, 1885-05-09
COLORADO



Extraordinary Featz Of Hor.amanship by
tho cowboys-
Boston Commercial Bulletin
We had a fine looking herd of horses,
they having been well cared for during
the winter to get them in perfect condi.
ton FOR this season of hard work: they
were all full Of the vicious broncho
tricks. Some bucked only when the
saddle was put on, others bucked with
mounting. while the largest number
bucked az eccentric intervals, whose re-
currence could never be accurately cal
culated upon.
When the horse bucked the saddle
only, IL was the custom of the boys to
worry him into his little performance
with all dispatch, giving him plenty of
rope and urging him TO 'haye it OUT
with the saddle before mounting. All
the horses were very sklttish about be-
ing saddle before mounting, and TO
manage it successfully required nc lit
tie tact.
The horse caught up by the lariat owe
his head was cautiously approached,
winding up the lariat as one advanced
walking up on the rope in the cow
boy idiom. The horses head reached,
a loop called a 'hackmore' was twisted
around his nose, and he was led to
where the saddle and bride lay waiting
upon the ground, and the bride put on
very gently over the rope that still
encircled his nose; then firmly holding
the bride reins and rope in his left
hand. with his right the cowboy eau
tiously laid the saddle blankets over
the horses back, and if the ami.
NAL jumped and shook them off
the cowboy simply swore and laid
them back again. If the horse persisted
in refusing to have anything to do with
the blankets he was blinded with a
handkerchief, which always had the
effect Of keeping him still. The blan-
kets adjusted, the stirrup and cinches
of the right side of the saddle were laid
over the top, that there might be nothing
hanging loose from that side, and the
saddle was lifted by the pommel and
laid-not thrown-across the horses
back. Then tho cinches were gently
but firmly frightened, the left hand still
holding the rope and bride, and the
reins were knotted to the rope at full
length or passed over the horses head
and fastened to the saddle-horn. TAX
ing hold Of the extreme end Of the lariat
the cowboy would remove the blind
from tho horse and make a Jump at him,
when, if the animal had any inclination
for bucking he generally began with
great promptness and vigor. All the
modus operandi, so long in detail, re-
CURED but a few minutes in the accom-
plishment.
When the horse finally became tired
Of the exercise so hat he could DO wor-
ried into bucking no more, he was again
cautiously approached by walking up
on the rope, and it was sometimes nee
essary to again blindfold him before
mounting. With the coil of rope and
the reins in the left hand, with the same
hand the rider grasped the check-piece
of the bride, and seizing the saddle
horn with the other hand, his left foot
in the stirrup, quickly swung himself
into the saddle. In mounting in this
manner, if the horse jumps the rider is
sure to land in the saddle instead of be-
hind as is the case in getting on par
sol fashion, so called, with the left
hand on the horn and the right on the
cantle. The horses head was held down
in mounting, so that if he were inclined
to buck his capacity was limited, and
the coil of rope was kept well in hand,
so that if one wa thrown he could pre-
vent the horse from getting away.