10/05/2023
As the Great Depression ran roughshod over the United States during the 1930’s, farms and ranches across the country bore the brunt of the worst economic downturn of the 20th century. With the Dust Bowl suffered by the plains’ states and the bottom falling out of cattle prices, many depression era crop and livestock growers lost everything while others did what they could to survive.
“The horse business kind of saved us during the depression,” recalled Con Warren who had taken over as ranch manager in the 1930’s. The grandson of the late Con Kohrs, Warren branched into the draft horse business as a means of keeping the ranch afloat during those sullen years. Building a herd of registered Herefords, Con decided that instead of replacing a herd of aging workhorses in a piecemeal fashion, he would raise them on the ranch, using teams as needed and selling others to fellow ranchers.
By late 1933, the burgeoning rancher stated, “if we’re going to raise some horses, let’s raise some good horses.” Scaffolding his approach to the venture, Con visited horse shows in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. After viewing the available stock, he ranged east to Ohio and picked up his first two brood mares from the State university and then added a third from Earl Brown's herd in Wisconsin.
By 1936 Warren's herd of Belgians totaled about fifty brood mares, three stallions, and four draft horse teams. Many of the horses carried names still remembered at the home ranch and in Deer Lodge for their fine quality descendants and their own grace and stature. Mares named "Sarah De Chorise," and "Re Coninsante" (all showing their geographic origins within Belgium) were some of the earliest and most fondly recalled animals in the new herd at Deer Lodge. One of the prize stallions, "Bloc II de Nederswalm of Antwerp," sired many colts, as did "Brooklyne De Uccle."
The business grew in reputation as Warren became one of the most renowned draft horse breeders in the nation. In an article by Charles M. Wilson published in a 1937 edition of Scribner’s Magazine, Con was mentioned as, “supplying Montana with a creditable foundation of good horseflesh.”
The business’ prosperity only stood to reason thanks to depression era economics. Few farmers of the time could afford new tractors, and the demand for horses remained steady.
But America's farms became more and more mechanized during the last few years of the 1930's. The draft horse business tapered off then, so when the Holbert Horse Importing Company of Greely, Iowa approached Con on the matter, he sold the entire herd. They soon became a prize of the Rockerfeller Estate. The Warren Ranch dropped the horse operation as World War II brought rather austere days to the ranch.
Today, the ranch still employs draft horsepower as a means of moving buck rakes, mowers, and hay wagons. Four Belgian mares and two Percheron geldings, call the ranch home, and can often be seen working at the ranch.
Photo depicts two Beligian draft horses, side-by-side in full harness.
