  ZARIFE From the hot desert sands of Arabia, the purebred Arab horse has brought us all of his beauty, affection, strength and glory. For over 4,000 years the Arab steed served the desert Bedouins in peace and war, ofttimes meaning the difference between life and death for his master. He lived in the tent of his owner, as a member of the family. In his noble heart this developed an affection unsurpassed. Pasture land and water are very scarce in the desert country, but the Arab horse does not require the food and water of an ordinary horse—because of his small stomach. This was invaluable to the Bedouin, who then could travel for days on a fiery charger without sighting pasture or a water hole. Thus, the Arab has become known to us as “Drinker of the Wind.” Although from this courageous lineage have descended all light breeds of horses known to the world today—the Thoroughbred, Standard Bred, Why the United States? Because, with the advent of the automobile in Arabia, the Bedouins learned they could travel faster and farther in “war cars” than by Arabian horses; so they discontinued the use of horses in warfare. This resulted in diminishing the breeding of pure Arabians in the desert. Then, during World War II, many of the large European Studs, which had been established from desert horses, were completely demolished. To give you a word picture of the purebred Arab, the United States Department of Agriculture, in its bulletin, “Breeds of Light Horses,” has this to say:
Arabian tents and horses BLYTHE SPIRIT The love for the purebred Arab horse is so great that there are hundreds of Arab owners, but only a few large breeders. Among these few large breeders is The Van Vleet Arabian Stud, owned and operated by The Trinidad Bean & Elevator Company. Started by L.W. Van Vleet, President of the company, it is located on The Lazy VV Ranch near Nederland, Colorado. This ranch is now the mountain home of over 90 purebred Arabians. The Lazy VV Ranch lies at an altitude of 8,500 to 13,000 feet, in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. This Arabian Stud was started with a foundation herd of about 30 head. Today it is the largest stud in our country, excepting the Remount Depot at Pomona, California, owned by the government. Trinidad, alone, has probably done as much toward proving the merits of the Arabian as anyone else in this country. One of the main purposes of this venture was to prove that the Arabian horse could adjust himself to any climate and adapt himself to any use, without injurious effects. So, to the Continental Divide, from the hot sands of Arabia, the Arab horse has ascended. Living and working at that high altitude, the Arab is developing greater wind and lung capacity, harder muscle, denser bone. Plenty of pure mountain water and native hay are his sustenance. In return, he gives much! Mares and colts receive no unusual care; are often exposed to freezing temperatures and trying conditions which require remarkable stamina. Many Arab stallions can do twice the work of native stock horses ... with no signs of fatigue, poor legs, or other bad conditions which will develop in cold-blooded horses. The Arab is less susceptible to equine diseases than other breeds, and requires nothing in the way of pampering. To know an Arab is to love him ... to love him is to want him. He is a rare and priceless possession. JUST A LITTLE FELLOW Arabian on horseback With ears alert for the slightest sound, ZARIFE—head stallion of Trinidad’s Arabs—depicts everything to be desired in a purebred horse. At his ripe age, he still participates in the long cattle drives of The Lazy VV Ranch and holds a major position in the Stud’s extensive breeding program. Unlike his desert ancestors, he is never left at home base when there is active work to be done. Bedouins’ stallions were used for breeding but not in warfare. A stallion, being much noisier than a mare, would be apt to disclose the approach to an enemy tribe. A list of ZARIFE’S colts is as long as your arm. He is represented by his colts in all parts of the United States today. The insatiable demand for his blood continues. Although ZARIFE’S coat is now white, his skin (like that of all purebred Arabs) is coal black. MONARCH OF ALL HE SURVEYS PROUD WORKER Nearing the end of a two-day cattle drive, RIFAGE shows no signs of fatigue. When his sharp ears have assured him no calves are lagging, he will proceed on the drive. A wayward cow or calf may take him off into the brush, up a rocky hillside or down to a boggy stream, but he will get the job done and love doing it. A son of International Champions, RIFAGE takes up the challenge of every large-sized man who questions the little stallion’s ability to carry him. Though only a little over 14 hands high and weighing less than 900 pounds, RIFAGE has easily carried a third of his weight for long hours. He returns to the Ranch with a dry coat, dancing and prancing; still ready to go. As much cannot be said about his rider! RIFAGE, one of Trinidad’s principal stallions, has fathered many fine colts. His colts are as large or larger than those of other stallions on The Lazy VV Ranch. Even during the heaviest of the breeding