The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-08-12
A LAST LESSON.

A LAST LESSON.
Putting the finishing touches to a
bronco's education Is sometimes ex-
citing business. "Bronc" was a big
black beauty of colt, but about as
mean as he was handsome. He had
never been properly broken by his
first owner, and his second master put
him into the hands of the best horse
breaker in camp, hoping for an i'm
provement. How his education was
completed is described in Out West.
They called this pony a outlaw
before / took a holt of him." re-
marked the "bronco-buster," when
the training of the black beast was
we'll along. "Shucksl" Nowadays
IL hoss bucks his saddle-blanket
off'n him the boys say, OUTLAW! Bad
bronco Guess I'll ride that oil boss
over yonder.
I've sweated most O. the ugliness
outen him Already" continued the
trainer. HE amt got but one mean
habit left, an to-day I'm a-going to
Parn him to fergit it,"
The mean habit referred to was
this: When Bronc decided to 20
straight ahead, he'd go. Over rocks
and down the steep banks of a wash,
through cactus and the well-named
cats claw; and If the chollas pricked
him or the curved claws of the brush
snatched at his fanks, he would
throw in some fancy bucking for
good measure as he tore along. But
turn? Never!
The trainer took his RATA from
the saddle-horn, tied one end to the
rope bride, or hackamore, and fas-
tened 1t securely under the jaw Then
he petted the colt, working toward
its flanks, until the animal allowed
him to reach the tail and fasten q
loop of rope in its heavy strands.
The free end of the RATA was
passed through the loop in way
which would bring the horses head
and tail together when tightened,
and by passing the RATA once more
through both hackamore and loop 1t
was prevented from slipping when
released.
Now for the grand merry-go.
round!" announced the trainer; and
standing away from the colts heels,
he pulled the RATA taut till the ami
NAL was bent nearly double. keep
turning till / say ye can stop," he
| commanded; and in fact the bewil-
dered creature was revolving like a
top, slowly learning the old lesson
| of his race-that mans will is law
| for the horse.
At the end of twenty minutes or so
the trainer decided that the stiff neck
was sufficiently timber. When he
mounted he discovered his error; the
frightened horse pranced and bucked
with him, and finally tried to roll
over the rider, who sprang from the
saddle just in time.
But his patience was by no means
exhausted.
Here's a sure way to make 'em
limber," he announced; and picking
up a large fiat stone, he tapped the
horses neck for few minutes stead
lily, but not with sufficient force to
hurt him. He'll feel that pretty
soon, an find it easier to turn than
brace his tender neck against the
reins."
When the pony had been reversed
that is, tied head and tail on the
opposite side-and allowed to rotate
another half-hour, he was dripping
with sweat and completely subdued
The trainer mounted, and the colt
allowed himself to be ridden about
.he fat until he tangled in his trail
ing RATA and fell, the rider still on
top.
| Now we'll turn him loose an see
how he behaves hisself," remarked
the trainer; and unslinging the ropes,
he again mounted and rode the now
tractable horse in circles and figure
eights, turning and wheeling at will.
I'D heap sooner twist this crit
ter's neck with rope" the trainer
concluded, than have him break his
neck an mine, too, over yonder
cliff"
This was the justification OF
Bronc's hard lesson.