178 BANDA ORIENTAL. NoV. 1833. 



could be said, was, that he started and took fright, as part 

 of his horse. 



In Chile and Peru more pains are taken with the mouth 

 of the horse than in La Plata, and this is evidently a con- 

 sequence of the more intricate nature of the country. In 

 Chile a horse is not considered perfectly broken tiU he can 

 be brought up standing, in the midst of his full speed, on any 

 particular spot, — for instance, on a cloak thrown on the 

 ground : or, again, will charge a wall, and rearing, scrape the 

 surface with his hoofs. I have seen an animal bounding with 

 spirit, yet merely reined by a fore-finger and thumb, taken 

 at fuU gallop across a courtyard, and then made to wheel 

 round the post of a verandah with great speed, but at so 

 equal a distance, that the rider, with outstretched arm, all 

 the while kept one finger rubbing the post. Then making a 

 demi-volte in the air, with the other arm outstretched in a 

 like manner, he wheeled round, with astonishing force, in an 

 opposite direction. 



Such a horse is well broken ; and although this at first 

 may appear useless, it is far otherwise. It is only carrying 

 that which is daily necessary into perfection. When a 

 bullock is checked and caught by the lazo, it will sometimes 

 gallop round and round in a circle, and the horse being 

 alarmed at the great strain, if not well broken, wiU not rea- 

 dily turn hke the pivot of a wheel. In consequence many 

 men have been killed ; for if the lazo once takes a twist round 

 a man's body, it will instantly, from the power of the two 

 opposed animals, almost cut him in twain. On the same 

 principle the races are managed ; the course is only two or 

 three hundred yards long, the desideratum being to have 

 horses that can make a rapid dash. The race-horses are 

 trained not only to stand with their hoofs touching a line, 

 but to draw all four feet together, so as at the first spring to 

 bring into play the fuU action of the hind quarters. In 

 Chile I was told an anecdote, which I believe was true ; and it 

 offers a good illustration of the use of a well-broken animal. 

 A respectable man riding one day met two others, one of 



