The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21

and as method OF capture used %
seldom as TO be hardly worthy OF mGn-
tion. In my own experiences I do nSe
remember Of creasing but one. It was
year old gray single footsr I had
caught a year before; psrfeoe1y
proportioned animal. with shinins
black maine. tail and legs; his hips and
back were curious1y dapp1ed. I had
halter broken and ridden him three or
four times. and one night turned him
out with our saddle horses. In some
manner he managed to break the
hobbies and escape. and for about IA
months 1 did not see him. One day
while riding across a big "nat." com
ing to the summit OF a little ridge
before me. not over 100 yards away.
was band OF mustangs. and among
them was my gray single footer.
would have tried to rope him, but wAs
riding very tired horse. carried q
rife and had not been seen by the band.
SO quickly dropped back below thu
high line of the ridge. rested my gun
on a convenient rock. aimed Gs
the crest of his neck and fred Down
he fell I had a short piece OF rops
in my pocket. so left my gun and ran
toward him. I was afraid I had killed
him. One hundred yards isn't far. but
with ehsps. spurs and high hesled
boots one isn't capable OF 10 second
speed I did my best However. when
/ was within IS PAGES OF him he jumped
up, shook himself. took hasty look
at me. got his direction and struck
or across the fiat after the rest OF the
band 1 have never seen him since
Until about FIVE years ago if a wild
horse was not roped or creased he
remained uncaught unless run down.
walked down. or run. into a 'parada-'
In large open plains country five
or six experienced men can sometimes.
II we'll mounted and properly stationed.
by confning their efforts to one band
of horses, cause them to run in great
circles; then by relieving each other
at regular intervals they can in time
wear out the wild horses. and event
uauy corral those that do not give
out during the run. The distances
these wild horses will run when pur-
sued by relay riders are almost un-
believabIe. There are hundreds OF
matured horses on these ranges that
have outrun and outlasted combina-
tions of i've or more experienced. de-
termined men. know OF many bands
that have run 20 miles and then with
a squirt actually outrun a fresh horse
Besides being possessed OF wonderful
endurance, they bring into play unsus-
pected mental faculties Bands that
have been run" few times learn that
a rider will not chase one horse; that
It is numbers that he is after; thus
they drop out one at time after the
initial start. IL pursued after the pre-
Iiminary maneuvering they VIII strike
off IN a long line. always with pre-
cision and in order. generally the
strongest ahead. Away they go, after
seeing their enemy. stopping usually
on the crest OF the first ridge. where
they face about like line OF soldiers.
and look intentIy at their disturber.
II he is approaching they look a mo-
ment longer. then wheel around and
are started on their run. Immediately
the mustanger begins his work should
his quarry start IN the direction he de-
sired them to go he will follow at such
speed as will keep him close to them.
yet not crowding them. but he must
be where at any time he can squirt
and fight" the leader should he at
tempt to take his band in direction
dinerent from that which is planned.
.or. to effect their capture plan must
Se followed Thus. if leader takes
a course which will not bring the band
to the next relay the rider must Inn
mediately try to make him alter his
course. This calls for the best that
is in man; the ~drags" and tails
Will follow the first horse, hence the
work must be done on him. The rider
urges his mount to such speed as
win bring him alongside OF the leader.
and not only shows himself. but crowds
the wild horse. The mere appearance
Of the enemy at such close quarters
means increased speed on the part OF
the mustangs, but the rider must
show such speed and determination and
ride with such abandon that the leader
himself will acknowledge defeat and
turn frcra the rider. This is ths i'm
portant point-to get a leader to turn
when crowded; II he will. the capture
Continued on Next Page