108 COWBOY ACROSS COUNTRY 



farm-Horse or your cows at the brook in January, what 

 else are they drinking ? And yet, does it hurt them ? 

 N"o," suiting the action to the word, '• iced- water is a health- 

 ful drink, properly used." 



We hear from many that the cowboy can do ever}^- 

 thing. Rumors run that some of Buffalo Bill's cowboys 

 rode English horses in their own saddles and beat every- 

 thing to hounds somewhere in the Midland counties — 

 we won't be specific and say the Belvoir. Those who 

 know the country this implies and its riders accept this 

 statement cum grano. But assume its truth. One often 

 sees a dare - devil of an English lad just out of college 

 who imagines, because he has once or twice led the field 

 on one af the squire's crack hunters, that he is the best 

 rider in it. But, in truth, he is risking his horse's, not to 

 count his own less valuable neck, at ever3^ obstacle he 

 clears, and pumping the last ounce out of his generous 

 beast, while wiser and older riders close behind him are 

 saving their horses and bringing them in fresh and able. 

 It is not riding a fabulous distance, or at the greatest 

 speed, or with the most conspicuous daring, which is the 

 test, but getting in at the death with the least exertion to 

 man and beast. The highest proof of artistic horseman- 

 ship is to accomplish your task with the least expenditure 

 of pliysical force. To keep the horse in good condition is, 

 among civilized people, a greater test than the speed or 

 daring- of the rider. Witness the Berlin-Vienna ride. So 

 in the great tests of distance made by plains ponies and 

 civilized horses one element is apt to be forgotten. The 

 latter must be ])i'ought in without injury; the ]wny may 

 be killed by the feat. No (question whatever that il' tlie 

 l)ony and the thorough - bred, under even conditions, be 

 ridden until both fall in tiieir tracks, the pony will be 

 beaten in speed and distance. It seems to me clear that 



