Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-01-05
CAPTURING WILD HORSES.
Hundreds of Beautiful Animals Fun
~ Wild in California.
CLOS Angeles Times.)

and slender, symmetrical legs form q
picture pleasing to the eye, and when
In action he never fails to create the
most intense Enthusiasm. Possessing
all the beauty and speed of the pro-
fessional thoroughbred, and far sur
passing him in their powers Of en-
dnrance, are the wild horses which
roam the plains Of Arizona and NJ "
Mexico or the rugged hills of Neva-
a Their life is one Of freedom,
sM6ject only to the will Of nature
which may surround them with plen-
teous forage, or, in a mood Of dis
pleasure, cast their lot amid dried
up springs or barren pasturage. And
these creatures know how to value
their freedom. Possessed of the ut
most keenness, both Of sight and
scent. they take flight at the first
suspicion Of danger, and with fleet
= ness and surefootedness which are
the result Of their nomadic life they
pass swiftly out Of the danger zone.
These untamed horses roam about
in bands, led by big stallion who
acts as their leader, directing their
movements in time of flight and
watching over them during their
quieter periods. They choose those
sections Of the county which are ir-
regular and broken, yet are accessi-
BILE to the water holes and meadows.
The agility with which they ascend
: tfS most precipitous slopes Is aston
isbfng. Every faculty which they
possess Is trained to act quickly and
surely. They can scent danger at
long distance and their sight is per-
feet. The hoofs which know not the
feel OF iron shoes carry them safely
over the most treacherous ground,
and they are as difficult to approach
as the czar of Russia.
In our own State Of California we
have bands Of these wild hor.r.,, as
instanced by recent roundup of
them OH the Modoc National Forest
by the forest rangers in co-opera-
ton with local stockmen. 1t is esti-
mated that there are more than 400
wild horses in this forest, and in or
der to get rid OF them rodeo was
organized and plans were made TO
capture as many as possible The
result of a four days hunt was the
capture of more than fifty head, of
which about half proved to be brand
ed stock which had grown wild, those
remaining being horses who had
never known the ownership of man.
The horses which bore brands were
turned over to their owners, and the
others were sold to pay the cost of
the rodeo.
One Of the favorite plans for cap
turing wild horses at water holes is
to almost surround the place by
barricade SO prepared as to look as
natural as possible. An opening is
left for the animals to enter, and
when thus corraled, the opening is
closed before they can escape. TO
successfully carry out this scheme
requires the most careful prepara-
ton and skill and a variety of pre-
cautions must be observed to war
rant success. Under no circum-
Stances should the animals feel that
a trap has been laid for them, and
the natural appearance Of the scene
must be preserved as much as pos
sible. OF course, tie human ele-
ment enters this scheme in the per-
son Of the man who must close the
opening Of the corral after the horses
have entered, and this requires not
only skill in its performance, but
what Is more important, some plan
must be devised for destroying his
scent, which would act as a warming
to the animals. If the spring is the
only source Of water supply around
= there, recourse Is had to nature, and
|he hunters patiently wait until
thirst has overcome the scruples of
the horses and they enter in spite of
their fears. If nature cannot be re-
lied upon to assist, craft is pitted
against suspicion and the where
abouts Of the watchers is disguie I'd
by some such device as this: A pit
is dug near the entrance large
enough to hide two men and then
covered up with earth and boughs to
give 1t natural appearance. With
in this pit the watchers take their
position to await the coming Of the
horses. This device prevents the ex-
act Wharpo bontc nf tha mon hoinu