The Ely miner., 1912-03-29
q 7

EN can still be found in such num-
bers as to justify men in max
ing a business of capturing
them. That they are "sure wild" is
attested by the fact that the United
States department of forestry serious
ly considered he plan of shooting the
| fifteen thousand head which ranged in
the Tolyabe national forest, believing
that it was impossible to capture
| them.
| In the counties of Elko, Eureka,
| Nye, Lander and White Pine, where
the horses are most numerous, are
| men, "mustangers" they are called,
who spend twelve months in every
| year either in catching these wild
horses or else planning or preparing
for their capture.
Those who follow the work are men
who, besides being natural lovers of
horses, crave the outdoor life which
| the occupation supplies. 'It is sure
enough out of DOORS" said one mus
tanger recently, "for We haven't even
had a tent with US in the last four
| months"
A good hand at the work must not
only be a fearles rider, but be able
to shoe string of horses, prepare
quick meal for himself or a dozen
men, bind a pack onto a bronx" so
1t will never turn, or follow the trail
of band of wild horses while riding
at a lope, even though there may be
hundreds of other tracks on every
side.
Executing those horses trapped
while drinking at fenced water holes,
the mustangers either run the wild
horse down, or chase them into a
band of gentle horses or into corrals
concealed in trails which the horses
use in travelling from place to place.
Task Requires Trained Men.
To do this successfully requires
large string of seasoned saddle horses
and men who know not only the coun-
try and the nature of wild horses but
who are willing to accept the danger
encountered in outrunning these mus
tangs upon their own ranges, for to
capture them the riders must actually
outrun them, generally on the toughest
mountains, where loose or jagged
rocks, huge powders. dead or scrub
timber are constantly in ones way.
In making the long runs which are
necessary to exhaust a frightened
bunch of wild horses the saddle horses
are generally forced to run up hill
and down from five to ten miles; fire.
quent runs of 20 miles and even more
are made To obtain horses that can
pack a man and his rig-the saddle
alone will weigh 60 pounds-the lead
ers of the mustang bands are chosen;
these are stations which have attain
ed unusual development, for daily they
are fighting off some challenging stud.
racing here and there herding their
mares, investigating every strange
scent or object, all Of which builds up
muscles not found in their followers
necessary to perform the work in
catching other bands.
Doubtless this constitutes as hard a
task as horses are called upon to per-
form in any part of the world; for a
band once started Is pursued by but
one man at a time, and II the run is
to be successful the rider must travel
at a speed equal to that of the band.
and must outrun the leaders whenever
the attempt is made to turn the bunch
toward the man stationed to relieve
him.
Next to endurance in Importance is
speed, for there are times when ones
mount must Jump out like a quarter
horse Give a mustanger an animal
that can stay" that can make squirt
when called upon to do SO. and he will
care not what is its size, color or dis
position. Horses Of known speed and
endurance, experienced in this work,
are often sold at prices so high that
they seem out of reason. Mounts that
one would be ashamed to ride through
city streets sell for hundreds of dol
lars among men in the business. He
may be old, big headed, raw boned, off |
color, rough gated and mean, but If |
he can be depended upon to run down
bunch of mustangs worth from $50 !
to $500, what matters few dollars in |
the price of the horse?
In "mustanger's string" will be |
found rope horses, road horses, long |
and short distance horses. His valley |
and mountain horses and "colts"-oft- !
en- his best horse-will have to be |
thrown every time bride or saddle |
is fastened on. There are but two |
questions the expert will ask regard
ing his mount: Can he run fast)? |
Can he stay Cat it long time)?
People unacquainted with the work
imagine that the saddle stock must be
as high spirited and as mettlesome as
a stable fed racehorse. There are such
horses in Nevada, but they are not
desirable in the mustang work, for
they wear out themselves and their
riders before accomplishing the end
sought Give mustanger his choice
between one of these prancing, bow
necked, impatient beauties and
homely. lazy, Indifferent old plug that
can be made to run. and he will choose
the latter.
Put an average rider on some OF
these veterans and start him out
across country. and before he has rid
den a half dozen miles he viii swear /