The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

The Criolla mare. which served as
 the base for the native horse stock of
 the republic, had excellent blood. and
 today it shows some evid snces of it's
 Arabian ancestry. It was dwarfed Ly
 being born and bred in the open with out any other food than the native
 grasses. Still 1t is strong and willing and capable of extraordinary eyp-tion.
 It is irregular in shape and color rang ing from the slender type to the short, stocky one, and from dusky brown to a fantastic blossom color.
 The native stock might shave been improved by selection and brought back to it's original excellence I nm told that some of the estancieros have tried it successfully and that if animals nf the same breeds had been imported from Spain they might have renewed the old stock. The native horses, however, form excellent ones for breeding, although crossing them with the racing blood seems to take away their muscular strength and sturdiness and to make them nervous For working cattle, the lassoers on horseback need brawny, quiet horses and not quick, nervous ones. Crossed with the Percheron, ClydeSdale and Shi!e the Criolla is good, general purpose horse, fitted for cavalry purposes. The value of horses is steadily rising. Before the War began good carriage horses br .cght S600 pair at auction, and light draft horses were sold for as much IS S3lc North American mules brought about S40 each and Argentine mules half as much. Cavalry horses are now selling from H00 upward, many pool animals being among those shipped.
 The same prejudice as cor1lrily stil exists among the natives in tii4 use of mares as riding animals. The rauch3 is ashamed to be seen ridiuc them .Lnd many persons use them for draft pur- poses only.
 have been interested il in, methods of horse-breakins in Argentina. On the great stud farms where the fine stock is kept the methods are much the same as in the United States, but out on the pampas, where the cowboys do as tliey please, the horses are allowed to run free until they are four or five years old They are then lassoed and sadded by force. The cowboy mounts the horse and galops him under shower of blows until he is conquered It is much the same as the methods of our cowboys of the west
 And this brings me to the Argentine cowboy, the native horseman ard cat tleman of the pampas He is Il cross of the Spaniard and Indian, and the In- diam seems to predomnate, although the Spaniard is always in evidence. The gaucho is at home upon horseback, rnj is always ready to ride over the plains and watch or drive cattle. He loes not like to take care of sheep, and seems to think farm labor beneath him
 The Argentine cowboy looks much like an American India, but his cheekbones are not so high and his com plexion is lighter In color. His eyes are coal black, and he usually has a full, black, heavy beard and straight, black hair. His ordinary costume is souch hat and blanket with stripes, which is worn over his shoulder. He has another blanket worn about his waist. and pulled between the legs to the back. Under the lower blanket may be seen white drawers. that extend to the ankles and are tied there. He is proud of his dress, and his drawers are often edged at the bot tom with lace, and red blue slippers . may cover his feet. He may often have on q belt of chamois leather decorated with silver buckles and bangles, and his