The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-04-19
WILD HORSES.
MANY OF THEM ARE STILL
FOUND ON THE PLAINS,
Interesting Account or the Manner
In Which They Are Captured
Alter Being Worn Out ana
Pretty Nearly Starved.
II ERDS of wild horses ara still
M found roaming over the plains
ALI of western Kansas and eastern


quently the ranchmaa is still absent.
There is plenty of buffalo grass on these
arid prairies, but crops will not grow
without artificial application OK moisture,
hence the wild horses and the almost
equally wild cattle have still undisputed
possession. .,
The wild horse isn't the least bit like
the Texas or Indian pony. He is heavier,
weighing from 800 to 1000 pounds,
while the pony weighs from 500 to $50
pounds; he is squarely built, broad
across the hips, strong limbed, high
headed and stylish, while the Indian
pony is slim, thin legged, slender IN
body, low headed aud "slouch," but
the pony is shipped East aud sold, while
the wild horse is kept at home. There
are two reasons for keeping tho wild
horses at home. First, the plainsmen
know when they have a good thing, and,
second, a wild horse has to be broken
every time he is hitched up.
There is no use in trying to break a
wild horse so that he will stay broken;
one might as well try to teach an Indian
to wear curl papers; but these wild
horses are sure-footed, long-winded
strong g.nerved saddle horses, and untiriug
in harness. A team of these fellows,
weighing not more than nine hundred
pounds to the horse, will travel, week in
and week out, at the rate of 100 miles
day, drawing the driver and an ordinary
two-seated light wagon.
The method Of capturing these wild
horses is peculiar aud worthy Of desoFip-
ton. They are not run down, but are
walked down. Each band of wild horses
has it's especial range, and woe to any
intruders from other bands. The range
seldom exceeds fifty miles In extent.
Those who make it their business to CAP.
ture them go in parties of four, with a
wagon in which they carry provisions
for themselves, grain for their horses,
barrels of water, lariats, etc. =, As rule
they take with them fifteen or twenty
saddle horses in order that they may
change mounts three or four times each
twenty -four hours. They travel until
they discover with strong field glasses
bard Of wild horses ten or fifteen miles
distant. Then they make camp
leaving two men in charge
OF the supply wagon and the EXTRA saddle
horses. The other two then be Sin their
fstiguing task Of walking the wild horse,
down. They start toward their game
bearing slightly to the right, in order to
get them started in circle. Their OBJ.
ject is to keep them circling around the
camp within radius of twenty or thirty
miles. This is for the purpose OF being
near enough to their base of supplies to
obtain fresh horses, and to allow the
tired ones to rest. When the "king" of
the band first catches sight OF the men,
ne starts of at break-neck speed, the
rest following him. For few miles
they pound along in a straight line ani
then begin to circle slightly. The pur-
suers manage to keep sight Of the game
and to keep them going until they begin
to get tired aud thirsty. The riders
never rush In on them; that would spoil
oil their chances OF a successful result.
Their sole object now IL to keep the
game moving aud prevent them from
obtaining any water or food. Surprising
as 1t may soon, it takes about three
weeks OF this "Dr. Tanner" business to
TO get the wild horses sufficiently starved
down to allow an approach within n,ile
of them. After tais point Is
reached, the mon can easily keep the
horses going in an ever decreasing circle,
until at last they are "milling" around
within radius of not more than fifty
yards. Now all four OF the men come
into active service. They take rope, at
least i've hundred feet long, and, maxim Q
a slip loose In one end OF il eight or ten
feet In diameter, they spread this upon
the ground AID drive tho game over It.
One OF the men pulls the rope and geuer.
ally succeeis In snaring the foot OF one
OF the wild horses. Toe rest OF the band
arc kept circling, while tho man devotes
lzhis entire attention to the SHARED
animal. A lasso Is thrown over the cap.
tiys's head aud he is caoked down aud a
cham twenty inches long is fastened by
strap to one OF his forelegs in sucl a
way that it hobbies him. He can't make
much speed, because the chain wraps
around his other foreleg and impede, his
progress. After the casin Is attached
the horse Is released and allowed to join
tho band. This process OF capture aud