Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-10-07
A PFRILOES TRADE,
IEOw They Break Wild Horses I'm
Texas.

II
Texas.
| Those who have never visited the
regions where wild horses are caught
or reared have but little idea how the
untamed steed Of the prairies il rem
dered tractable and useful. Az the
present day in Texas the hordes Of
mustangs that formerly ranged over
its vast prairies have become almost
extinct in the settled portions, and
confine themselves to the extreme
western countries. In their place are
horses mostly crossed with American
stock, which are in state of semi
wildness-that is, they roam at 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 he branded and mark
ed, after most of them are let loose to
roam at will again.
When the owner of q portion of a
herd desires to break any of his young
horses he proceeds in this wise: The
first movement is to lasso the horse
selected by the head and fore feet, and
throw him to the earth: then kind
of hair halter, called q "bosal,n - is put
on his head, both to serve as bride
or to stake the animal, it being much
more effectual than halter or bri-
die in checking his frantic efforts to
liberate himself. He is either tied up
closely all night or staked, at the will
OF the owner, The next morning the
sport begins.
All horse and stock raisers have one
or more Udg,terOs, whom they employ
for the special purpose Of breaking and
riding wild and refractory horses.
These go out, followed by all the
members of the family, and proceed
to overhaul their saddles and see that
there is no defect in the rigging"
| When they are satisfied that all is
secure, they lead, or rather drag, for
ward the steed. Heis alternately led,
dragged and whipped forward, until
he reaches the point where he Is to be
saddled.
A leather strap attached to the bosal
is then pulled over his eyes, and q
saddle blanket is dropped gently on
his back, but very seldom remains at
the first trial, as he will almost inva.
rably shake it off. After one or more
trials, however, he submits to both
blanket and saddle. The latter arti-
Gle is strapped on tightly with two
girths, fore and flank; strapped, indeed
50 tightly, that one unaCCustomed to
the sight would think that it was in
tended to cut the animal in two; the
rider now adjusts the stake-rope into
reins by tying it securely to the bosal
leaving a long end by which to hold
on, in the event the horse should sue
ceed in throwing him,
Everything is now ready for the
mount. The rider adorns bis heels
with huge pair of spurs, stands di'
rectly facing the horse, abreast Oh
little forward of the shoulder, seizes
I the under part of the bosal with his
left hand, pulls the horses head round
near him to prevent being kicked
takes the stirTup in his right hand anc
turning it toward him places bis lef
foot in it firmly. Grasping the pom
mel, he now gives the saddle shake
or two, makes one or two feints a
mounting to see how his horseshil
will take it, and then suddenly springs
l seating himselfsecurely in the saddle
The blinds, of course, are still owe
the eyes ofthe horse and as a genera
l thing he stands his neck stretched
: out and head partially down, per
4 tect picture Of awkwardness. ThO
+ rider is at his ease, and adjusts him
self and everything about him will
, the greatest care, as he knows Their
. Is warm work before him. WheI
ready for the start he reaches gentI,
: forward and slips up the blinds. Ma
, turally the horse is rather astonishet
t at first and refuses to moved. A sharl
4 application Of the whip and spur
however, readily induces him t
d change his mind. He takes timidl.
t one or two awkward steps, then sud
n denly doubling himself up until b
o resembles a camel, and throwing hi
+ head down before his fore feet, he be
e gins series of pitches, which consis
in jumping as high and as far as h
+ can, coming down stifI-legged.
e Those who have accomplished th
d extraordinary feat of going down
fight ofstairs at one step can f0rr
d some faint idea how it feels to sit o
e the back of a pitching horse.
D. Some of the more vicious will Il
a down when the saddle is buckled o
!, and il requires a tremendous amour
i of whipping to get them started; som
% will rear and fall backward, occasion
> ally killing their riders; some pitc
straight ahead for quite a distanct
h while others will pitch straight foI
Of ward for q few jumps and then, as th
(" Texans say, "swap ends so quick tht
y 1t makes your head swim"
ID Fortunately, they soon tire of sue
violent exercise, being wholly una
g customed TO a saddle or weight 0
lie their backs, and break down con
$, pletely in a few hours, The saddle
70 are then taken Off and they are r.
ID served for another trial next morl
u ing. ....
!" This exercise Is continued fer wee
le or more, according to the nature
" the horse, when he is pronounce
c. gentle and tractable enough for q goC
ly rider, but woe to the unsuspactir
t. greenhorn that is tempted to pia
tn himself on his back.
A few Of the horses aTe natural
d, gentle-natured and never, unle
er frightened in breaking, attempt to c
Ne up at all. Those who love the hora
er and desire to see him roaming at "
m in his beauty and symmetry, al
Of glossy hide and flowing name al
ke tail, should go to the prairies.
ba A SERIOUS feminine complalut
~ N Long Bganch, and some other wott
e. iug-places this summer, is the noti;
n. able lack of men at those rescr
de Dancing men and flirting men 8
It; especially moumed. Judging frc
ut the lugubrious accounts sent to {
of journals frcm these vanity fairs
lrl social life, nothing is more mels
la- choly than TO see squads Of won
er- sitting in rows upon the piazz
" gazing at each other with critical
A. morose eyes, wrGthfully noting |
" W arrivals of other women, with v
:" trunks aud complacont smirkS up
their faces, and all Of them wond
ing what has become oil the M
'cs, Some enterprising puryeroy Of
bel mainly COuld Dnrh0Ds do well if