The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-15
WILD HORSES.
How They Are Caught and Man
aged in the Far West.

aged in the Far West.
Cincinnati Commercial.
Some OF the most fascinating scenes
in the boys book world being those in
which the wild horse figures, it was
with something of the old youthful
thrill that party of us the other day
heard our driver sxclaim: "There is
Wild Horse Jerry and lot of wild
broncos in that corral yOnder." Busi-
ness vas lett to take care of itself for the
present, and we drove quickly over to
the place indicated, rude inclosue about
fly feet square, in which were some
dozen horses, mostly about two years
old, and in their appearance well justi-
lying the name applied to the native
horse of the west, "broncOs," the Span
ish word for rough" The dime nov
ell prefix to Jerry's name had led US to
expect such looking character as adorns
the initial page of that class Of litera-
ture, or the second rate stage; but we
found him and his two partners certain
ly ''as mild hammered men as ever cut
throat"-merely dressed in the usual 10
cal costumes OF men who follow an out
of-door life of any kind here-broad felt
hat, blue flannel shirt and overalls
thrust into a pair of heavy cowhide
boots. And they were quite genial and
communicative; and as We sat safely
perched on the top rail of the corral
waiting for operations to begin, they
told us how they chase the bands of
wild horses on the Platte, not taking
them with the lasso, at full speed, as
they do in the books, but running them
with fresh relays until tired down suf-
ticiently to be driven out into an enclo-
To- - 10 lxr
to ''cut out" and bring under control
for branding, breaking and like pur-
poses. The brand, by the way, is very
important thing to the cattle and horse
men, owing to the risk of the animal
straying, and the difficulty of otherwise
Identifying them, and the law here, in
this respect, at least, is always Vindica-
ted both by the courts and by Judge
Lynch with prOmptness and severity
against any who may dare attemptlto in
fringe upon the property rights thus in
dicated. A brand when chosen must
be approved by the county authorities,
and then registered, care being taken
to allow none similar to existing brands
or liable to be altered into them. 1t is
usually some peculiar device, an Ii with
an inverted V over it for instance, and
having been executed in iron of the di-
mensions OF some or inches square,
more or less, it is applied red hot to the
animals side in some conspicuous spot,
The herds that Craze on the plains are
gone over yearly for this purpose, and
the annual ''roundups," or meeting of
herds or herdsmen to effect this, and
also to sort out and reclaim strays, are
occasions of great local interest.
To return to our wild horses. We
had arrived just as the men were about
to cut out tine-loOking black mare for
the purpose of hobbling her, she hay
ing shown disposition to load the 9TH
ers into mischief, and it was with no de-
sire of changing places with the men
that we saw them enter the corral on
foot amsng the wild animals with their
lariats, three-quarter inch ropes OF
great suppleness, with running moose
seme six feet in length, hanging on
their left arms. The horses seemed to
know that something was about to hap
pen and Immediately began charging
wildly around the enclosure, and it ap-
peared impossible that the men could
retain their places moment without
being crushed, but the brutes seemed to
recognize ''the higher power" and
swerved from the curved lariat, whose
coercive powers they had already felt,
a. the double Hfsh-hook" brands on
their TANKS testified. And now the
moose in Jerry's right hand began to
circle horizontally over his head at
arms length, and the horses to plunge
more wildly than ever around the cor
raj. Suddenly a quick, forward motion
of the arm is seen and the moose flies
toward the intended victim; but sud-
den swerve causes it TO fall short and
the whole drove gallops wildly to a re-
mote corner. But now they are again
started, the moose swings, and this time
drops over the mares neck. The
weight of a second man is Immediately
thrown upon the rope, and the struggle
begins, the mare wildly plunging and
rearing and the man resisting, until it
would seem that the animal must Ell
ther strangle herself or break her neck.
But in a moment another moose is
thrown, this time catching her hind
legs, and as she plunges again second
pull throws her fairly on her side, her
head is caught and she is vanquished.
The hobble, long chain, is then at
tached to her right fore foot, and the
ropes then being quickly and skiliully
removed, she scrambles again to her
feet, erect once more, but shorn of her
power for mischief.
The native horses, reared by the herd
ers are all handled in this way, rough
as it seems. When one is ID be broken
to the saddle he is blindiOldsd alter be-
ing thrown, in which condition he is
perfectly submissive. The saddle,
strange complex OF leather, high peaks,
enormous stirrup feathers, fringed tas-
sells, coiled lariats, etc, is then strapped
on, the bride forced into place, and the
rider, armed with cruel-lOoking spurs,
with barbed points of the circumference
OF silver dollar, leaps into place. The
blindiold is then removed and the
struggle begins, precluded usually by
the widest plungiDg, rearing and
buckIng, the latter consisting OF rapid
series OF vertical leaps with legs rigid,
very trying to the riders endurance
and tenure of seat, the best OF them hav-
ing no hesitation in holding on at such
times by a strap regularly provided for
the purpose. IL he maintain his seat
through all this q wild gallop usually
fellows, protracted by the spurring Of
the remorseless rider until the animal
has thoroughly learned, once for all, the
mower of the master. And so docile are
they that the widest become in a few
weeks as tractable AS if they had been
in training for years, and will stand for
hours where left, saddled and brdled,
suietly waiting their masters return.
Owing TO their light weight ond ia
ferior quality the use under the saddle.
is the chief one to which they are put,
and to which their easy and untiring
gait is particularly adapted. All the
heavier draft and road work is done Ell
ther by horses of eastern stock or by
their much-abused half brother, the
mule. who, though he may occasionally
use his legs, as Josh Billings said, "two
to stand on, and two to kick WITH" il,
when decently handled, not only as sa-
gacious, kind and affectionate As the
horse, but much harder and simpler in
his wants.
One Experience fir IN Many.
ssI had been sick and miserable so
long, and had caused my husband so