What kind of horses were the MC Horses in Ian Tyson's song?

Answer 1

Your bet is as good as mine! Okay, I "think" there was a family-owned ranch in the first half of the last century. Greywolf Press has published William Kittredge's essays which touch on the same. See "Buckaroos" published in "The Next Rodeo".

Cowboy Nation: Introduction

Whatever the decade, whatever the mood, we always have Shane in our hearts. A salute to the most dependable and deconstructed American hero.

By William Kittredge

http://outside.away.com/outside/magazine/0495/4f_cwnat.htmlThe MC Horses were the horses the Buckaroo's who worked for the MC's ( a big cow/calf outfit in south eastern Oregon) rode as they carried out the days work. This horses were special in that they carried the traits of the men who trained them as colts and rode them in roundups and on long circles. Some were really good at working with you and some were really good at knowing just when to work against you. A good buckeroo ( cowpuncher here in Arizona) rode 'em good or rank and did a day's work in an industry which raises the beef from which we put T Bone steaks on our grills. The sad thing is that the times changed and the MC is no longer a family owned and run ranch. As with the men and women who worked there the MC horses were also a victim of our changing times. In summation, the MC Horses were good ranch raised and used horses, just like you will find on the Diamond A or CO Bar or the ORO here in Arizona ..... only ours are better in the brush!