The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-20
INDIAN RIDERS.
Some of the Wonderful Horseback Feats
of the Aborigines.

Some of tho Wonderful Horseback Feats
of the Aborigines.
We have from all sources accurate and
consistent accounts of the extraordinary
riding of he old savage, says a writer in
Harpers. Catlin and Parkman and Dodge
describe him fully. A piece of buffalo robe
girted over the pony's back stood in lieu of
a saddle, if even SO much was used; a cord
of twisted hair dashed round Its lower jaw
served for bit and bride. When hunting,
in fact, as a rule, the Indian wore naught
but & breechcloth and moccasins, not to lay
stress on paint and feathers, and carried q
buffalo skin, which he threw about his
shoulders. or let fall from about his waist.
He was often a splendid specimen of manly
strength and activity. BY =, a Mo-
hawkr,' exclaimed Benjamin West, when he
first beheid the Apollo Belvedere.
A heavy whip, with elkhofn handle and
knotted bulls HIDE lash, hung by a loop to
the Indians wrist. His bow and arrows
gave full occupation to his hands; he must
guido his pony with legs and word alone,
and rely on its intelligence and the tram
ing he mad given it to do the right thing at
the right time. Thus slenderly equipped,
this superb rider dashed into the midst of
q herd of buffalo, and so quick was the
pony and so strong the seat of his master
tltIl, utSp4tc IL bl1lilptNo vi FIX
stricken herd and the charges of the en-
ragged and wounded bulls, few accidents
ever occurred. The Indian on horgeba ok
has ninety lives, not nine. His riding ia
not an art, it is nature.
The Indian has never developed a syst en-
of training his ponies. Each man teaches
his own to suit himself, and except imita-
ton, or a certain trick shown by father to
son, and thus perpetuated, there was none
but individual knack in ho~rsemanship.
The plains pony was quickly taught after a
rough and ready fashion, more by cruelty
than kindness-in a manner, in fact, as
different from the system of the Arabs as
| the fine shape of the barb differs from the
rugged outline of the bronco. All horsef
are more intelligent than man supp2seg
those most with men, or on which
man most depends, most readily re
spond to training, and the In
dian and his pony were every day
and all day comrades. Before the indiaI
could trade for or steal a bit he Away
used the jaw rope-or nothing. With tn
rope in the left hand he bora against tn
neck to turn to one side and gave u pull tt
turn to the other; or else he shifted hi
pony's Group by a more or less vigorous
kick with either heel. When both his hands
were busy he relied entirely upon his leg
and the ony's knowledge of the bushes
in hand: but as every Indian digs his heel
into his horses TANKS and iashes him wit
the quirt at every stride, it is hard to se
how the pony caught on to his meaning
The moro credit to the quadruped.
The feats of the Indian of to-day, such a
picking objects off the ground at a gallon
or hanging to one side of his horse, con
cealed all but an arm and leg, while b
shoots at hls enemy from behind the run
ming lampa't, were equally performed b
his bareback ancestor. The latter wa
wont to braid his horses name into u lon
loop, through which he would thrust h
arm to preserve his balance, but ne had nt
the advantage of the cantle to hold to b
his leg. Tho old bareback rider has no
disappeared; il needed but n short contae
with civilization to show HIM the manifel
advantage of bit and saddle.
1t Is no wonder that the Indian rode wei
Before he could walk or talk Or remember