150 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



and he'll maim her in the corral one of these days. 

 Sell him !" 



Despite the ubiquitous automobile of later days, 

 the skipping- "road flea" largely in evidence, horses, 

 buggies and wagons still exist; likewise slovenli- 

 ness and neglect, especially where the buggy horse is 

 concerned. As it was of old, so is it now. At one 

 time there were just two or three of us who attend- 

 ed to the decencies — that is, we sallied forth behind 

 a sleek, well cared for team, harness and buggy 

 both alike in order. Now it is but by a miracle such 

 a pleasant sight greets the eye. Yet there are al- 

 ways men on the ranch who can, maybe, wash a 

 buggy once a month, clean harness perhaps twice a 

 year, and see to it that they are not represented in 

 public by rough, bony, neglected horses; this does 

 not sound like a very large order. As for work 

 horses — not overmuch time need be consumed in 

 seeing that collars and pads fit, that harness is strip- 

 ped off at noon, that these laborers worthy of their 

 hire are allowed ample time for refreshment, that 

 eyes showing the effects of dust are washed at night 

 with salt and water, tender shoulders — though such 

 should not be — also washed and tender hoofs 

 greased. How much time does this supervision 

 consume? A few minutes — and often days saved, 

 days on which the horses of careless owners literally 

 cannot work; and when a New Mexican, white or 

 brown, rests his beast, one may be very sure that 

 the animal is incapable of putting one foot before 

 the other! Needless to add that there are several 

 good ranchmen who realize that care of their teams 