season, RIFAGE is doing his share of the necessary work with the cattle. He is really a splendid cow horse and a favorite of many of the cowboys. HOMEWARD BOUND ZARIFE at far left KABAR at far right Approaching the entrance gate of The Lazy VV Ranch, the two-day cattle drive will soon be over. When cows and calves have had an opportunity to “mother up” and get several days’ rest, the Arabs will escort them to the mountain range; there they will pasture for the next few months. During each week, the stallions you have seen on the foregoing pages make regular trips to the Continental Divide to check cattle and their feed. These trips take many hours each day. Perhaps a pastern will be cut on the edge of some sharp rock; or a shoe may be lost; but these sturdy, spirited horses will not be stopped or hindered. Their masters have a job to do; and, as in the days of Arabian warfare, the master’s most effective ally is his horse. Arabian and horse The satisfaction any man enjoys from the use and ownership of a fine horse is doubly enhanced when the animal is an Arabian. Its dependability, gentleness and loyalty to him are unsurpassed. Like that of his brothers, KABAR’S work is perfection. Branding half over, there is a pause for refreshment! Horses are fed and watered. All participants at the branding are served some of the Ranch’s delicious, piping hot Baked Pinto Beans, with pork chops. ANTICIPATION AROUND THE BEAN POT Yum! Yum! Trinidad Ranch Beans sure taste good. Easy to prepare, delicious and nourishing ... they “hit the spot” and “stick to the ribs,” as any cowboy will agree. “UP MOUNT BALDY” GAZYL has not been mentioned heretofore; but, like his sire ZARIFE, he is making a good name for himself. Being of light chestnut color, with flaxen mane and tail, he is being used primarily for breeding chestnut-colored mares. This is the only true law of color breeding—a chestnut bred to a chestnut will produce a chestnut colt. Having driven The Lazy VV cattle to the lower part of the summer mountain range, these stallions carry their masters to an altitude of 12,500 feet, to check the grazing land and to determine how long the cattle should be kept in the lower mountain country. This will depend on the condition of the grass. This mountainside is steeper than it appears. Study the taut muscles in the hind quarters. This is the work which builds better bone and muscle and develops greater lung capacity in Trinidad’s Arabs. When shipped to low altitudes, mountain-bred Arabs frequently can outdo the native horses. “SHEPHERDING HER BACK” As does every other stallion in Trinidad’s band of Arabs, this beautiful bay works hard at rounding up the cattle of The Lazy VV Ranch and dragging in his share of the calves to be branded. One day, while gathering the cattle for the branding of the calves, KAHAR was trailing a wayward cow in a belly-deep, ice-cold mountain stream. His leg was caught underneath the water by a straggly willow growth. Too anxious to stay with his chosen bovine victim, KAHAR lost his footing in that willow growth. His rider landed in the stream and KAHAR was carried fifty feet away in the swift water before he gained his footing and climbed up the muddy bank, shivering. Did he run away from his rider? No, he walked slowly back to the spot where he entered the stream and waited for his water-soaked rider to mount again and take up the chase. KAHAR’S beauty is readily detected in the colts he sires. For the most part, those colts are out of daughters of RIFAGE, which are grand-daughters of ZARIFE. Horse at desert oasis Because of the scarcity of water in Arabia, the Arab horse who spoiled it was punished, of necessity. This respect for water has been so deeply bred into the Arab that it takes a bit of training to change him. Though small rations of water were the fate of desert Arabs, on The Lazy VV Ranch a horse can bathe in it—as shown by KABAR, who unhesitatingly trails a cow and two calves through a belly-deep stream. KABAR is typical of the horse desired by ranchers and stockmen. He is what is known as the “strong type” Arab. The other two types are the “beautiful” and the “racing.” ZARIFE, RIFAGE and KAHAR belong in the “beautiful” classification. The only “racing” type stallion raised on The Lazy VV Ranch was BAREK, who is making his home with the Mexican Government in Mexico City. Most of the stud colts sired by KABAR have been sold to individual ranchers, who are using them to produce better stock horses. “WHERE YOU GO ... WE GO” MAMAS AND THEIR BABIES The life of an Arab mare on The Lazy VV Ranch differs greatly from her desert sisters’ existence. In the desert, a mare carried her master in tribal warfare, while the stallions stayed at home. Any mare without a colt at her side is assigned the task of taking Lazy VV Ranch riders over the high, rocky mountain trails. Brood mares are left in the lush pastures to frolic and play with their colts. However, not even the brood mares are coddled; they live and graze in the rugged outdoors, year-round. Lazy VV Arabs must learn to care for themselves. At the age of one year, these Arabs are halter broken; at two, they are trained on the longe line, and some are driven; at