The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-08-29
mouSrISe ausrANe.

moUNTINe A AUsTANc.
About The arst duty that iuyolves up-
on The freshly arrived stranger Ia Texas,
and particularly Ia south and west Teras,
II lhs purchase Of borse, Upon arriving
IN The old Mexican town Of Is Bahia, on
tic river San Antonio, opposite The Amer
lean village Of Golisd, proceeded TO buy
80 suimG,
Scnor Lozsuo, wealthy horse aud
cattle owner, a resident sometimes Of Ia
Bahls, sometimes Of Thmanlpas, Mexico,
was Interviewed at bis little adobe house
on The outskirts Of the villsge, Senor To-
Esno sent one Of bis COW boys booted,
spurred, aud wearing the broad-brimmed
sombTero--lo bring out Of bis herd a
horse that be represented to be a splendid
animal. II was done. At the very FIRST
glance Il was seen that the horse beau.
tiful gelding, dun, high mettled, graceful,
rolling, fat and sleek-wss wild, aud had
probably been ridden but seldom, II ever
before.
How much do you ask tor the animals
Sixteen dollars in gold, answered Lo-
zauo.
A bargain, Senior.
Can you ride him2
Oh, certainly; never fear about that.
Approach him, Senor, said the Mexican
In his own language.
| did so, but the mustang, such as be was
reared up on bis hind legs, and, with
open mouth aud and eyes that seemed to
fash lightning, made one spring at bis
new master lodged and rushed back,
the horse in the mean time running to the
length of The thirty-foot stake rope that
held him.
Finally Lozano and his young man sug-
ceeded In saddling the mustang, the sad.
die being fastened by two strong girths
under the loins. The bit was especially
adapted to wild horses. Lozano present.
ed me wita pair of long-shanked Mexi.
can spurs. They were put on securely
and prepared TO mount. Fortunately
the scene was the edge Of vast plain
that stretches away from the river San
Antonio to the southwark. The COW boy
el cabaHero, as be might be termed, held
the reins and Lozano the left stiTrup. The
animal stood perfectly still, as ifparalYzed
with fear. My foot touched the stirrup;
second more and my right leg swung
over The saddle, and was seated In IT,
Then ye gods what buckiDg, pitching,
rearing, paving and kicking! The fret
movement of the mustang seemed to be
kind of horizontal dash or slide, followed
by q full stop. The second movement
was kicking up in which his heels
seemed at an angle of 45 degrees. Then
be reared and seemed determined TO fall
on his back, or rather on his rider. |
hung TO the horn of the saddle like sal
lor 10 q last spar in cyclone. Then
there was series of perpendicular pitch
ing, or bucking, as it is called among
Texans, in which the mustang seemed 10
jump up four feet and come down per.
pendicularly, giving his rider terrible
JOLT The buckiDg continued a quarter of
an hour, and then the snimal broke into
mad dash. did nothing but rein his
head in the direction of the open plain
and let him out. The race against time
occupied three or four mile heat, during
which the mustang must have beaten the
Texas race horses that every spring meet
Ing spread themselves over the State Fair
course at Houston. The horse stopped,
painting and foaming and looked up at
me 10 way that said, give up.
These mustangs or Spanish horses are
sprung from ancient Andalusian stock,
and were introduced after the coming of
Cortez aud the Spanish conquest. In
winter they are covered with long coarse
hair, which aids them In standing the se-
we're cold OF the northers. The thick
coat is shed in April and May, aud the
animal then becomes sleek. The mus
tang has two advantages over American
horses. They are so hardy that they can
live the year round without grain Of
corn, fodder, bay, or oats. All they
want is plenty of prairie grass, upon
which they must, however, be allowed to
Craze two or three hours day in addition
10 night grazing. Again, your mustang
is acclimated and stands the climate bet
ter thsn imopncd stock. One Of the best
mustangs can now be bought on the river
San Antonio for $40
They are wild, bnt the people oi the
Southern prsiries are used to them, and
not unfrequeBtly the girls Of south Texas,
brave aud adventuresome as their fathers
and brothers, mount and ride these mus
tangs with perfect grace aud unconcern.
When one OF them happened TO pitch
with one Of these pretty riders, she does
not faint or scream, but grssps the reins
tighter and applies the riding whip until
The ANIMAL Is forced into dash across
the prairie.
PLEASING INCIDENT