The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-10
A RANCH IN MEXICO.
TIE SUMMER ROUND Up AND THE
COWBOYS WORK.
Horscmanship IF the Mexican VaIucrO.
Tic system Of breaking Untamed Bron-
co.--A Long Struggle Between Rider
and Horse-tiotory at Last.

Our ranch is about 40 miles from the Mex
lean Central railway, and tho City of Chihua-
hua, in this state, is oar headquarters and
depot for our supplies that The ranch does not
furnish or produce We lie at the base OF
the Sierra Madre range, ia IA finely wooded
v-aicred and erased valley, where the noun
tains attain their greatest height and the
scenery is most picturesque The climate IS
snpcrb, the altitude is about $500 feet-high
enough q escape the heat of summer, yet
low enough to avoid the SHOWS and cold OF
winter.
We arc NTH mids, of our summer "rodeo'
or round up The round up is for the pur-
pose Of weaving last years calves. Up to
now the work can be done by any one able
to sit q horse. Our object is 30 cut ont and
Soualato the COWS, steers and bulls from the
calves The men, mounted on their ileetest
horses. work in pairs. Entering the outer
cdrc Of the herd they select n beast nearest
them. With shout they are after H. one
on either side The animal seeing two horses
bearing down Oh him changes. 1t lodges 10
the right or left, not caring TO leave its young
or the herd As II turns the trained horses
turn with it, There is no outlet but straight
ahead: for that space the brute makes, the
men riding on either side. AT twenty or
thirty wards from the herd another man gets
behind tho animal, prevents it from turning
back. and the beast remains in the separate
herd. guarded by two men. This sort OF
work goes ON all day with various mishaps
and the froic OF the men
Tho Mexican vaquero, a good one, cannot
10 beaten for tOughness, ability 10 follow
trails, deXterity with a rope and for seat III
tho saddle He is not so trustworthy as his
American brother, but more easily handled
and skillful. Not day passes:out We have
exhibitions OF craftsmanship and rope throw
ing that would put Mr. Cody's snow to
shame, and, 10y the way, the best thing in his
Wild West exhibition was the riding of the
steer. an animal which is much harder to SIT
than the most bronco of horses, and was the
least appreciated by a New York audience.
Bitting unbroken horses as done i'll the
state, - unknown here, though we are now
introducing 1t for breaking carriage horses
OF course. the methods of breaking horses
that have been brought up on Il range and
have only seen man at "a distance since they
were branded, must differ from those en-
ploycd by such a horse breaker Us Professor
Gleason. Though the professor is most ex-
celent in breaking vicious broken horses by
his methods, he would sadly fail in applying
them 70 a horse that would not allow himself
T. be approached within forty feet.
Here the horses are driven into the corral.
The mansador or bronco buster, as he Is
termed I'm the states. selects the horse that IS
10 BE- btoken and ropes him. The moment
the moose tightens on the animals neck he
plunges and rears in his attempt to run
away, and will not allow himself to be APP
preached for the placing of the halter on bib
head II this cannot be accomplished a sec
oud rope is thrown, catching the horse by
his fore legs; the rope is drawn taut and the
animal. with terrible shock, is brought 10
the ground.
Now Is the tanners opportunity. With
"a bound he is on the animal, pressing his
weight upon the neck, and III atwiukling the
halter, with a rope attached, is placed on the
head and the other lines cast loose. As tho
horse rises and attempts 10 run he Is brought
up sharp by jerk on the rope that throws
him on his back; that is repeated again and
cgain until he learns that he Is only safe
when standing still.
Tho tanner next attempts to saddle him;
as soon as the saddle blanket touches the
horses back he is oil, only 10 be brought W
short again. This continues until by dint OF
coaxing and rope hauling the saddle Is finally
secured by two sinches. The moment this is
on and his head let loose the animal pitches
and plunges. endeavoring 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 be
tugs at the rope while the tanner takes a turn
around the horses jaw with his rope and
makes q pair of reinS of it, bride Is Of no
use until the animal Is taught TO turn his
head
All riding animals are ridden with the
rens tied Just above the neck and made into
a single rein so az 10 guide them by the neck
and make their management with one hand
easy, allowing the other free TO use the rope
Having brought the horse to the point OF
standing comparatively quiet, handker-
chief is tied about his eyes-an animal will
not run blindfolded- he allows the tanner
to mount, not being frightened 10y seeing
man in such close proximity One hand
holds the horse 10y the ear, the other sezes
the horn OF the saddle, and with light
vault the tanner Is in his seat.
Inc nlnuhciCulcl IL idiS,u rum tnc tNtS
and the now maddened and alfrightened
brute rushes to the end of the coral on the
dead run, leaping, pitching and plung'
ing at every step; III his fury the horse runs
against the sides of the corral, Jumps III 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 ana woundirg 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
shouting, hitting the animal with his heavy
qurt and digging his spurs into its sides at
every pitch jump or kick; the horse, with
sweat pouring down its sides, a bewildered
look in Its eye, stands gasping for breath,
discouraged in its efforts to unseat ITS rider
A few moments breathing spell for man and
beast and they are at II again. For an hour
the man remains IN the saddle. and the
horses lesson for that day is over. For the
next five days the horse Is saddled daily, the
lesson is increased daily in length, until the
last day he is ridden all day, doing ordinary