The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-11
Saddle Horses.

To the man who travels over the face OF
the earth, migrating from countryto country,
nothing will appear as more extreme In the
manners of the different people he comes In
contact with than the various methods OF
riding horses. While the Arab Is the ancient
ideal of a perfect horse man, yet our own
country probably furnishes as great variety
and styles of horsemanship as all the nations
of the world put together. Let us take 0
hasty glance at the different patterns our
country affords.
I'm Mexico, Texas and the extreme south
ern States, the style of riding Is quite unique.
On the other side of the Mississippi suita-
BILE costume IL quite indispensable. The
bride Ii armed with curb bit Of terrific
leverage. The saddle bears an immense
pommel TO ease the strain of the lariat or
the elbows of the sleepy rider. A common
buckled girth would never do In such scien-
tifc riding. The broad hair band Is tighten
ed with a cunning twist from long loose
strap that has been "sprung" upon until the
band Is as tight as wax. We are all ~ least
In pictures familiar with the broad sombrero,
slashed breeches and large silver spurs with
their attached ejingles." This rider in APP
pointments and horsemanship Is certainly
worthy OF much admiration, for he always
looks Eat home' and gracefully when he
tries TO be, even on the most veritabie plug
OF mustang 1t Is seldom, however, that
his charger calls forth anything but feeling
or pity from the educated horseman. The
native breed Of those sections is long way
off from the ideal saddle horse OF the Mid
die States. fFg #e#@#-r#T @
In Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia we
probably see tho art Of horsemanship both
In relation TO horse and rider, carried to
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 2 sad
die horse. In physical featuses he Is . mod
el for the artist. In gaits his variety Is infn
ite--a rapid walk, fox trot, rack, trot, lop'
and run, changing from one motion to thu
other at practical signal from the, rider
In temper perfect, quick and comprehensive
This l. point which no one but the prac
ticed rider can appreciate. The bride REIN
are actually useless TO him. A slight bend
Ing Of the body forward informs him thai
you wish the gait quickened; settling firme
back In the saddle intlmates TO him TO slack
!, On The gait . slight bending Of the body \
the saddle with little pressure Of the op
posite knee, and perhaps an unconscion
motion Or the bride hand In the direction
You wish TO turn, il all the management b
needs. The lines are never pulled to tur'
him right or left, but pressed against the I'D
OF the neck opposite the direction you wis
to turn. Leaning forward ~ the saddle put
him In fast walk or fox trot. To put hir
IN rack, the bride reins are pulled tau'
while the heels bring the spur pressure =
His sides. TO make him trot, the reins IN
heels are Let loose, the hands pressed upo
the wethers, and Che body slightly raised !
the saddle until he gets settled In bis GIL
10 Ihaks him cantsr Or lops, settls II u
saddle and raise one hand In the air. Tbs
~ MOI the inyentiens q single individuA
but The universal custom among thoss vi
train saddle hcSes IN W States named