, 1888-02-10
TANNING HORSES IN TEXAS.

The Lively Manner in which They Are
Broken for Saddle Use.
The mule ranch of Harrison Davis is
situated in Grayson county, this state, u
short distance from Sherman, the county
seat. 1t was here q few days ago that q
correspondent had the pleasure of seeing
some wild stock broke for saddle use.
There are but n few men who make it n
business to break horses and who possess
sufficient skill and patience to conquer
the fiery spirit Of the most vicious animal.
These ''wild horse riders,r as they are
called, in addition to receiving the use Of
the horse while handling him, get fees
ranging from So to 1926. Fearless Frank,
a well known Texas tanner, had been en-
gagged to break a magnificent sorrel,
owned by Mr.. Davis, called Mad Ranger.
Ranger was a spoiled horse. He had been
caught several times for the purpose of
being saddled INT bridled, but the tanners
had been unable to do anything with him.
The horse lot was inclosed by massive
logs n the stoutest timbers, capable of
successfully resisting the most determined
efforts on the part of the beasts to escape.
Connected with the large Enclosure were
several smaller ones, and in one of these
Ranger was driven. Frank then took
from his saddle n coil of three quarter
inch rope, forty feet long, and q second
coil about half as long, but much heavier;
also, an oilcloth slicker. Thus equipped
he slipped into the Enclosure and faced the
horse. Making n moose in one of the coils
of rope he quickly threw it over Rangers
head and fastened the other end to a post
called the tug post. The animal com
menced to rear and plunge, but at every
plunge thes slack in the rope was taken up
and Ranger was soon alongside the post.
Here he was made secure with n Spanish
knot, which his struggles only served to
tighten.
Selling the old slicker, the trainer next
hit the horse over the head and neck,
causing the animal to rear and kick. The
horse was soon tired out, and the blows
that fell upon him scarcely caused him to
vince. The trainer next took his long
rope and fastened it around Rangers
head in such n manner that it served as n
halter. The other end of the rope was Sc
cured to the post. A rope was then placed
around the animals body in such II man
ner that it would not slip, and another
rope was fastened to his hind foot. The
rope attached to the foot was drawn
through the one around his body and
the end taken by the trainer. A couple
of hard pulls brought the foot up to
the stomach, and the horse was compelled
to stand on three legs, thus unable to kick
or rear. The tanner then patted the horse
on the head and slipped the bride on.
Then the saddle was put in the proper
place, and the stirrups %''hobbled," to pre-
vent any injury to the animal, should he
fall. The rider then seated himself in the
saddle, the ropes were taken from the
horses feet n body, the gate of the pen
opened, and horse and rider dashed u on
the prairie. For fully an hour the infuri-
ated animal reared, plunged and jumped
about, vainly endeavoring to throw hiJ
rider, but finally, becoming exhausted,
came to n s|tandstill, and had to be urged
to even walk. 1t was then that the horse
was broken.-TeXas Cor. Globe Demo-
craft.