LASSOING IN THE OPEN PLAIN 97 



positions and their necks arched and turned towards 

 their tails. These latter are the most vicious of all, 

 and so obstinate that they are most difficult to conquer. 

 All this having taken place, it is a matter of the 

 greatest difficulty to induce them to return to the 

 corral. They will do anything and everything to 

 avoid returning to it. Eventually, however, whip and 

 spur succeed in forcing them in, and they become 

 quite subdued ; the saddles and bridles are taken off, 

 and the poor brutes follow one another in quietly 

 enouofh. 



I have in a previous chapter explained the Gaucho 

 system of learning to fall. It would appear that the 

 trial to the man in the latter case is as severe as that 

 used in the subjugation of the horse. When the wild 

 horse is captured in the open plain, the Gaucho selects 

 a horse to ride which is trained to the work, and he 

 gallops until he gets near enough to cast the lasso 

 round the two hind-legs, and, riding a little on one side 

 of the horse he wishes to catch, he gives the entangled 

 leg a lateral jerk, which throws the horse on his side 

 without endangering his knees or his head, and before 

 the animal has time to recover the shock, the rider 

 dismounts, and snatching his ' poncho,' or cloak, from 

 his shoulders, wraps it round the horse's head and so 

 blinds him. He then forces a powerful bit into the 

 mouth, straps a saddle on to his back, and, having 

 mounted, removes the cloak, when the horse commences 

 to do all he can to get his rider off, rearing, plunging, 

 and bucking, etc. ; but in a very short space of time he 

 finds his efforts are unavailing, and he is reduced to 

 obedience, and he himself is utilized to assist in the 

 capture of his companions. 



7 



