Buffalo Bill's Cowboys. 45 



checked, would materially assist in throwing the rider for- 

 ward. As it is impossible to practically make a rigid 

 distinction between buckjumping and what I have called 

 pigjumping for want of a more elegant expression ; I do not 

 like to speak authoritatively about the occurrence or absence 

 of buckjumping among certain breeds of horses. I have seen 

 many undoubted instances of it among Australians, New 

 Zealanders, South Americans, Cape horses and Basuto ponies ; 

 but have never seen any attempt at buckjumping by East 

 Indian horses, Arabs, Barbs or Persians. I cannot recall any 

 case, within my own knowledge, of English or Irish horses 

 bucking; although I do not see any reason against their 

 being possessed of that vice, which is generally confined to 

 animals that are ' taken up ' at a comparatively late age. 

 My readers may wish to know my opinion of Buffalo Bill's 

 so-called buckjumpers and of the riding of his cowboys. 

 Although I have frequently witnessed, their performances at 

 Earl's Court, I must say that if any of these animals really did 

 buck, which I rather doubt, it was in the feeble manner which 

 might have been expected from * trick ' horses which had to 

 do their ' turn ' twice a day for months, if not for years. Be- 

 sides, buckjumping is a vice which no horse will continually 

 practise, unless he receives the frequent encouragement of 

 throwing his man off. The cowboys seem hard, active, fear- 

 less fellows, with whom it would be more pleasant to drink 

 than to fight No comparison can be drawn between their 

 riding and ours, as the two styles are entirely different. 

 Whether their bronchos buck or only pigjump, the feat of 

 sticking on them is not very difficult when it is allowable to 

 use a saddle of about 50 Ibs. in weight and to hold on to it 

 with one or both hands. The size and shape of their saddle 

 are no doubt regulated to attain comfort in their hard work, 

 and not merely to enable them to stick on. Had they 

 practice in our saddles and in our methods, they would no 

 doubt acquit themselves creditably, like the fine fellows 

 they are. 



