The Dickinson press., 1888-09-08
A RANCH IN MEXICO.
THE SUMMER ROUND UP AND THE
COWBOYS WORK.

Harsriiausl,ip of the Mexican NaQucro
Tho system of Breaking Unframed Bron-
cos--A Long Struggle Between Rider
and ~Horsc-yictory ut Last.
Our ranch is about 40 miles from the Mex
lean Central railway, and the City of Chihua-
hra, i'll this state, is or headquarters and
depot for our supplies that the ranch does not
furnish or produce. We lie at the base of
the Sierra Madre range, i'll Il finely wooded,
watcred and erased valley, where the noun
tains attain their greatest height and the
scenery is most picturesque. The climate is
superb, the altitude is about $500 feet
enough 10 escape the heat of summer, Yet
low enough to avoid the SHOWS and cold o..
winter.
We are inthe midst of our Slnlner "rodeoH
or round up. The round up is for the pur-
pose of weaving last wears calves. Up to
now the work can he done 10y amy one able
to sit Il horse, Our object is to cut out and
separate tho COWS, steers and bulls from the
calves. The men, mounted on their neetcat
horses, work in pairs. Entering the outer
edge OF the herd they select II beast nearest
them. With Il s!ou, they are after il, one
on either side. Th5 animal seeing two horses
bearing down on HIM changes. 1t lodges to
the right orlcft, not caring to leave its young
or the herd. rs il turns the t&iincd horses
turn with ii. There il 10 outlet but straight
ahead: for that space the brute makes, the
mel riding on either side. AT twenty or
thirty yards from the herd another man gets
behind the animal, prevents it from turning
back. and the beast remains III the separate
herd. guarded by Two men. This sort Of
work goes on all day with various misllaps
and the frolic of the men.
The McSicau vaquero, Il good one, cannot
IT. beaten for %toushnoss, ability to follow
trails. deNtegity with Il rope and for q seat in
the saddl.. lIc is not so trustworthy as his
American brother, hut more easily handled
and skfllful. Not a day passcs.but we have
exhibitions of horscmansllip and rope throw
ing that would put Mi. Cody's $40 to
shame: and, by the a the l,est thing in his
Wild Mest exhibition was the riding of the
steer, an animal which is much harder Ia Sit
than the most bronco of horses, and was the
Jeast appreciated ly q New York audience.
Biting unbrohcn horses as done in the
s.ates is unknown here, though we are now
Introducing ii for breaking carriage horses.
Oh course, the methods of breaking horses
that lave been brought up on a range and
lave only seen man at Il distance since they
We're branded. lnust differ from those EN-
ploycd by such a horse breaker us Professor
Gleason. Though the professor is most OK
ce!lcnt i'll breaking vicious broken horses 10y
lis methods, he would sadly fail in applying
them to q horse that would not allow himself
TO lie approached within forty feet.
Hero the horses are driven into the corral.
The niansalor OF bronco buster, as he is
.",1 -, a., .,-- snln,. Ill, 1..rH, {1,,t =.
10 he btolcn and ropes him. The moment
tilunoosc tigltcns Oh the animals neck he
r.unccs ant rcals in his attempt to run
away, and will not allow himself 10 Inc ap-
preached FOR the placing of the halter on his
head. il this cannot lie accomplished u scc-
onl rope is thrown, catching the horse by
his fore legs; the rope is drawn 1aut and the
animal, with II terrible shock, is brought to
the ground.
Now is the tanners opportunity. With
IL bound he is ON TIE animal, pressing his
weight upon the neck, and in ntwinkling the
halter, with II rope attached, is placed OF the
bead and the other lines cast loose. AS the
horse rises and attempts TO run lie is brought
mp sharp by q jerk on the rope that throws
Lin Oh his back; that is repeated again and
again until be learns that he is only safe
when standing still,
The tanner next attempts to saddle him:
as soon Il, the saddle blanket touches tho
horses back he is OF, only to he brought up
short again. This continues until by dlnt of
coaAing and rope hauling the saddle is finally
secured by two sinchcs. The moment this is
on and his head let loose the animal pitches
and llunSes. ~cldcavoring to rid himself of
his strange load, until his strength gives way
and he stands painting and wild eyed. With
ears cooked and front feet firmly planted lie
tugs at the rope while the tanner takes IL turn
around the horses jaw with his rope and
makes Il pair of reins of it; u bride is Of no
use until the animal l., taught to turn his
head.
All riding animals are ridden with the
lci,!s tied just above tho neck and made into
a single rein SO as to guide them by the neck
and make their management with one hand
easy, allowing the other FREQ to use the rope.
Having brought the horse to the point of
standing comparatively quiet, Il handkcr-
chief is tied about his eycs-an animal will
not run blindfolded-and he allows the tanner
to mount, not being frightened by seeing Il
man i'll such close proximity. One hand
holds the horse by The eur, the other scizes
the horn OF the saddle, and with u light
vault the tanner is in his seat.
The handkerchief is raised from tho eyes
and the now madlencd and atrrightened
brute PUSHES to the cad Of the coral OIL tho
dead ran, leapins, pitching and plung-
ing ct every step; IN his fury the horse runs
against the sides of the corral, jumps in the
air and comes down with his four feet rigid,
the hardest pitch to withhold; now with his
front legs paving the air, the most danger
Gus act, as he is apt to fall backward, killing
himself ami w%oundiny the rider; now with
his hind feet kicking out straight in his en-
deavor to unseat the tanner, but all Of no
avail.
The rider sits calmly in the saddle, with Il
firm grip against its sides with his knees,
shou.Ing, hitting the animal with his heavy
quirt and diggtn.. his spurs into its sides at
every pitch, jump OF kick; the horse, with
sweat pouring down its sides, a bewildered
look i'll its eye, stands gasping for breath,
discouraged i'll its efforts 10 unseat its rider
few moments breathing spell for man and
beast and they ure at it again. For M houl
the mai remains i'll The saddle, and Tho
horses lesson Tor that day is over. For III,
next five days the horse is saddlcd daily, til,
lesson is increased daily in length, until til,
last day lie is ridden all day, doing ordinary
work, aud then turned over ''broke" to SON,
man Tor Use IN his mount and who iscxpcctet
TO finish its education i'll roping and turning
Less trouble is experienced in brcakin;
mules than horses. They are more timid
but %ouieter, and need u longer time to lcarl
thoroughly their duties. To tho men VII,
ride the mountain lines mules are furnished
They are better than horses for that Worn
being surer looted aud Of greater endurance
but for round up purposes and cutting ca,
horses are preferred for their ilcetacss.-
chihuahua Cor. New Icrk World.