Mexican Ixdiax Cavalry. 147 



THE INDIAN MUSTANG. 



When the red Indian of North America first began to ride on horseback there is no 

 evidence to show; but Captain Butler, in his "Great Lone Land," states that the Indian word 

 for horse also means "big dog." 



Viscount .Southwell exhibited a mustang at the Agricultural Hall in 1867, which he has thus 

 described in the catalogue: "Ishto Plac, an Indian war-horse; dark chestnut; 13 hands high 

 Bred by the Comanche Indians of North Texas, North America." This pony was sent without 

 bridle, saddle, or any man to show him off, and was therefore exhibited at the greatest disad- 

 vantage. He was very docile, just of the stamp that you could buy at that time in a fair in South 

 Wales for about ;^IS- It is to be presumed that Lord Southwell would not have gone to the 

 trouble of sending an inferior specimen to England. 



The following account of these animals, on which, Tartar like, the Indians have for centuries 

 carried out their border raids against Mexican, and recently against Texan settlers, is by 

 Lieutenant. -Colonel Dodge, of the U.S. army, who commanded a force employed to keep 

 them in check.* It must be taken with some allowance for the American taste for sensational 

 statements. 



The pony used by the red Indians of America is scarcely fourteen hands in height, rather 

 light than heavy in build, with good legs, straight shoulders (like all uncultivated horses.'), 

 short strong back, full barrel ; he has no appearance of " blood," except sharp, nervous ears, and 

 bright, intelligent eyes ; but his endurance is incredible. He is never stalled, nor washed, nor 

 dressed, nor blanketed, nor shod, nor fed. When not under saddle he is picketed or turned loose 

 to shift for himself 



In winter he is a terrible object — an animated skeleton. His pasture being buried beneath 

 the snow, he would perish if the squaws did not cut branches of the cotton-wood tree for him 

 to browse on. But when the spring brings out the tender grass he sheds his coat, scours his 

 protuberant belly, and moves with head erect, ears and eyes full of intelligence. He will climb 

 steep rocks like a mule, plunge down a perpendicular precipice like a buffalo; only the elk can 

 more successfully cross swamps, and he will go at speed through sand-hills and ground perforated 

 with holes, where an American horse would fall in the first fifty yards of a gallop. The work he 

 can do is astonishing ; no mercy is shown. 



The Indian pony is the same animal as the mustang, or wild horse of Texas. He is sufficiently 

 tractable to the rough-riding Indian, but when stabled, and fed on corn and oats, he becomes either 

 a vicious, dangerous brute, or a fat, lazy cob. 



An Indian will ride a horse from the back of which every particle of skin and much flesh 

 has been torn by the ill-fitting saddle, ride him at speed until he drops, then force him to his 

 feet, and ride him again. 



There is a " plain " saying that a white will abandon a horse as broken down ; a Mexican 

 will then mount and ride him fifty miles further; an Indian will then mount and ride him for a 

 week. 



Riding is second nature to the Indian, strapped astride of a horse as soon as he can walk. 



The bit is the Mexican bit ; the bar bent in the centre, from two to four inches long, extends 

 backwards to the horse's throat. To the upper end is attached an iron ring, which embraces the 

 chin, and forms a curb. Long side levers are attached to the bar with reins of horse-hair or raw 



• " Hunting Grounds of the Great West." 1877. 



