The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21

~ SeSes prcWnH5 huckskinS, sorrels,
chsGtnutE. roans all ooIorn, all sizes.
al ages and wuD-as wild as dear
alnest as feet with noses as keen
and eyes equally alert; roaming about
unreEtr1cted on the vast unfenced val
1SyT and the mountains which border
them, climbing lfks mountain goats
70 the very highest rinnacles. They
have been there for years, are there
now, and srS Increasing, and unless
destroyed BY rfne VIM remain for years
% come UnquestionAbly this Is the
. hast OF our large Wild animal life that
can Etin be seen In great numbers
Doubtless these horses are as plentiful
now as ever they were upon the bound
less plEins country east OF the Rock
ies. for IN some sections their numbers
b are limited only by the amount OF
tood there is TO support them. Less
than two months ago, while riding
rom Hickerson's ranch in Ackerman
canyon On the west side of Monitor
valley 20 Lone mountain big butte
which stands in the northern end of
Antslope Valley counted as 1 rode
along 21S head. These horses are there
now, st the very moment you are read
Ing this. They have not been dis
tuTbed IN a number OF years.
Just about IL months aro a band
numbering 52 head could be seen any
day along the road between Lone noun
tain and Bsrt's ranch in Antelope val
ley. Three winters ago IN that part
OF this same valley extending from
Fenceunalrer wash TO Bill BlHir's ranch.
stretch OF country I5 miles In length
and perhaps miles IN width, between
500 and 400 head OF these horses
starved TO death; the snow was un-
usually heavy. being about three feet
deep on the level spaces. It began
falling two days before Thanksgiving
and covered the ground until the lat
ssr part OF March. The oold was in
tense Il was impossible for the horses
20 paw to the feed underneath. oc-
oaE1onally that winter when we went
out on snowShoes and skis the wild
horses would try to run from US, but
they were 90 weak they could not travel
very fAr-many fell never to get up
N6e---- 00-SAc C6ICdSbet were
everywhere; their bones are there now.
Last summer I counted IT skeletons
lying around one tree. In the winter
season nearly all come into the val
1eys. but during the spring. summer
and fall the greater number Of these
. horses so into the foothills and noun
.tains, very small percentage remain
ing In the valleys the year round These
are known as the valley horses and
can be readily distinguished from the
mountain horses by the shape OF their
.hco1s, which are more nat and pal
mated
- The ridges and canyons are covered
with luscious grasses upon which the
horses feed and keep fat Away up
among these rocks upon the cloud
capped peaks they climb with the
agility OF a goat; their sursfootedness
is a never ending source OF wonder.
One may be riding slowly and care
fully along among these towering
= mountains and suddenly come upon q
band OF these horses feeding, or pos
sibiy standing half asleep in the shade
OF blur OF rocks or stunted trees.
One OF the band VIII see, hear, or
smell you. and IN an instant they all
are on the alert-every eye and each
pair OF ears viii be pointed at you;
even the tiniest colt stands by his
dam looking and listening. Stand still
and Tor q few seconds they will do
50; remain mouonless a little longer
and the stallion acknowledged as leader
will often trot directly toward you,
stopping every few steps, gazing ex-
pectantly. his inquisitiveness battling
his fear. At last be Will raise his head
high, extend his nostrils, sniff the air,
hesitate. then through those nostrils
VIII come a mighty snort much like
scared deer whistles" This is the
danger signal Away they go now
down. down, down, hidden in a cloud
OF dust; rocks and boulders follow
them-cresh they go through some old
dead timber You watch; away IN the
distance you stiIl see them; you arc
looking on their backs now, and they
are stiil running II pursued heavy
5owled. thick necked, thin limbed we'll
muscled, many SCARED stallion viii
lead them, II they think immediate
danger is past the stud will drop TO
the rear, perhaps there because he can
better watch toward the suspected
source OF danger, his place in front
generally being taken by crafty old
mare. During the long runs we make
in pursuit OF these horses I have often
noticed this exchange IN leadership;
''mustanger."
To catch these wild horses is a most
: difficult problem. Man. white or red,
may work among them for years. may
be an expert. fearless rider, sure shot
with the lariat He may know the
country, the range; he may study,
scheme and plan, and work long and
earnestly. and council with others OF
equal experience and ability; then with
I'll