1833.] HOKSEMANSHIP IN CHILE. 145 



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, quo 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 un- 

 tamed 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 BO 

 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 back, and at last they started at a 

 gallop. The Gaucho never appears to exert any muscular force. I 

 was one day watching a good rider, as we were galloping along at 

 a rapid pace, and thought to myself, " Surely if the horse starts, you 

 appear so careless on your seat, you must fall." At this moment, 

 a male ostrich sprang from its nest right beneath the horse's nose : 

 the young colt bounded on one side like a stag ; but as for the man, 

 all that could be said was, that he started and took fright with his 

 horse. 



In Chile and Peru more pains are taken with the mouth of tho 

 horse than in La Plata, and this is evidently a consequence of the 

 more intricate nature of the country. In Chile a horse is not con- 

 sidered perfectly broken, till he can be brought up standing, in tho 

 midst of his full speed, on any particular spot, for instance, on a 

 cloak thrown on the ground : or, again, he will charge a wall, and 

 rearing, scrape the 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, 



