The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-24
How They Break Wild Horses I'm
Texas.

7 How They Freak Wild Horses I'm
Texas.
! Those who have never visited the region.
where wild horses are caught or reared
have but little idea how the untamed steei
| of the prairies Is rendered tractable ani
useful. At the present day in Texas the
hordes Of mustangs that formerly ranged
over its vast prairies have become almos,
extinct in the settled portions, and confne
themselves to the extreme western coun
ties. In their place are horses mostly
crossed with American stock, which are in
state of semi-wildness-that is, they roam
ut will until certain seasons Of the year,
when all such as can be caught are driven
in herds to huge pens constructed for the
purpose, to be branded and marked, after
which most of them are let loose to roam at
will again. 49,
| When the owner of portion of the herd
desires to break any of his young horses he
proceeds in this wise The first movement
| is to lasso the borse selected by the head
and fore feet, and throw him to the earth ;
then Kind Of hair halter, called q "bosal," j."
| is put on his head. both to sorVe as br;-
die or to stake the animal by, it being much
more cffectual than halter or bride in
| checking his frantic efforts to liberate him.
self. lie Is either tied up closely all night,
or staked, at the Will of the owner. The
next morning the sport begins.
AL horse and stock raisers have one or
| more Udq1eros, whom they employ for the
| especial purpose Of breaking and riding
wild and refractory horses. These 20 out,
| followed by all the members of the family,
and proceed to overhaul their saddles and
| see that there is no defect in the 6 rigging"
When they are satisfied that all is secure,
they lead, or rather drag, forward the steed.
| He is alternately led, dragged, and whipped
forward, until he reaches the point where
he is to he saddlcd. !.
A leather strap attached to the bosal is
| then pulled over his eyes, aud saddle.
blanket is dropped gently ON his back, but
very seldom remains at the first trial, rs he
viii almost invariably shake it of. After
one or more trials, however, he submits to
both blanket and saddle. The latter article
is strapped on tightly with Two girths, fore
and flank; strapped, indeed, so tightly that
one unaccu>tomed to the sight would think
| that il was intended to cut the animal in
| two. The rider now adjusts the stake-rope
into lcins by tying it securely to the bosal,
l"aying Il long eud by which to hold on, in
the event the horse should succeed in
throwing him.
Ever ything is now ready for the mount.
The rider adorns his heels with huge pair
Of spurs, stands directly facing the horse,
abreast or little forward Of the shoulder,
seizes the underpart of the bOSal with his
lett hand, pulls the horses head round near
him to prevent being kicked, takes the
stirrnp in his right hand, and, turning it
toward him. places his left loot in it firmly.
Graspng the pommel, he now gives the
saddle q shake or two, makes one or two
TENTS ut mounting to see how his horseship
will take it, and then suddenly springs,
sealing himself securely in the saddle.
The blinds, of course, are still over the
| eyes of the horse, and, rs Il general thing,
| he stands with his neck stretched out and
| head partially down, perfect picture of
iuwkWartlncSS. The rider Is ut his ease,
| and adjusts himself and everything about
| him with the greatest care, as he knows
| there is warm work before him. When
| ready for the start lie reaches gently for
| ward and slips up The blinds. Naturally
the horse i rather astOuished at first, and
refuses to move. 4 sharp application OF
whip and spur, however, readily induces
| him TO change his mind. He takes timidly
one or two awkward steps, then suddenly
doubling himself up uutil he resembles 4
camel, and throwing his head down be-
tween his tore feet, he begins series of
pitches, which consist i'll jumping as high
and Is lar ;is he can, coming down stiff leg
ged.
| Those who have accomplished the extra
| ordinary feat OF going down flight of
| stairs at one step can form some faint idea
| how it feels to sit on the buck Of pitching
horse.
Some Of the more vicious will lie down
when the siidde is buckled on, and it re-
| quilcs tremendous amount Of whipping
| 10 get them started. Some will rear and
fall backward, occasionally killing their ri
ders; some will pitch straight ahead for
quite Il distance, while others will pitch
Straight forward for il few jumps, and then,
rs The TCXans say, "sWap ends SO quick it
| III, KS your head SWIM"
Fortunately, they soon tire of such vio-
| lenL exercise, being totally unaccustomed
to u saddle OF weight on their backs, and
break down completely in a few hours. The
| saddles are then taken of, and they are re-
served for another trial next morning. This
exercise is continued Tor q week or more,
according to the nature of the horse, when
be is pronounced gentle and lractable
| enough for Il good RIDER; but woe to the
mSuspectin" greenhorn that is tempted TO
place himself on his back.
a few OF LiIe horses are naturally gentle
| naluIcd, ana never, unless frightened in
| breaking, attempt to cut up at all. Those
who love the horse, aud desire to see him
roaming at will in his beauty and symme-
try, with glossy hide and flowing name and
tail, should 30 to the prairies.