The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-10
Running Down wild Horses on The.
Sayannas OF South Carolina. 5;t

Running Down wild Horses on the
savannas OF South Carolina.
"Fox hunting and deer hunting is
SPLENDID sport, but If you wish to go
on chase that will be most exhilara-
ting, and at the same time test the
mettle and bottom Of your horse and,
the endurance of the rider to a greater
degree than any other hunt / know Of,
recommed the running down or
horses. or rather the attempt to do IT,;
because the best of riders on the best OF.
mounts will not always be successful"
The speaker was man noted for Dis
horsemanship. In deer hunting ne
always prefers going in the drive,
where, while giving little opportnni-S
ties for successful shooting, occasion
is furnished for expert riding, and he
has many times outrun noble back,
turned him from his course and bScki
to the waiting ISLANDERS. But, as 1t
was known that bis hunting had been
confined to this state, he was asked
with some surprise, :,'where did you
ever run down wild horses?"
"There are hundreds of them on the
sarannas in Middle Colleton,n he re-.
piled. "The section / visited is about
the angle between the Edisto river and
the Great Cav Cav swamp. Here for
miles on miles the land lies as level as
table, the great opening broken only
by small patches of brush-no large
timber. A peculiar water grass has
possession ofthe land. 1t is short but
very thick, and while giving excellent
pasture, makes as fine turf to ride over
rs there is on any steeplechase course In
the country. ION these savannas,
he continued, "there are punches OF
hundreds of wild horses that have seen
neither stable nor paddock. They Will
fy from man as rapidly as Will 9
deer, but their speed and endurance are
much greater. They are larger than
Texan horses, being cross on Inc
famous Carolina marsh 'tacky' ana.
the Kentucky horse. From their
breeding and manner of their raising,
they are exceptionally hardy and wiry.
Every spring the owners or the
punches, wishing to catch the three
year-olds to break and sell, organize
horse hunt, to which the neighbors
with good horses for miles around are
invited. These are occasions for rival
riders and horses to decide which are
entitled 10 the blue ribbons. Reputa-
tions can be made and horses can be
ridden to death. It's not mile dash,
YOU know, but q stern chase for mat
ter of 20, so or more miles-not all In
the same direction, but back and FORTH.
or in circuits of miles, as the leaders OF
the drove fancy.
"None of the men thereabouts are
practiced in lasso throwing, so they 20
not attempt it. They are simply run
until they are exhausted, when the
hunter or chaser gets along side ne
tosses rope around the neck OF the
animal he selects. The best way TO
capture these horses, and the plan
most commonly, is to run the drove all
one afternoon, and keep them going
until dark then at day dawn. mount
| ed on fresh horses, to resume tne
chase. The wild animals will be stIt
from the run of the previous day, ana
easily overtaken. I have been severai
times invited to join in the hunt, ana
never realized what the sport was Till
had a taste of it, And your horses,
too, seem to love it, and are as anxious
to test their speed as when hounds, in
| full cry, bring deer flying by them:
TO hear the thunder of couple OF
hundred sets of hoofs, and the denant
neighing as the drove dashes over q
carpet as pretty and as well-kept
lawn, and to feel a good horse under
YOU trembling with excitement ana
ambition, is quite enough to make one
eel like riding.