rodeo horses. But the breed can also excel in hunt seat, jumping, western pleasure, low-level dressage, endurance, and competitive trail riding.

Colorado Ranger Horse Health

The Colorado Ranger’s ancestors were hardy horses, bred to survive harsh conditions on the high plains and stay sound doing intense ranch work. However, Rangerbreds are susceptible to genetic diseases and health problems found in other Western horse breeds.

Genetic Diseases

Spotted coat patterns in Rangerbreds arise from the same leopard complex gene (LP) found in Appaloosas. Unfortunately, this gene is also associated with an increased risk of genetic diseases that affect eye health. ^[4]

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a progressive eye condition characterized by recurrent uveal tract inflammation. It can damage the eye and impair vision. Studies show that horses with the LP gene are eight times more likely to develop ERU. ^[5]

Research suggests genetic and environmental risk factors influence the onset and progression of ERU. While the exact progression of the disease is unclear, affected horses may have a hypersensitivity to pathogens known to trigger uveitis, such as the bacteria leptospira. ^[6]

Colorado Rangers who inherit the LP mutation from both parents also have an elevated risk of congenital stationary night blindness. This inherited disorder causes poor vision in low-light conditions. Affected horses have normal vision in daylight, but struggle to see adequately in the dark. ^[7] At nighttime, affected horses may become more skittish or hesitant, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.

Health Problems

Rangerbreds with Appaloosa characteristics sometimes have areas of pink skin around their eyes and nose. This skin is more sensitive to irritation and sunburn. UV protection and fly masks can help protect these areas from the sun and environmental irritants.

Health problems in this breed can also be influenced by the horse’s direct parentage. Outcrossing with registered Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses is permitted. Each of these breeds carries its own set of predispositions to particular health conditions.

For example, Colorado Rangers with Thoroughbred blood may more hoof problems than other Rangerbreds. Certain Quarter Horse bloodlines are known to be associated with muscle disorders. ^[8]

Using the 5-panel genetic test designed for Quarter Horses and related breeds, you can determine whether your Colorado Ranger carries genes associated with specific inherited diseases.

Care and Management

Colorado Rangers are an adaptable breed. Their hardy nature, stemming from their historical roots in the challenging terrains of the American West, means they can adjust to various environments.

However, like all horses, they benefit from quality basic care that meets their physical and behavioural needs.

Work with your veterinarian and other equine health practitioners to develop a regular schedule of preventative care including:

• Veterinary Visits: Schedule regular veterinary visits to keep an eye on your horse’s health and address any concerns early.
• Vaccinations: Follow a veterinarian-recommended vaccination plan to protect your horse from infectious diseases.
• Dental Care: Regular dental check-ups and teeth floating can prevent common dental issues and support healthy chewing and digestion.
• Parasite Management: Keep your horse safe from internal parasites by following an appropriate deworming plan.
• Hoof Care: All horses need routine farrier care to maintain their hooves. Regular trimming helps prevent common hoof problems to maintain foot balance and keep your Colorado Ranger sound.
• Grooming: Daily grooming sessions are one of the best ways to support skin and coat health in all horses. Owners can also use grooming time to check their horses for minor wounds or skin irritations. Consider applying sunscreen as part of your Rangerbred’s grooming routine to protect pink skin.

Rangerbreds with vision problems may need extra precautions in their living space to keep them safe. Horses affected by night blindness need to be kept in a well-lit environment with daytime turnout to prevent horses from injuring themselves on fencing.

Adequate barn ventilation also helps reduce airborne particles, which can irritate the eyes and lead to inflammation in horses with ERU. These horses may also need to wear fly masks to protect their eyes. ^[9]

Colorado Ranger Horse Nutrition

Proper nutrition is important to promote optimal health in Colorado Ranger Horses. Prioritize feeding a balanced forage-based diet that provides essential nutrients to support hoof growth, eye health, and coat quality.

Weight Maintenance

Most Colorado Ranger Horses are average keepers, meaning that they should maintain an ideal weight on a well-balanced diet. Unlike “hard keepers” who require more calories to sustain their weight or “easy keepers” who can gain weight on minimal feed, average keepers don’t demand as close monitoring of their body condition.

