The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-05-03
Cowboys Can't Ride Well.

Il have lived among the COWBOYS
for many years" said Mr.. Gosnold, of
Laredo, Tex, who has lived on the
frontier since 1853, "and think | know
them thoroughly. | find that a gen.
eral impression prevails throughout
the country that they are phenomenal
hoTsemen, miraculous shots. Neither
cf these opinions is correct, although
all have foundation in fact. First, as
to their hor5emanshlp, as far as stick
ing on and understanding what can
be done in the saddle goes, they GER
tainly are second to no riders in the
world. For Texas cowboy to pick
up a hat or silver dollar from the
ground when at full speed, to mount
lis horse at the gallop, or to stop him
in tull-career, and turn him on a sad
die blanket, are everyday feats. The
best of the riders can stand on the sad
die of a galloping horse, or pick up
coin lying on the ground on the Left
side of the horse with the right hand,
a most difficult feat, and one and all
can ride bucking horses. But here
their horsemanship ends, and beyond
this they are worse than the veriest
tyro, because the cowboys have faults
from which the most ordinary park
rider of the east is free | will ven
ture to say that if 1000 Texans start
on long march, where speed is nee
essary, side by side with a United
States cavalry regiment, the latter
will reach its destination long before
the former, and have its stock in serv-
iceable condition, while the Texas
hnt tNa nrl, h.
yard. Men understanding less about
horses and less able to keep their
mounts in good condition it would be
hard to find. Accustomed to having a
superabundance Of horses, they never
undertake either to train or spare
them, and would break down the best
horse in America in a week. Although
their horses are small, saddle weigh
ing from 30 to 40 pounds is used, the
most of this weight being useless leath-
er. When one bears in mind the old
racing saying that the weight of
stable key will win or lose a race, the
absurdity of this style of saddle is ap-
parent. During the war the value of
Texans as cayalrymen was well
proved. They were greatly relied
upon and much dreaded, but when
they came before the enemy after a
march of POO or 800 miles not one
horse in five was in serviceable condi-
ton, and the entire force was worse
than useless. Then they thought they
knew everything about riding, and re-
fused to receive instructions, it being
impossible to make them into as good
cavalrymen as the rawest recruits be-
came after a few months training. 1t
was practically impossible for horse
to throw them, but outside of this they
were and are the most destructive and
worst riders in the world.
''As to their shooting" continued
Mr.. GOsnold, because every man
used to carry a revolver and was ready
to use it, people supposed they were
fine shots. One thing they did under
stand, and that was quick shooting,
but as to any accuracy, not one in
hundred possessed it. Pistol eombats
in Texas were nearly always of the
shoulder to shoulder kind, where speed
was of far more importance than aim,
and Texan could fire a great number
of shots in a given time. But when it
came to fine craftsmanship, they were
nowhere, and in an eastern shooting
gallery would not begin to be able TO
hold their own. As rifle shots they
are even worse. and could not hold
any position at all at Creedmoor or
any regular rifle range. st. Louis
POSt-DiSpdtch.