Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-08-07
BREAKING IN PONIES IN THE
FAR WEST.
Most Violent Exercise--The Real Fun
Begins When the Cluster" Gets
on the Bronco for the
First Time


business is sure to end by busting the
buster. 1t is unquestionably the most
violent form of athletics, and the br onco
buster, though he must be strong and
active. is not, as a rule, in the excep-
tional ordition necessary for gr eat feats
Of strength and endurance. Indeed,
training would scarcely help him much.
Whatever his strength and health, the
bronco buster is sure to get hurt sooner
or later. He works it off ard on at ten
dollars bronco. All cowboys do more
or less breaking, and some ranches always
break their own ponies, aud generally
have better ones for so doing.
Two rides will usually bust bronco
so that the average cow.puncier can use
him, but he would scarcely keep COM
pany long with most Central Park riders.
Two men generally work together.
They enter the corral, where there is apt
to be a good bunch of ponies; and these,
as if guessing what is to come, at once
lump away, and go careering madly
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, drags it over his head. A cool
roper can cast twenty 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 turn
round the snubbing-post in the centre
of the corral. There they nave the pony
fast, and they gradually work him up to
it. But the pony does not submit to
this vigorous coaxins in any amiable
mood. He bucks and plunges, kicks
and squeals, and charges straight at his
tormentors, who have to play a regular
game of hide and seek behind the snub
bing- post to save them from broken
bones. Finally the men get tie winded
pony snubbed up c'osc to the post,
where one can hold him while the
other gets behind him and catches
another rope on forward foot. Then,
as the pony starts, he yanks the foot
back, and in nine cases out of ten down
goes the pony. But not always. Some
obstinate ones will sink on the other
knee. and with the nose on the ground
still have four points to stand Oh. But
by-and by down he must; the snubbing-
rope is made fast, the saddle is fitted on
taut bien QUO nal, the cincha worked
under and the whole made fast Some
times it is difficult to get bit in the
pony's mouth, and they put on hacla-
more. which is halter-like rope ar.
rangement, sort OF Rarey hitci, with
an extra twist around his jaw, instead.
Then the second rope is loosed AMI the
pony is let up, still held by the snub-
bing- post rope. This is gradually loos-
ened so as 20 let the pony have a little
fun all to himself which he is sure to do,
bucking round in pretty lively fashion
for twenty minutes or half an hour to
rid himself of the saddle, despite the
choking of the rope. This takes the
feather edge of him, and he will end up
his play covered with foam aud quite a
bit tired. Some extra vigorous busters
ride the pony right off, but the more
judicious prefer to let him tire himself
out first. When this is done, the pony is
gradually worked out on the prairie, and
NAV perhaps have to be thrown again to
cinch him up AMI get ready for the
ride. TO keep him down while the
rider gets ready, the other man sits on his
bead, and the rider puts aside his six
shooter and hat and coat and everything
superfuous, but keeps his squrs and
iirt. Then he seizes the saddle AMI
gets his foot in the stirrup, the pony is
gradually unwound, and the instant he
reaches his feet the buster is in the sad
die. 1t is incredible how active these
men can be. Then the real fun begins
ana the rider and pony go at it in earnest
The other man sometimes goes along Oh
another horse, with a rope to catch the
pony if things work wrong; but he is {
wall flower, and takes no part in the
dancing. 1t is pretty rough sport. Tit
pony may be running bucker, and may
stand stock-still and buck in place
at unexpected intervals he may buck
over bank; he may buck and pitch
somersault forward, he may rear and fall
over backward The rider wants both
to stick to his pony aud be ready to
vault of in short measure il essential.
He uses all the legs nature has given
him, stirrup or no stirrup, and lashes his
pony at every rise with all his might.
When the pony rises, the trick is to gel
away from the cantle, aud the heavy
buster has fashion when the pony comes
down Of settling himself in his seat with
hard jolt and an "Ugh" thins
which soon tires out the little
fellow, which weighs barely fou
times as much as the man, and j
working dozen times as hard. One wa.
or other the pony will keep mis- resistance
up for certain length Of time, accord
ing to disposition but In couple o