Year: 1871

/ How Wild Horses are Broken In Texas.


Those who have never visited the
regions where wild horses are caught


or reared have but little idea how the


untamed steed Of the prairies is made
tractable and useful. At the present
| day, in Texas, the hordes of mustangs


that formerly ranged over its vast
prairies have become almost entirely
! extinct in the settled portions, and
confine themselves to the extreme
western counties. In their place are
horses mostly crossed with American


stock, which are in a state of semi


wildness; that is, they roam at will


until certain seasons of the year, when


all such as can be caught are driven


in herds to huge pens constructed for


the purpose, to be branded and mark


ed, after which most of them are let


loose to roam at will again.


When the owner of a portion of the
herd desires to break any of his young


horses he proceeds in this wise: The
first movement is to lasso the horse


selected, by the head and fore-foot,
and throw him to the earth, then a


kind of halter called "bosal," is put
on his head, both to serve as a bride


or to strike the animal by, it being
more effectual than halter or bride


in checking his frantic efforts to liber-
ate himself. He is either tied up


closely all night or staked at the will


OF the owner. The next morning the


sport begins.


All horse and stock raisers have one


or more UdqueTos, whom they employ


for the special purpose of breaking
and riding wild and refractory horses.


They go out, followed by all the men,


bers of the family, and proceed to


overhaul their saddles and see that
there is no defect in the rigging"


When they are satisfied that all is
secure, they lead or rather drag, for
ward the steed. Heis alternately fed,


drugged, and whipped forward, until
he reaches the point where he is be
saddled.


A leather strap attached to the bosal
is then pulled over his eyes, and
saddle-blanketis dropped gently on
his back, but very seldom remains at
the first trial, as he will almost inva.
riably shake itoff. After one or more
trials, however, he submits to both
saddle and blanket. The former arti-
Gle is strapped on tightly with two
girths, fore and flank; strapped in
deed so tightly that any one unaccus-
toned to the sight would think that
it was intended to cut the animal in
two. The rider now adjusts the take
rode into reins by tying it securely to
the bosal, leayinga a longend by which
to hold on, in the event the horse
should succeed in throwing him.


Everything is now ready for the
mount. The rider adorns his heels
with huge pair of spurs, stands di-
rectly facing the horse, abreast or a
little ahead of the shoulder, seiZes the
under part of the bosal with his left
hand, pulls the horse's head round
him to prevent being kicked, takes
the stirrup in his right hand and
turning it forward he places his left
foot in it firmly. Grasping the POM
mel he now gives the saddle shake
or two, makes one or two feints at
mounting to see how his horseship
will take it, and then suddenly
springs, seating himself securely in
the saddle.


The blinds, of course, are still over
the eyes of the horse, and as a general
thing he stands with his neck stretch
ed out and head partially down, per-
feet picture of awkwardness. The
rider is at his ease, and adjusts him.
self and everything about him with
the greatest care, as he knows there is
warm work before him. When ready
for the start, he reaches gently for
ward and slips the blinds. Naturally
the horse is rather astonished at first,
and refuses to move. A sharp appli-
cation of the whip and spur, however,
readily induces him 70 change his
mind. He takes timidIy one or two
awkward steps, then suddenly doub-
ling himself up until he resembles a
camel, throwing his head down be-
tween his fore feet, he begins a series
OF pitches, which consist in jumping
as high and as far as he can, coming
down stiff-legged.


Those who have accomplished the
extraordinary feat of going down a
flight of stairs at one step can form
some faint idea how it feels to sit on
the back of pitching horse.


We have only described the man.
ner IN which most horses are mount
ed and how they act at first. Some Of
the more vicious will lie down when |
the saddle is buckled on, and it re-
quires q tremendous amount of whip |
ping to get them started; some will |
rear and fall backward, occasionally |
killing their riders some will pitch |
ahead for quite a distance,
while others will pitch straight for
ward for a few jumps, and then, as
the Texans say, swap ends so quick
it makes your head swim" Fortu-
nately they soon tire of so violent
exercise, being totally unaccustomed
to saddle or weight on their backs, and
break down completely in a few
hours. The saddles are then taken
off and they are reserved for another
trial next morning. This exercise is
continued for a week or more, accord
ing TO the nature of the horse, when
he is pronounced gentle, and is tract
able enough for good rider, but woe
to the unsuspecting greenhorn that is
tempted to place himself on his back.


A few of the horses are naturally
gentle-natured, and never, unless
in breaking, attempt to cut
up at all. Those who love the horse
and desire to see him roaming at will
in his beauty and symmetry, with
glossy hide and lowing name and
f,sl - u,