Looking like a vision of the Wild West, this 1930s imageÊshowsÊa round up in Hayward, Calif. The 1,500 horses would be sold for pleasure saddle mounts, to become work horses or, if too wild, to astonish the crowds at rodeos.
Hayward's climate, soil and perfect location in the heart of the Bay AreaÊbrought tremendous growth for decades.ÊAfter World War II, housing developments began replacing farms and ranches. Between 1950 and 1960, the populationÊskyrocketedÊfrom 14,000 to 72,000, and has continued to grow ever since.
"There are about 40,000 wild horses spread over 10 states, whose presence on the range is a last vestige of the Old West," The Times wrote in 2010. Some of the magnificent mustangs on the rangeÊwere descended from Army cavalry horsesÊthat were bred for size, speed and strength.
When it comes to rounding up horses, however, one thing has changed dramatically. The cowboys on horsebacksÊhave been replaced by helicopters, making the Old West more and more a distant memory.
