82 THE WILD HOESE, OE MUSTAXG. 



whether he rears, or plunges, or bucks, the rider smokes 

 his cigaritta complacently. In an hour, or so, the horse's 

 courage is subdued ; and he is then considered by his 

 captor a ' gentled ' horse. 



I have known, near Corpus Christi, a whole herd 

 penned by some Mexicans, who retained only a dozen, 

 or so, for their own use or for sale,* and having shaved 

 the mane and tail-hair from the mares and horses, 

 released them, to increase and multiply. The mane 

 and tail-hair thus secured is worked up into bridle-reins 

 and cabrestos. The mane-hair, being softer, is reserved 

 for girths, and it is the best material for that purpose 

 I have ever used, for, in the hottest weatlier, it never 

 galls a horse. 



The Texan settlers are verv fond of cuttinsf off the 

 foals from the mares. These vouno- horses and mares are 

 brought up by hand, and become as intelligent as dogs, 

 and make the most docile horses in the world for 

 hunting, or for ladies. 



This mode of horse-rearing somewhat resembles that 

 of the Arabs ; and as the eastern and western horses are 

 of the same stock, the method seems to succeed equally 

 well with both. When a hunter desires to cut off a 

 foal from its mother, it is onlv necessary for him to gret 

 as near the herd as possible, as in the case of lassoing, 

 and then to run between the mare and her foal. As 

 soon as he has succeeded in doing this, he gently bears 



* Verv young, if horses ; three or four years old, if mares. 



