146 15ANDA ORIENTAL. [<;iiAr. vm. 



with the other arm outstretched in a like manner, he wheeled round, 

 with astonishing force, in an opposite direction. 



Such a horse is well broken; and although this at first may 

 appear useless, it is far otherwise. It is only carrying that which 

 is daily necessary into perfection. When a bullock is checked and 

 caught by the lazo, it will sometimes gallop round and round in a 

 circle, and the horse being alarmed at the great strain, if not well 

 broken, will not readily turn like the pivot of a wheel. It con- 

 sequence many men have been killed ; for if the lazo once takes 

 a twist round a man's body, it will instantly, from the power of the 

 two opposed animals, almost cut him in twain. On the same 

 principle the races are managed ; the course is only two or three 

 hundred yards long, the wish being to have horses that can make 

 a rapid dash. The racehorses are trained not only to stand with 

 their hoofs touching a line, but to draw all four feet together, so as 

 at the first spring to bring into play the full action of the hind- 

 quarters. In Chile I was told an anecdote, which I believe was 

 true; and it offers a good illustration of the use of a well-broken 

 animal. A respectable man riding one day met two others, one of 

 whom was mounted on a horse, \vhich he knew to have been stolen 

 from himself. He challenged them ; they answered him by drawing 

 their sabres and giving chase. The man, on his good and fleet 

 beast, kept just ahead: as he passed a thick biish he wheeled 

 round it, and brought up his horse to a dead check. The pursuers 

 were obliged to shoot on one side and ahead. Then instantly 

 dashing on, right behind them, ho buried his knife in the back of 

 one, wounded the other, recovered his horse from the dying robber, 

 and rode home. For these feats of horsemanship two things are 

 necessary : a most severe bit, like the Mameluke, the power of 

 which, though seldom used, the horse knows full well ; and largo 

 blunt spurs, that can be applied either as a mere touch, or as an 

 instrument of extreme pain. I conceive that with English spurs, 

 the slightest touch of which pricks the skin, it would be impossible 

 to break in a horse after the South American fashion. 



At|an estancia near Las Vacas large numbers of mares are weekly 

 slaughtered for the sake of their hides, although worth only five 

 paper dollars, or about half a crown 'apiece. It seems at first 

 strange that it can answer to kill mares for such a trifle ; but as it 

 is, thought ridiculous in this country ever to break in or ride a 

 mare, they are of no value except for breeding. The only thing 



