1833.] GOOD HORSEMANSHIP. 157 



the moment that he throws his leg over the animal's back, 

 he pulls the slip-knot binding the front legs, and the beast 

 is free. Some "domidors" pull the knot while the animal 

 is lying on the ground, and, standing over the saddle, allow 

 him to rise beneath them. The horse, wild with dread, 

 gives a few most violent bounds, and then starts off at full 

 gallop ; when quite exhausted, the man, by patience, brings 

 him back to the corral, where, reeking hot and scarcely 

 alive, the poor beast is let free. Those animals which will 

 not gallop away, but obstinately throw themselves on the 

 ground, are by far the most troublesome. This process is 

 tremendously severe, but in two or three trials the horse is 

 tamed. It is not, however, for some weeks that the 

 animal is ridden with the iron bit and solid ring, for it 

 must learn to associate the will of its rider with the feel 

 of the rein, before the most powerful bridle can be of any 

 service. 



Animals are so abundant in these countries, that humanity 

 and self-interest are not closely united ; therefore I fear it is 

 that the former is here scarcely known. One day, riding in 

 the Pampas with a very respectable " Estanciero," my horse, 

 being tired, lagged behind. The man often shouted to me 

 to spur him. When I remonstrated that it was a pity, for 

 the horse was quite exhausted, he cried out, "Why not? — 

 never mind — spur him — it is my horse." I had then some 

 difficulty in making him comprehend that it was for the 

 horse's sake, and not on his account, that I did not choose 

 to use my spurs. He exclaimed, with a look of great 

 surprise, "Ah, Don Carlos, que cosa ! " It was clear that 

 such an idea had never before entered his head. 



The Gauchos are well known to be perfect riders. The 

 idea of being thrown, let the horse do what it likes, never 

 enters their head. Their criterion of a good rider is, a man 

 who can manage an untamed colt, or who, if his horse falls, 

 alights on his own feet, or can perform other such exploits. 

 I have heard of a man betting that he would throw his 

 horse down twenty times, and that nineteen times he would 

 not fall himself. I recollect seeing a Gaucho riding a very 

 stubborn horse, which three times successively reared so 

 high as to fall backwards with great violence. The man 

 judged with uncommon coolness the proper moment for 

 slipping off, not an instant before or after the right time ; 

 and as soon as the horse got up, the man jumped on his 



ck, and at last they started at a gallop. The Gaucho never 



