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To begin with two misconceptions； merely by way of clearing the
ground： the Western horse is generally designated as a 〃bronco。〃 The
term is considered synonymous of horse or pony。 This is not so。 A
horse is 〃bronco〃 when he is ugly or mean or vicious or unbroken。 So is
a cow 〃bronco〃 in the same condition； or a mule； or a burro。 Again； from
certain Western illustrators and from a few samples； our notion of the cow…
pony has become that of a lean； rangy； wiry； thin…necked； scrawny beast。
Such may be found。 But the average good cow…pony is apt to be an
exceedingly handsome animal； clean…built； graceful。 This is natural；
when you stop to think of it； for he is descended direct from Moorish and
Arabian stock。
Certain characteristics he possesses beyond the capabilities of the
ordinary horse。 The most marvelous to me of these is his sure…footedness。
Let me give you a few examples。
I once was engaged with a crew of cowboys in rounding up mustangs
in southern Arizona。 We would ride slowly in through the hills until we
caught sight of the herds。 Then it was a case of running them down and
heading them off； of turning the herd； milling it； of rushing it while
confused across country and into the big corrals。 The surface of the
ground was composed of angular volcanic rocks about the size of your two
fists； between which the bunch…grass sprouted。 An Eastern rider would
ride his horse very gingerly and at a walk； and then thank his lucky stars if
he escaped stumbles。 The cowboys turned their mounts through at a
dead run。 It was beautiful to see the ponies go； lifting their feet well up
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and over； planting them surely and firmly； and nevertheless making speed
and attending to the game。 Once； when we had pushed the herd up the
slope of a butte； it made a break to get through a little hog… back。 The
only way to head it was down a series of rough boulder ledges laid over a
great sheet of volcanic rock。 The man at the hog…back put his little gray
over the ledges and boulders； down the sheet of rock；hop； slip； slide；
and along the side hill in time to head off the first of the mustangs。
During the ten days of riding I saw no horse fall。 The animal I rode；
Button by name； never even stumbled。
In the Black Hills years ago I happened to be one of the inmates of a
small mining…camp。 Each night the work…animals； after being fed； were
turned loose in the mountains。 As I possessed the only cow…pony in the
outfit； he was fed in the corral； and kept up for the purpose of rounding up
the others。 Every morning one of us used to ride him out after the herd。
Often it was necessary to run him at full speed along the mountain…side；
over rocks； boulders； and ledges； across ravines and gullies。 Never but
once in three months did he fall。
On the trail； too； they will perform feats little short of marvelous。
Mere steepness does not bother them at all。 They sit back almost on their
haunches； bunch their feet together； and slide。 I have seen them go down
a hundred feet this way。 In rough country they place their feet accurately
and quickly； gauge exactly the proper balance。 I have led my saddle…
horse； Bullet； over country where； undoubtedly to his intense disgust； I
myself have fallen a dozen times in the course of a morning。 Bullet had
no such troubles。 Any of the mountain horses will hop cheerfully up or
down ledges anywhere。 They will even walk a log fifteen or twenty feet
above a stream。 I have seen the same trick performed in Barnum's circus
as a wonderful feat； accompanied by brass bands and breathlessness。 We
accomplished it on our trip with out any brass bands； I cannot answer for
the breathlessness。 As for steadiness of nerve； they will walk serenely on
the edge of precipices a man would hate to look over； and given a palm's
breadth for the soles of their feet； they will get through。 Over such a
place I should a lot rather trust Bullet than myself。
In an emergency the Western horse is not apt to lose his head。 When
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a pack…horse falls down； he lies still without struggle until eased of his
pack and told to get up。 If he slips off an edge； he tries to double his fore
legs under him and slide。 Should he find himself in a tight place； he
waits patiently for you to help him； and then proceeds gingerly。 A friend
of mine rode a horse named Blue。 One day； the trail being slippery with
rain； he slid and fell。 My friend managed a successful jump； but Blue
tumbled about thirty feet to the bed of the canon。 Fortunately he was not
injured。 After some difficulty my friend managed to force his way
through the chaparral to where Blue stood。 Then it was fine to see them。
My friend would go ahead a few feet； picking a route。 When he had
made his decision； he called Blue。 Blue came that far； and no farther。
Several times the little horse balanced painfully and unsteadily like a goat；
all four feet on a boulder； waiting for his signal to advance。 In this
manner they regained the trail； and proceeded as though nothing had
happened。 Instances could be multiplied indefinitely。
A good animal adapts himself quickly。 He is capable of learning by
experience。 In a country entirely new to him he soon discovers the best
method of getting about； where the feed grows； where he can find water。
He is accustomed to foraging for himself。 You do not need to show him
his pasturage。 If there is anything to eat anywhere in the district he will
find it。 Little tufts of bunch…grass growing concealed under the edges of
the brush； he will search out。 If he cannot get grass； he knows how to
rustle for the browse of small bushes。 Bullet would devour sage… brush；
when he could get nothing else； and I have even known him
philosophically to fill up on dry pine…needles。 There is no nutrition in
dry pine… needles； but Bullet got a satisfyingly full belly。 On the trail a
well…seasoned horse will be always on the forage； snatching here a
mouthful； yonder a single spear of grass； and all without breaking the
regularity of his gait； or delaying the pack…train behind him。 At the end
of the day's travel he is that much to the good。
By long observation thus you will construct your ideal of the mountain
horse； and in your selection of your animals for an expedition you will
search always for that ideal。 It is only too apt to be modified by personal
idiosyncrasies； and proverbially an ideal is difficult of attainment； but you
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will； with care； come closer to its realization than one accustomed only to
the conventionality of an artificially reared horse would believe possible。
The ideal mountain horse； when you come to pick him out； is of
medium size。 He should be not smaller than fourteen hands nor larger
than fifteen。 He is strongly but not clumsily built； short…coupled； with
none of the snipy speedy range of the valley animal。 You will select
preferably one of wide full forehead； indicating intelligence； low in the
withers； so the saddle will not be apt to gall him。 His sureness of foot
should be beyond question； and of course he must be an expert at foraging。
A horse that knows but one or two kinds of feed； and that starves unless he
can find just those kinds； is an abomination。 He must not jump wh