The Colorado Ranger Horse is a distinctive breed registry in that the requirements of the registry include the direct lineage of the horse to be registered to one of the two founding stallions of the type.
All registered Colorado Ranger Horses, typically known as Rangers, can be linked to either Max #2 or Patches #1, the two recognized sires most influential in developing the breed.
All colors are permissible in the Colorado Ranger registry, with Appaloosa marking been typical in most horses but not a requirement of the registry.
Mares can be outcrossed with horses from approved registries that include the Arabian Horse Club, the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Jockey Club, the Appaloosa Horse Club and some other international and nationally recognized horse clubs and breeders associations. The offspring are known as Rangerbred horses. Pintos and paints are not approved for outcrossing with the Colorado Ranger horse.
In 1894 General Colby persuaded General Grant to lend him two stallions General Grant had received as a gift from the Sultan of Turkey in 1878. One stallion, named Leopard was Arabian and the other was a Barb named Linden Tree. These stallions were bred with the mares of the Colby ranch for one season, resulting in a generation of Arab/Barb crossed foals with native mustang and Iberian bred horses.
The Colorado Ranger Horse Association was formed in 1935. The horses were named Colorado for the state and Ranger indicating the horses were born and bred under open rangeland conditions. The first Colorado Rangers were exhibited at the Denver Stock show in 1934.
The original registry was limited to 50 members, which meant that a lot of horses that were bred outside of the 50 member groups could not be registered. The cap on the registry was lifted in 1964, and allowed horses to be registered provided they met all criteria.
About 90% of all the horses registered with the Colorado Ranger Horse Association are also registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club. Many are champions in both registries and the clubs tend to work together rather than to compete for horse registration.
Koshari's Flash, a registered Colorado Ranger and Appaloosa won the Reserve Grand Champion Award in the Appaloosa National Competition at show jumping and eventing. He was also the Grand Champion at Training Level for eventing the previous year.
Although primarily initially used as a stock horse, the Colorado Ranger is ideal as a dressage horse, show jumping, hunting, eventing and driving horse. They are often seen as gymkhana and rodeo horses and can be ridden by adults and children of all ages and ability levels. The variety of the Colorado Ranger allows riders to pick a horse size and coloration that is just what they want.
It is believed that as many as one of eight Appaloosas in the United States are, in fact, also Colorado Ranger horses although their owners may not be aware of the fact.
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