However, Colorado Ranger outcrosses may inherit different metabolic traits from other breeds. For example, Rangerbreds with Quarter Horse and Arabian parentage are often easy keepers. These horses may be predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome and experience easy weight gain.

Conversely, Colorado Rangers with Thoroughbred blood may be hard keepers, requiring more calories to maintain their body weight. ^[10]

In Colorado Rangers, poor body condition can indicate digestive issues, such as hindgut dysfunction or gastric ulcers. Horses engaged in competition have a high risk of gastric ulcers, which can contribute to weight loss.

If you notice unexpected changes in your horse’s body condition score, work with your veterinarian and an equine nutritionist to address underlying health concerns and balance your horse’s diet. ^[11]

Sample Diet

The following sample diet is based on a 900 lb (410 kg) mature Colorado Ranger horse at maintenance (not exercising).

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Forage

All equine diets should start with forage. Horses need about 2% of their body weight in forage daily, which equals to around 18 pounds (8.2 kg) of hay for a 900 pound (410 kg) Rangerbred.

Medium-quality, low-starch, low-sugar grass hay is a good choice for most Colorado Rangers. Horses prone to weight gain and metabolic problems may need lower-calorie, mature grass hay to maintain a healthy weight. To help maintain low insulin levels, choose a hay with less than 10% hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC) which are starch plus sugar (ESC).

Alfalfa is a high-protein legume hay frequently fed to performance horses who need additional calories. However, some studies show this forage can induce photosensitivity, so it may not be appropriate for Rangerbreds with sensitive skin. ^[14]

To support your horse’s digestive health and prevent gastric ulcers, it’s important to avoid long periods without access to forage. Using a slow feeder not only prevents horses from consuming hay too quickly but can also ensure prolonged access to forage. ^[12]

Horses evolved to graze continuously throughout the day. But living outside on lush pasture grass may not be appropriate for Colorado Rangers with metabolic health concerns. Consider using a grazing muzzle or turning horses out on dry lots to limit the amount of high-starch, high-sugar grass they consume. ^[13]

Feeding Recommendations

Horses fed solely forage are often deficient in key nutrients that are required in the equine diet. Feeding a vitamin and mineral supplement can help balance the diet without adding extra starch, unlike grain-based feeds.

If your Colorado Ranger struggles to maintain weight on a forage-only diet, consider switching to a higher-calorie forage before turning to commercial concentrates. Studies show that high-starch grains adversely affect equine metabolic and digestive health. ^[12]

For exercising horses with higher energy requirements, you can also feed fat supplements as a safe source of cool calories. Using a fat source rich in omega-3 fatty acids provides additional benefits for healthy regulation of inflammation. ^[15]

All horses need to have consistent access to fresh, clean water and plain loose salt to prevent dehydration. Horses require salt to maintain essential physiological functions, including nerve and muscle function. Salt intake also stimulates thirst and helps to replenish electrolytes lost in sweat.

Our nutritionists recommend adding 1 – 2 ounces of plain salt to your horse’s daily ration. Providing plain loose salt is often more effective than relying solely on a salt block or lick for your horse’s sodium needs.

Remember to discuss any changes to your Rangerbred’s diet with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist.

Nutritional Supplements

Providing your Colorado Ranger horse with a balanced diet that contains adequate vitamins and minerals is crucial for their overall health. Once you have balanced their diet, you may want to consider adding supplements tailored to your horse’s specific needs and performance objectives.

• W-3 Oil is an omega-3 fatty acid supplement that provides high amounts of microalgal DHA along with natural Vitamin E. Feeding W-3 Oil can support antioxidant defenses, joint health, immune function and eye health in Rangerbreds.
• Visceral+ is a comprehensive gut supplement that is designed to meet the unique needs of exercising horses. Visceral+ is formulated with probiotics, yeast, herbs, minerals, and amino acids to support the entire digestive tract, from stomach to hindgut.
• Spriulina is a nutrient-dense supplement that is used to support respiratory health, immune function, and skin and coat health in horses. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is packed with essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

A balanced diet impacts every aspect of your horse’s health. Submit your Colorado Ranger Horse’s diet for a free evaluation to see if they’re getting everything they need to thrive.