The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-17
NO. 25
Tanning Wild Bronchos.

DIAN POLICE.-CRUEL BUT EFFECTUAL.
"A BATTLE BETWEEN HORSE AND MAN.
A letter from Regina, British America,
to the Toronto Ma0 describes how Mr..
Charles Thibault engages in the exciting
occupation of breaking bronchos for the
mounted police. The writer says:
Mr.. Thibault has ranch on the Sun
River, Montana, about $50 miles south of
Calgary, which is stocked with between
500 and 800 head of horses. Last year he
supplied the settlers here with 800 horses.
This year he has sold the police rs head.
His contract with the police is that the
horses shall be thoroughly broken to the
saddle. "They start out on equal terms.
said he, ''that is, the horse and breaker.
One knows that he will be boss and the
other thinks he will. Now, the sooner the
battle is over the better for both, because
after that they will be friends" The OPP
Grafton of breaking, although 1t would
certainly be denounced by the Royal
Humane Society as cruel, is very effectual.
A good breaker can train so horses month
and thinks nothing of it. l spent the
greater part Of yesterday afternoon watch
ing the operation, and as many of your
readers may be interested in it will try
and describe it. A band of about 50
bronchos was driven into corral or In
closure connected with Mr.. Gillesple's
stable. Charlie as Mr.. Thibault is
Familiarity called among his friends, enter
ed few minutes later mounted on small
snow white broncho. He was dressed IN
true Western style and so was his wife.
The latter bore the heavy Mexican saddle
with high cantle and pommel OF thorn,
while two broad girths or 'siches" OF
horse hair strapped it firmly in place. On
the horn hung the lariat or lasso OF horse
hair. The riders limbs were encased In
heavy leathern overalls or ''shaps, Whiie
huge Mexican spurs, with rowels two
inches in diameter, jingled at his heels
A huge sombrero shaded and at times
almost hid his manly features as, dashlng
round the corral, he pursued the fright
tened animals. All being ready Charlie
commenced operations. Gathering his
lariat up in his left hand he adjusted the
moose, and then swinging 1t round MS
head dug the spurs into his steed and made
a dash into the band.
Off started the wild horses and round
they dashed, throwing their heads high In
the air, while their eyes flashed with fright
as they attempted to dodge their pursuer.
His little pony seemed to enter into the
sport with Just as keen relish as its rider.
Guided by a pressure of the leg-for the
use of the bride rein was out OF the
question: stopped or turned at the right
Charlie had singled out beau
tiful dappled gray and chased it round and
round several times. For an instant, and
an instant only, its head rose above the
others, but that was enough. With a
'sswish'' the coils of the lariat left his
hand and the moose fell over the head and
neck of the gray. Suddenly the little
white horse threw itself on it's launches,
Charlie took couple of turns round the
''horn" with what a sailor would call the
''fall" of the rope, and the trapped steed,
with tongueand eye protruding, came to
standstill. A moose of rope was then laid
on the ground. and, turning his horse
round. the breaker dragged the gray
across. AS soon as it's fore feet entered
the loop couple of assistants pulled it
taut, and the gray was soon lying painting
on it's side. When sufficiently exhausted
it's eyes were bandaged, a saddle placed on
it's back and huge Furnishing" bitplaced
in it's now bleeding mouth.
The captured animal, tremblingin every
limb, was led outside the corral and Charlie
mounted. The bandage was removed from
it's eyes. For an instant it stood looking
from side TO side as though dazed. Then
seeming to realize it's position it made a
dash forward and stopped as suddenly as
though it had brought up against a stone
wall. But the rider did not go over its
head and it's amiable intention in this
respect was frustrated. Then he tried
another method. 1t began to buck, and
just how bucking is performed is some
thing 1 have never been able to thoroughly
although it's effect on the mind
will never be effaced from memory. To
be brief 1 may say that it is an attempt on
the part of the horse to first shake the
flesh from the bones of it's rider and then
shake the skeleton to pieces.
But to return to Charlie and his broncho.
The latter, getting its feet together
arched it's back and went up in the air
about two feet lighting on all fours with
it's limbs as rigid as iron bars. Again and
again was this interesting part of the pro-
gramme repeated. The rider used raw
hide and spurs unsparingly. Foam and
blood flew from the mouth of the broncho.
At last, seeing that it could not get rid Of
It's tormentor, it made wild dash out on
the prairie. reared, and began bucking
again. At last, wearied with the exer-
ton, it galloped back to the stable without
any further attempt to fight its rider. The
saddle and bride were removed and it was
turned into the corral.
'sThree or four such rides as that, y said
Charlie, twill bring it to time. That
beast will be worth $3.50 when it's thor
oughly broke. Those that fight the worst
at first are always the best"