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These horses are shown on the east side of the Empire Ranch corral. In 1884 Empire Ranch decided to include the breeding of race horses as a sidelight to their ranch operations. At one time they had a total of 250 to 300 broke horses.

Portrait of Edward L. Vail in 1926. During the 1920s, Edward wrote many stories about his experiences as a cowboy and rancher. These include a column recounting his cattle drive of 1890 for the Arizona Daily Star (1922) his recollection of the first…

The cutting gate at Empire Ranch. The cutting gate allows for the separation of animals such as horses, cows, or the like into two or more holding corrals.

This cowboy (most likely Harry Heffner) at Empire Ranch is dressed in typical cowboy regalia standing next to his horse. Harry Heffner reminisced that the cowboys liked fancy bridles with silver but as far as their clothing was concerned, Levi…

A cattle roundup. As cattle wander far in grazing, herds become mingled. The roundup permits separation of each owner's stockand because calves always follow their mother, the finding and branding of the past year's calf crop is easily accomplished.

Men and women on horses getting cattle ready for an inspection at Pantano. In 1885 Walter Vail as President of the Arizona Stock Growers Association worked with his committee to formulate legislative proposals to protect the livestock industry of…

Three women, one man, and two children in the cattle pen. The Empire Ranch began a breeder-feeder formula which was a basic pattern of shipping cattle outside of Arizona to fatten. This proved very profitable and helped with the overcrowded…

Two horses tethered to a buckboard filled with supplies for the camps. The Empire Ranch expanded by purchasing other ranches or contracting to operate and place cattle on other ranches. At one point it was estimated the ranch covered a little over a…

Cowboy riding a bucking horse. Horses were critical to the running of any ranch. Mr. Vail turned over the breaking of horses to his best men. Harry Heffner stated the horse from his withers forward belonged to Vail; the other part belonged to the…

Cowboys breaking in horses on the Empire Ranch. The Empire Ranch raised their own horses bringing in some stallions from the Chino Ranch in California and some Hamiltonians, a standard bred horse.

Harry Landon Heffner 1893 Empire Ranch.

Cowboys on horseback in pen at Empire Ranch.

Rancher and cow in pen at Empire Ranch.

4 in hand mules.

Girl on tricycle at Empire Ranch.

Two big horses of the Ranch.

A good throw.

Dinner. Perry. Tommy.

A small round up of cattle.

The Total Wreck silver mine 10 miles from Ranch.