Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-11-22
TAmEs THE WIDEST HORSES
A Western Woman who Has Made Wide
Reputation on Ranges.

Mrs. Minnie Austen, a typical wo
man of the plains, has recently beel
giving exhibitions of equestrianism a
Portland, Ore. and has astonishet
many, even among the experienced
plainsmen, by her daring feats. She il
an absolutely fearless horsewoman
who delights IN feats that seem hazard
Gus and in risks that appear dangerous
The crowd of cowboys who were per
forming at the carnival during the
horse show were so confident OF Mrs
Austen s ability that they were willing
to back her to the extent of 500 to
ride any four-footed animal sent to
the grounds. During the week Mrs.
Austen nightly did a tandem hurdle
act that proved immensely popular
with the carnival visitors. With Two
spirited horses going at the UTMOST
speed that vigorous whiplashing could
get out of them she went tearing around
the track, taking the three hurdles as
clean as ever any famous hunter clear
ed brush or fence.
Mrs. Austen explains that her love
for horses and her ability to handle
them comes from the environment of
her early childhood. HOr father was
Thomas Thorpe, of Southern Oregon,
well known throughout the State as
one of the largest dealers IN horses in
the West. In speaking OF her expert
ences to reporter Mrs. Austen said:
"From toddler have been used to
riding, and l presume that it is my con
stant association with horses that has
given me the confidence that makes me
believe 1 can stick to any horse
that can be brought to me. At home
1 soon learned the tricks that count
the most in subduing the vicious range
horses and cow ponies. and at no time
can remember feeling any degree OF
fear in handling them. 1t is exciting
and perhaps dangerous, but no horse
has yet thrown me, and l have had
sufficient experience to assure me that
l can tame the verse of them.
"For over three years 1 worked for
Portland cattle dealers and did the
same work that was given to the men.
I would go into the country. get drove
of wild cattle and bring them into the
city without losing single one. l did
this sort of work month after month,
and always had plenty of engagements
ahead, which ought to argue that did
the work well. Bnt the part that |
most enjoy is breaking wild ponies.
There is an excitement and thrill in
the work that compeDsates for the ex-
ertions and dangers. l have worked
alongside some of of the best cowboys
in the State and have stuck to my sad
die until the wild horse became tame
one and could be handled by any one.
I'm breaking ahorse l prefer mans
saddle, but in other work L use the
conventional slde-saddle. The tandem
hurdle act is full of excitement, but L
have never met with serious acci-
dent. The other night the horn OF the
saddle broke and for moment, until l
recovered my balance, l didn't know
what was going to happen. But the
spectators never knew that anything
was wrong, and I sent the ponies over
the timber as fast as they could go.
I have abandoned cattle driving
and broncho breaking and expect to
get into the show business in the fu-
ture. l have trained one of my tandem
ponies to take the hurdle through a
ring of fire and other feats that are
rather out of the ordinary"