Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-20

rM NEVADA is the only one OF our
states in which wild horses
W can still be found in such, num-
bers as to justify men IN max
ing 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 1t was impossible to capture
them.
In the counties of Hllko. 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 WIG
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. 1T Ia sure
enough out OF DOORS" said one mus
tanger recently, "for we haven't even
had tent with us In the last four
months"
A good hand at the work must not
only be q fearles rider, but be able
20 shoe n string of horses. prepare
auick meal for himself or a dozen
men, bind a pack onto a bronx 30
Il will never turn, or follow the tra'i
of band of wild horses while rioins
az a lope, even though there may be
hundreds OF other tracks on every
side.
Nxcepting those horses trapped
while drinking at fenced water holes,
the mustangers either run the wild
horse down, or chase them into
band OF gentle horses or into corrals
concealed in trails which the horses
use In travelling from place to place.
Tack Requires Trained Men.
To do this successfully requires a
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
tanRs 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.
uuent 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 so pounds-the lead
srs OF the mustang bands are chosen;
these are stations which have attain
nd unusual development for daily they
are fighting or some challenging stud.
rncing 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
10 be successful the rider must travel
Mt a speed equal to that OF the band.
and must outrun the leaders whenever
the attempt IL made to turn the bunch
toward the man stationed to relieve
him.
Next 70 endurance In importance is
speed, for there are times when ones
mount must Jump out like quarter
horse. Give mustanger an animal
that can stay" that can make squirt
whom called upon to do 30. and he will
care not what 10 its size, color or dis
poaition. Horses Of known speed and
endurance, experienced In this work.
are often sold at prices 80 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 boneds on
color, rough gated and mean. but II
ne can be depended upon to run down
a bunch Of mustangs worth from $50
20 $500, what matters a few dollars In
the price Of the horse?
In a "mustanger's string WIN be
aound rope horses, road horses. long
and short distance horses. His valley
and mountain horses and ~colts'-oft-
On his best horse-will have to be
thrown every time bride or saddle
AZ fastened ON. There are but two
questions the expert win ask regard
Ang his mount: Can he run (fast)3
Can he stay Cat IL long time)f