Wichita eagle., 1888-07-12
A RANCH IN MEXICO.
TIE SUMMER ROUND UP AND THE
COWBOYS WORK.
Horseroanship of the Mexican Vaquero.
The System of Breaking Untamed Bron-
cos-A Long Struggle Between Rider
and Horse-Victory at Last


cos-A Long Struggle Between Rider
and Horse-victory at Last
Our ranch Is about 40 miles from the Mex
ican Central railway, and the City Of Chihua-
hua in this state, is our headquarters and
depot for our supplies that the ranch does not
furnish OF produce. We lie at the base Of
the Sierra Madre range, il a finely wooded,
watered 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-hlgh
enough to escape the heat of summer, yet
low enough to avoid the SHOWS and cold Of
winter
We are in the midst 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 horse. Our object is to cut out and
separate the cows, steers and bulls from the
calves The men, mounted on their feetest
horses, work in pairs. Entering the outer
edge of the herd they select a beast nearest
them With a Shout they are after it, one
on either side. The animal seeing two horses
bearing down on him changes. 1t lodges to
the right or left, not caring TO leave its young
or the herd. As it 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 yards from the herd another man gets
behind the animal, prevents it from turning
back, and the beast remains In the separate
herd, guarded by two men This sort of
work goes on ali day with various mishapS
and the frolic of the men.
The Mexican vaquero, a good one, cannot
be beaten for toughness, ability to follow
trails, dexterity VI rope and for a seat il
the saddle. He Is trustworthy as his
American brother, -. more easily handled
and skillful Not day passessbut we have
exhibitions of Craftsmanship and rope throw
Ing that would put Mr. Cody's snow to
shame; and, by 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.
Biting unbroken horses as done in the
states is unknown here, though we are now
introducing il for breaking carriage horses.
OF course, the methods of breaking horses
that have been brought up on a range and
have only seen man at a distance since they
were branded, must differ from those en-
ployed by such horse breaker as Professor
Gleason. Though the professor is most ex-
cellent in breaking vicious broken horses by
his methods, he would sadly fail in applying
them to horse that would not allow himself
to be approached within forty feet.
Here the horses are driven into the corral.
The mansador or bronco buster, as he is
termed in the states, selects the horse that is
to be btoken and ropes him. The moment
the moose tighuens on the animals neck he
plunges and rears in his attempt 10 run
away, and will not allow himself to be ap-
preached for the placing of the halter on his
head II this cannot be accomplished sec
ond rope is thrown, catching the horse by
his fore legs; the rope is drawn taut and the
animal, with terrible shock, Is brought to
the ground
Now is the tanners opportunity. With
g bound he is On the animal, pressing his
weight upon the neck, and in atwiukling the
halter, with a rope attached, is placed on the
head and the other lines cast loose. As the
horse rises and attempts to run he is brought
up sharp by jerk on the rope that throws
him on his back; that is repeated again and
again until he learns that he is only safe
when standing still.
The tanner next attempts to saddle him;
as soon as the saddle blanket touches the
horses back be is off, only to be brought up
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 TURF
around tho horses jaw with his rope and
makes pair OF rains of it; bride is of nc
use until the animal Is taught to turn his
head
All riding animals are ridden with the
seins tied Just above the neck and made into
single rein so as to 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, q handker-
chief is tied about his eyes-an animal viii
not run blindfoided-and he allows the tanner
10 mount, not being frightened by seeing
man in such close proximity. One hand
holds the horse by the ear, the other SEXES
the horn of the saddle, and with q light
vault the tanner is in his seat.
The handkerchief is raised from the eyes
and the now maddened and afriShtened
brute ruSbeS TO the end Of the coral on the
dead run, leapipg, pitching and plung
ing at 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
ous act, as he Is apt 10 fall backward, killing
himself and wounding the rider: now with
his bind feet kicking out straight in his en-
deavor TO unseat the tanner, but all OF 10
avail
The rider sits calmly in the saddle. with a
6rm grip against its sides with his knees,
shouting, hitting the animal with his heavy
ouirt and digging his spurs into its sides a,
every pitch, jump or kick; the horse. with
sweat pouring down its sides bewilde-ed
lock in its eye, stands gasqirS for breath.
discouraged IL its efforts 10 unseat its rider
A few moments breathing spell Tor man and
beast and they are at IT again Fer an hour
the man remains in the saddle, and the
horses lesson for that day IS over. For the
next Eve DAYS the horse is saddlsd daily. the
lesson is increased daily in length, until the
last day he IS ridden all day, doing ordinary
work, and then turned over broke 70 sons
man for use il his mount and who is expected
to finish its education In roping and turning.
Less trouble IS experienced in breaking
mules than horses. They are more tInid,
but quieter, and need longer time to learn
thoroughly their duties To the men wbc