The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-09
Subdueing the Broncho.

Joe Herring's corral in the south side
OF town resembles the regular Wild West
show and attracts many persons who de-
sire to witness the process of breaking the
wild broncho. Joe has a large number
of range horses which have never known
what it is to receive feed and have never
seen the inside of a stable. When broken
these horses become gentle in a short
time and are very servlceable. As the
prices on such animals are low purchas-
ers are readily found. The intending
buyer selects the animal he desires and
soon a trade is made.
In catching and riding the horse re
quires the highest skill of the profession
al "broncho BUSTER and often the danger
is very great.
Two 0busters," who are experienced
horsemen, each with a lasso, enter the
corral. The animals are started around
the enclosure and soon in the crowding,
galloping herd the horse selected comes
in sight. Then with practiced eye and
skillful aim the circling rope is thrown
and falls around the horses neck. Sell
dom does the noos miss the msrk. Then
comes the struggle. The horse which
has never known resistance feels the
lightning coil about his neck; he rears,
plunges, tries to run; two or three men
measure their strength with his, while
the deadly moose, with every strug'
gle tightens around his throat. In
a short time he to Il stand, but the
pressure is not removed, he trembles
from head to foot, the sweat starts from
him in drops, he makes a final desperate
plunge and falls. Instantly the rope is
loosened and a cowboy grasps him by
the head and holds him down while .
halter Ia placed on his head.
Then he is allowed to rise, but hi
, knows nothing only to resist with all hi
strength. He will not follow the halter
Then "Old Whitley" a powerful horse, il
, brought out, mounted, and to the horn o
+ his saddle is fastened the halter rope o
the broncho. Now comes the hardes
, struggle. The broncho pulls back will
= accustomed to the work, lays dow
! to it and 'snakes' him out b
J main strength. Next comes the process
, of bridling and saddling. After two o
three attempts the bride is usually i
place. Then slowly and with much car
. the blanket is put IN place. The viz
tim finds he is not hun
in this operation and become
% q~uieter. Next the saddle is put on an
II the animal is not too fractions tn
4 cinch is fastened before he can get trol
under it. Sometimes the horse make
desperate efforts to get the saddle off, h
will rear, plunge, buck, roll, but all to II
4 purpose. After he subsidies from tn
; struggle the rider prepares to mount. 7
an inexperienced man this would be
hazardous undertaking, but the cowbo
has no fears. Grasping the bride belo
the headstall he turns the horse
d head to the side, places his foot in til
stirrup and vaults into the saddle. Nov
the horse makes frantic efforts to thfo'
"a of the unaccustomed weight. With bea
= down, he suddenly brings his back VI
u like a jack in the box, and woe to til
y rider who is not prepared, for he will b
j. sent up into the air us if shot from II ca
1t apult. But our cowboy has been throug
d this experience before and is ready Il
d any emergency. After "bucking" a fe'
g times the horse usually starts off on
y mad run, trying in this way to rid himse
d Of the burden. This is just what IL
e cowboy wants and, with whip and spu
is h. urges the poor animal to its utmo
speed, This run is continued until til
l. annual Is exhausted and before he reacht
% the corral again he has learned to obe
the rein and spur. In a few days the
animals are tractable and are desirab
saddle horses.