The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-06-01
TANNING HORSES.
HORSE TRAINING. BY A. J. ELLIS, D. A.
WINDSOR, oXLEY.

NiNDSORs UALEf.
Mr.. Catlin, in his work on the manners
and customs OF The North American Indi-
ans, gave the following account Of their
method obtaining the wild buffalo calves,
and wild horses.
81 have often, in concurrence with a
wcll-known custom of the country, held
my hand over the eyes Of the calf and
broathed few strong breaths into its nos
trils; after which l have, with my compan-
ions, rode several miles into our encamp-
ment, with the little prisoner busily fulluw-
ing the heels of my horse,ihe whole way.
as closely and affjectionately as its inslinc,
would attach II 10 the company Of its dam
This is one of the most extraordinary
things ihalI have met with in the habits
Of this wild country; and although I had
often heard Of it, and felt unable exactly
to believe it, am now willing to bear les
timony to the fact, from the numerous in
stances which have Witnessed since
came into the country. During the time
that I resided at this posi-. in the spring of
the year, on my way up The river. assist
cd lin numerous hunts for the buffalo, with
in the Fur Ccmpany's men, in bringing in.
the above manner, several Of these little
prisoners, which sometimes follow for five
or six miles close to our horses heels, and
even into the Fur Company's fort, and into
the stable where our horses are fed. In
this way, before l left for the head wa
tcrs of the Missouri, l think we had COL
leciel about DOZEN"
In The same way, the wild horses are
tanned. When the Indians has got him
well secured with the lasso, and pair Of
hobbies on his feet, "gradually advances,
until he is able to place his hand on the
animals nose over his eyes, and at length
TO breathe in its nostrils, when it soon be-
comes docilc and conquered; so that he has
little more to do than TO remove the hob
bes from his feet, and lead or ride it into
camp"
Mr.. Ellis chanced 10 read this account
when on a visit in Yorkshire, and forsooth
resolved TO try the experiment.. He and
his friends were u alike increduious, and
sought amusement from the failure, rather
than knowledge by the resut--bu, two ex.
periments. all he was able to try, were
both successful. Here in the particulars
Of one of them;
saturday, Feb. 12 1s42.-Whi1e the
last experiments were being tried on the
yearing. w. espied B, farmer and
tenant, with several men, at the distance o
some fields, most Intellectually, on the ole
system to break horse. w. proposed tc
, go down and show him what effect hac
. been produced on the yearling: When
the party arrived at the spot they found
: that B. and his men had tied their flly
short up to a tree in the corner Of a field
one side of which was walled, and the 9th.
, er hedged in. w. now proposed to B. Il
tame his horse after the new method. B
who was aware ofthe character Of hi
: ihorse, anxiousIy warned W. not to ap
t proach il, caulioning him especially a
$ eainst the fore feet, asserting that the horse
, would rear and strike him with the fore feet
: as it had laimed his own (Bs.) thigh jus
$ before they had come up. w. therefore
proceeded very cautiously. lie climbed
| The wall, and came at the horse through
D the tree, to the trunk Of which he clung 70
S some time, that he might secure retrea
J. in case of need. Immediately upon hi
r touching the halter, the horse pranccd a
S bout, and finally pulled away with a dog
n ged and stubborn expression, which seem
5. ed TO bid w. defiance. Taking advar
# tage of this, w. leaned over as far as h