surface with his hoofs. I have seen an animal bounding with spirit,
yet merely reined by a fore-finger and thumb, taken at full gallop
across a courtyard, and then made to wheel round the post of a veranda
with great speed, but at so equal a distance, that the rider, with
outstretched arm, all the while kept one finger rubbing the post. Then
making a demi-volte in the air, with the other arm outstretched in a
like manner, he wheeled round, with astonishing force, in an opposite
direction.
Such a horse is well broken; and although this at first may appear
useless, it is far otherwise. It is only carrying that which is daily
necessary into perfection. When a bullock is checked and caught by the
lazo, it will sometimes gallop round and round in a circle, and the
horse being alarmed at the great strain, if not well broken, will not
readily turn like the pivot of a wheel. In consequence many men have
been killed; for if the lazo once takes a twist round a man's body, it
will instantly, from the power of the two opposed animals, almost cut
him in twain. On the same principle the races are managed; the course
is only two or three hundred yards long, the wish being to have horses
that can make a rapid dash. The race-horses are trained not only to
stand with their hoofs touching a line, but to draw all four feet
together, so as at the first spring to bring into play the full action
of the hind-quarters. In Chile I was told an anecdote, which I believe
was true; and it offers a good illustration of the use of a well-broken
animal. A respectable man riding one day met two others, one of whom
was mounted on a horse, which he knew to have been stolen from himself.
He challenged them; they answered him by drawing their sabres and
giving chase. The man, on his good and fleet beast, kept just ahead:
as he passed a thick bush he wheeled round it, and brought up his horse
to a dead check. The pursuers were obliged to shoot on one side and
ahead. Then instantly dashing on, right behind them, he buried his
knife in the back of one, wounded the other, recovered his horse from
the dying robber, and rode home. For these feats of horsemanship two
things are necessary: a most severe bit, like the Mameluke, the power
of which, though seldom used, the horse knows full well; and large
blunt spurs, that can be applied either as a mere touch, or as an
instrument of extreme pain. I conceive that with English spurs, the
slightest touch of which pricks the skin, it would be impossible to
break in a horse after the South American fashion.
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