three, they are trained under saddle. Mares of sufficient size are bred at the age of three, and every year thereafter. A TYPICAL LAZY VV ARAB MARE AND HER FILLY COLT Since Bedouins rode their brood mares in warfare right up to foaling date, this little stud colt, if born during such a raid, would have been destroyed immediately. Happily, at The Lazy VV, he receives gentle care. From a far end of one Lazy VV pasture, this little girl brought some yearling fillies by calling and rattling the feed bucket. They are determined to feed, but she can’t let them know they were fooled. Hat and lariat FRIENDLY TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES CRAVE COMPANIONSHIP From the day it is born, a Lazy VV Arab knows nothing but love and affection. The horse trainers have often said it is a “snap” to halter-break a yearling Arab, because he is so used to arms encircling his neck. Everyone is encouraged to play with and become acquainted with the Arabs. Such treatment brings out the innate affection of this breed. AFFECTIONATE FRIEND Curious, too! Realizing the friendship of man, they will investigate anything new and can make a job hard to accomplish. One colt investigates Jack Kuhne’s camera, when he really wants to get the colt’s picture for “Sons of Courage.” This technicolor short was made for 20th Century-Fox, and is still showing throughout the country. Also still showing is “Arabians in the Rockies,” the technicolor short released by Warner Bros. INQUISITIVE, ISN’T HE! WINTER FROLIC When snow covers the pastures, the mares and colts are more anxious than ever for feeding time. After these heavy snowfalls, RIFAGE must satisfy himself that all are present and in good shape, for some of these colts are his. WORK KNOWS NO SEASON SUNDAY SHOW Soon after Trinidad established its pure Arab Stud on The Lazy VV Ranch, numerous people would stop by the Ranch with the hope they could “just look at those Arabian horses.” These callers interrupted the routine ranch work to such a degree that the decision was reached to set aside Sunday morning, at which time the public might see the Arabs in various phases of action. These Sunday morning crowds outgrew the three stands which were originally built to accommodate 150 spectators. The remaining hundreds willingly stand around the railing from 9:45 until 11:30 A.M., to view these gorgeous creatures going through their paces. This opportunity is only provided during the three months of summer—mid-June through August. Crowds prove the education is worth the discomfort. There is probably no place in this country where a person can see so many Arabs, or learn more about them during a two-hour period than by listening to the announced comments and other information which is given as the Arabs are shown. It is truly a colorful spectacle to see 1,500 people from all walks of life, dressed in varied attire, so intent and interested as they encircle the Arab horse show ring at The Lazy VV. POETRY IN MOTION Though authentic in cut, these Bedouin robes are not authentic in color. Bright greens, reds, blues and gold add a sparkle to the Sunday showing of the Arabs, while the Bedouins would be donning drab gray or brown colors. Lazy VV Arabs are not groomed and put up in stalls a day or so before the Sunday crowds see them. These are the same horses that work the cattle, make the various trips over rough mountain trails, or romp and play in pastures during the week. SHOW-OFF MASTER AND MIGHTY STEED Festive desert robes are donned to lend atmosphere and color to the Sunday showing. Simulating their ancestors of 2,000 years ago, the Arabs carry the riders of The Lazy VV in true Arabian style. Cameras click and spectators thrill with joy as these jaunty “Arabians” charge into the ring. DESERT HORSEMEN THE “BOSS” L. W. Van Vleet, President of The Trinidad Bean and Elevator Co., does the announcing and tells the Sunday show crowds about the purebred Arab. This takes time and research, but the pure Arab is worthy of proper presentation. CRADLED AT THE FOOT OF THE DIVIDE THE LAZY VV RANCH AND ITS SETTINGIf you would care to read more about Trinidad’s purebred Arabs, and their home on The Lazy VV Ranch, perhaps your local library can furnish you with the following publications: Christian Science Monitor—September, 1942 Travel Magazine—October, 1943 Country Gentleman—January, 1944 Liberty—November, 1945 The Horse—March-April, 1944 The Horse—November-December, 1945 The Horse—May-June, 1947 The National Horseman—May, 1948 Denver Post Empire Magazine—June, 1949 Travel—July, 1949 Flair—July, 1950 Also you might prevail upon your local theater manager to arrange a showing of the beautiful technicolor shorts which were made on The Lazy VV Ranch. In them you will see the purebred Arabs at work. “Arabians in the Rockies” was released by Warner Bros. in January of 1946. “Sons of Courage” was released by 20th Century-Fox in February of 1947. “Kings of the Rockies” was released by Warner Bros. in January of 1950. These movies are still showing throughout the country. If you haven’t seen them, you should have an opportunity to do so. Just a Word About |
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