The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-10
le Horses.

IAN who travels over the face Of
-, migrating from country to country
sning Will appear rs more extreme In the
manners Of the different people he comes in
contact with than their various methods of
nding horses. While the Arab is the ancient
local OF perfect honeman, yet our own
country probably furnishes as great variety
ana styles OF hoBemanship as all the nations
or the world put together. Let us take a
hasty glance at the different patterns our
country affords.
In Mexico, Texas and the extreme South
ern States, tho style Of riding Is quite unique.
on the other side Of the Mississippi river q
suitable costume is quite indispensable. The
bride Is armed with a curb-bit of terrific lev
erage. The saddle bears an immense POM
mel to ease the strain of the lariat or the ell
bows Of the sleepy rider. A common buck
led glrth would never do In such scientific
riding. The broad hair band Is frightened
with cunning twist from long loose strap
that has been "sprung upon until the band
Is rs tight MS wax. We are all ut least In
pictures familiar with the broad sombrero,
slashed breeches and large silver spurs with
their attached /" jingles." This rider in his
appointments and horsemanship Is certainly
worthy of much admiration, for he always
looks " ut home and graceful when he tries,
to be, even on the most veritable plug Of q
mustang. It is seldom, however, that his
charger calls forth anything but feeling of
pity from the educated horseman. The ma
tive breeds of those sections Is q long way of
from the ideal saddle horse Of the Middle
States.
In Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia we
probably see the art of horsemanship both In
its relations TO horse and rider carried to q
higher standard than In any other part of the
world. Here we find the horse bred for gen.
erations under the most enlightened rules for
breeding, and with the sole purpose In view
Of making him the perfection of saddle
horse. In physical features he Is model for
the artist. In gaits his variety is infnite-a
rapid walk, fox-trot, rack, trot, lope and run,
changing from one motion to the other at q
practiced signal from the rider. In temper
perfect, quick and comprehensive. This is a
point which no one but the practiced rider
can appreciate. The bride lines are actually
useless with him. A slight bending Of the
body forward informs him You wish the gait
quickened; settling frmer back In the saddle
intimates 10 him toslacken the gait; slight
bending Of the body In the saddle with lit
tie pressure Of the opposite knee, and per-
haps an unconscious motion OF the bridle-
hand in the direction you wish to turn Is all
the management he needs. The lines are
never puiledto turn him right or left, but
pressed against the side of the neck opposite
the direction you wish TO turn. Leaning
forward In the saddle puts him in afast walk
or fox trot. To put him In rack the bride
reins are pulled taut, while the heels bring
the spur pressure TO his sides. Tomake him
trot, the reins and heels are let loose, the
hands pressed upon the wethers, and the
body slightly raised In the saddle until he
gets settled In his gait. To make him canter
or lope, settle In the saddle and raise one
hand In the air. These are not the inven-
lions Of single individual, but the universal
custom among those who train saddle horses
In the States named.
7 IT,