The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-30
BUSTING THE DR0NCH0.
How the Bueking Pony Is Gotten
Into Condition for the Cow
boys Use.
It Is Fun for the Spectator, but
Work for the
Buster.
Ar Exciting Struggle of Man and Beast
to Find Out Which Is the
Master.

Bronco busting ia a Instinct art. The
bronco buster may be a professional" who
has originally taken up the work to replen-
ish his exchequer. deHleted by whisky and
poker, and sticks to it for lack of an easier
job. and because he is at low-water mark;
or be may be ~cow-puncher in slack times.
As a rule, he cannot stick it out very long,
for the busineis is sare to end by busting
the buster. 1t is unquestionably the most
violent form of athletics, and the bronco
buster, though he must be strong and ac-
tive, is not, as a rule, in the exceptional
condition necessary for great feats of
strength and endurance. Indeed, training
would scarcely help him much. Whatever
his strength and health, the bronze buster
is sure to get hurt sooner or later. He
works it off and on at $40 a bronco. All
cowboys 10 more or less breaking, and
some ranches always break their own
ponies, and generally have better ones for
SO doing.
Two rides will usually bust a bronco so
that the average cow-puncher can use him.
but he would scarcely keep company long
with most Central park riders. Two men
generally work together. They enter the
COTTAl, WAcT6 uHeTe IN 6Db 10 Do u ROOu
bunch of ponies, and these, as if guessing
what is to come, at once jump away, and go
careering nladly around the Enclosure. One
man handles the rope, which he trails along
the ground until he selects his pony, and
then, with a sudden and dexterous snap,
dress it over his head. A good roper can
cast Twenty-Five feet. Then both men
seize hold. dig their heels into the ground
to stop the pony-knack will enable even
one man to jerk him up, if need be-and
finally get a turn round the snubbing-po post
in the center Of the corral. There
they nave tho pony fast. an. thew
gradually work him up to it. But
the pony does not submit 10 this
vigorous coaxing in any amiabie mood. He
bucks ami p.upRes, kicks ind saueais. and
charges straight lit his tormentors, who
have To play Il regular game Of hide-and-
seek behind the snubblng post to save their
from broken bonsa. Finnl.y the men get
the winded pony snubbod up close to the
post. where one can hold him while the
other gets behind him anu catches another
roIe on a forward foot. Then, as tho pony
starts, lie ynnks the foot back, and in min.
cases out of ten down goes the pony. But
not alwavs. Some obstinate ones will sinL
on the other knee, and with the nose or
the ground still have fonr points to stanG
on. But by-and-by down he must; the
snubbing rope ia made fast, the saddle il
fitted OF. the circha worked under, and the
whole NJ sde fast. Sometimes it is difficult
to get e bit in the ponv's mouth, and the,
put on q hackAmore. which is
halter-lIke rope arrangement, C sor
OF Karey hitch, with an extr;
twist round his jsw, instead. Then thu
second rope is loosed and the pony is lie
mr.. still held by tho s~uubbinG-post rope
This is gradually looscned, so Hs to let tn
POM have a little fun all to himself, whicl
hs is sure to do. bucking round in q prett