Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-31
INDIAN RIDERS.
Thcir School Ia Experience, Thor Pro-
ficiency Marvellous.


Thcir school Ia Experience, THOR Pro-
ficiency Marvellous.
We have from all sources accurate and
consistent accounts Of the extraordinary
riding of the old savage Catlin and
Parkman and Dodge describe him fully.
A piece of buffalo robe girthed over the
pony's back stood in lieu of saddle, if
even so much used; cord of twisted
hair dashed round its lower jaw served
for bit and bride. When hunting. in
fact as rule, the Indian wore naught
but breech-cloth and moccasins-not
to lay stress on paint and feathers-and
carried a bufalo-skin, which he threw
about his shoulders, or let fall from
about his waist. He was often splen-
did specimen of manly strength and &C.
Claimed Benjamin West. M whsn he fi s
beheld the Apollo Belvedere. A heavy
whip, with elk-horn handle and knotted
bulls hide lash, hung by loop to the
Indians wrist. His bow and arrows
gave full occupation to his hands; he
must guide his pony with legs and word
alone, and rely on its intelligence and
the training he had given to it to do the
right thing at the right time. Thus
slenderly, equipped, this superb rider
dashed into the midst of herd of buff
falo, and so quick was the pony and so
strong the seat of his master that, de-
spite the stampede ofthe terror stricken
herd and the charges of the engraged
and wounded bulls, few accidents ever
occurred. The Indian on horseback
has ninety lives, not nine. His riding
is not an art, it is nature.
The Indian has never developed
system of training his ponies. Each
man teaches his own to suit himself, and
except limitations, or certain trick
shown by father to son, and thus per-
petuated, there was none but individual
knack in his horsemanship. The Plains
pony was quickly taught after 8 rough
and ready fashion, more by cruelty than
kindness; in manner, in fact, as differ
emit from the system of the Arabs Us the
fine shape of the Barb differs from the
rugged outline of the bronco. All horses
are more intelligent than man supposes;
those most with men, or on which man
most depends, most readily respond to
training, and the Indian and his pony
were every day and all day comrades.
Before the Indian could trade for or
steal a bit, he always used the jaw rope
or nothing. With the rope in the
left hand, he bore against the neck to
turn to one side. and gave pull to turn
to the. other; or else he shifted his
pony's Group by a more or less vigorous
kick with either heel. When both his
hands were busy he relied entirely upon
his legs and the pony's knowledge of
the business in hand; but as every
Indian digs his heels into his
horses TANKS and lashes him with the
quirt at every stride, it is hard to see
how the pony caught on to his meaning.
The more credit to the quadruped.
The feats of the Indian of to-day, such
as picking objects off the ground at q
gallop, or hanging to one side of his
horse, concealed, all but an arm and
leg, while he shoots at his enemy from
behind the running rampant, were
equally performed by his bareback an
cestor. The latter was wont to braid
his horses name into long loop through
which he could thrust his arm to pre-
serve his balance, but he had not the
advantage of the cantle to hold to by
LID 4OSs tAO oAA4 OnAOOaSh AASACA LOU
! now disappeared; it needed but a short
contact with civilization to show hin
the manifest advantages of bit and sad
die.
It is no wonder that the Indian rode
we'll. Before he could walk or talk OF
remember, the lad had been tied to 8
horse, and no Indian can recollect the
time when he could not ride anything
and everything which came along. The
boys from - years up do most of the
herding. and in this occupation they
become familiar with every pony in the
tribe. It is probable that the lads have
. roped and mounted in succession every
, one intrusted to their care, and have
learned its individual qualities, while
gaining in general horsemanship.- Col
. Z. d. Dodge, IN Haaper's Magazine