COUNTRY SPOETS AND LIFE IN CHILE. 171 



struggle, tlie turn of the domador comes : lie let^s 

 into the wretched animal with all his might with 

 whip and spur^ and at last brings him back^ bleeding, 

 exhausted, and half dead with fright, to the place where 

 he started from ; he is then turned into a corral, and a 

 day or two after the dose is repeated. Two or three 

 lessons are thought sufficient for an ordinary horse. As, 

 however, they are generally very tractable, their buyer 

 reckons on training them himself afterwards. 



A really well-broken Chile horse is a valuable animal, 

 and in his way a wonder ; a huasOy or farmer, will rarely 

 sell his own horse, which, when he is not drunk, he 

 treats with every kindness. It very often takes three or 

 four years constant training to make a good hiiaso horse, 

 as they are called. The principal points to be attained 

 in this description of animal are, having a good rienda, 

 being able to push another horse over, being able to 

 stop almost instantaneously at the word, and to start 

 equally quickly. A good rienda means being able to 

 turn round in a circle — the smaller the circle and the 

 quicker the turn, the better the horse : it is no uncommon 

 feat for a huaso to ride round a post, touching the 

 post with his forefinger all the time. I have frequently 

 seen a man ride full tilt at a bullock " end on;^' 

 when almost touching the horns of the enraged 

 animal, the rienda is given, and the horse turns 

 round like lightning; in rodeos, when pursuing wild 

 bulls, many men would be killed if it were not for 

 their horses having good reins, besides losing a vast deal 

 of time. As it is, it is marvellous to see them dodging 

 and lassoing among the very horns of the cattle. It 

 is dangerous to attempt any of this show riding 

 ■without being sure of your horse, and many young men 



