The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1871-10-05
A PERILOUs TRADE.

To desoate fortune, and ofhce, and home,
And grocers and wives be moaning
PERILOUS TRADE
How they sBreak wild Horses In
Those who have never visited the regions
where wild horses are caught or reared have
but little idea how the untamed s,eed of the
prairies ia rendered trac,able and useful. At
the present day in Texas the hordes of mus
tangs that formerly ranged over its vast prai-
ries have become almost extinct in the set.
tied portions, and confine themselves to the
extreme western counties. In their place are
horses mostly crossed with American stock,
which are in a state of semi-wildness-tha 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 be branded and marked, after
which most Of them are let loose to roam at
will again.
When the owner of a portion of a herd
desires to break any of his young horses he
proceeds in this wise;
The first movement il to lasso the horse
selected by the head and fore feet, and throw
him to the earth: then kind Of hair halter
called "bosal'' is PIT on his head, both to
serve as bride or to stake the animal by,
it being much more effectual than a halter or
bride in checking his frantic efforts 10 liber-
ate himself He is either tied up close 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 rdqueros, whom they employ for the
purpose of breaking and riding wild and re-
fractory horses. These go out, followed by
all the members of the family, and proceed
to overhaul the saddles and see that there is
no defect liz the rigging" When they are
satisfied that all is secure, they lead, or drag
rather, forward the steed He is alternately
led, dragged and whipped forward, until he
reaches the point where he is 10 be saddled.
A leather strap attached to the bosal is
then pulled over his eyes, and saddle blan-
ket is dropped gently on his back, but very
seldom remains at the first trial, as he will
almost invariably shake it off. After one or
more trials, however, he submits to both
blanket and saddle The latter is strapped
on tightly with two girths, fore and flank;
strapped, indeed, SO tightly, that one unac-
customed to the sight would think that it was
intended to cut the animal in two; the rider
now adjusts the stake-rope into reins by tying
it securely to the bosal, leaving long end
by which TO hold on, in the event the horse
should succeed in throwing him.
Everything 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 left |
hand, pulls the horses head round near him |
to prevent being kicked, takes the stirrup in !
his right hand and turning it toward him, |
places his left foot in it firmly. Grasping |
the pommel, he now gives the saddle shake \
or two, makes one or two feints at mounting |
to see how his horseship will take it, and |
then suddenly springs, seating himself Sc
curely in the. saddle.
The blinds, OF course, are still over the |
eyes Of the horse, and, as a general thing, he
stands with his neck stretched out and head
partially down, a perfect picture of awkward
ness. The rider is at 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
he reaches gently forward and slips up the
blinds. Naturally the horse is rather aston
shed at first, and refuses to move A sharp
application of the whip and spur, however,
readily induces him to change his mind. He
axes timidly one or two awkward steps, and
hen suddenly doubles himself up until he
camel, and throwing his head
lown before his fore feet, he begins series
# pitches, which consists in jumping as
ar as he can, coming down stiff-legged.
Those who have accomplished the extraor-
linary feat of going down flight of stairs
t one step, can form some faint idea how I
t feels to sit on back Of pitching house
Some of the more vicious will lie down :
Vhen the saddle is buckled on, and it re-
uires a tremendous amount OF whipping to {
ct them started; some will rear and fall
ackward, occasionally killing their riders;
ONE will pitch straight ahead for quite s
istance, while others will pitch straight for I
ard for few jumps, and then. as the Tex
ms say. "swap ends 80 quick that it makes Q
our head SWIM" i
Fortunately they soon tire OF such violent !
xercise, being wholly unacciistomed to a /
,ddle or weight on their backs, and break @
own completely in few hours. The sad a
les are then taken off, and they are reserved I
II another trial next morning. o
This exercise is continued for 4 week or 8
lore according to the nature OF the horse, a
hen he is pronounced as tractabe enough d
II good rider, but woe to the unsuspecting u
reenhorn that is tempted TO place himself "
4 his back.
A few of the horses are naturally gentle \
,tured and never, unless frightened in U
eaking, attempt to cut up at all. Those +
ho love the horse, and desire to see him 81
aiming at will in his beauty and symmetry, "
th glossy hide and flowing main and tail, "
Ould on IN the prairies "a