VIII HORSEMANSHIP IN CHILE 163 



Then making a demi-volte in the air, with the other arm out- 

 stretched 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, will not readily turn like 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 wish 

 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 full 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 whom was 

 mounted on a horse, which he knew to have been stolen from 

 himself. He challenged them ; they answered him by drawing 

 their sabres and giving chase. The man, on his good and fleet 

 beast, kept just ahead : as he passed a thick bush he wheeled 

 round it, and brought up his horse to a dead check. The 

 pursuers were obliged to shoot on one side and ahead. Then 

 instantly dashing on, right behind them, he buried his knife in 

 the back of one, wounded the other, recovered his horse 

 from the dying robber, and rode home. For these feats of 

 horsemanship two things are necessary : a most severe bit, like 

 the Mameluke, the power of which, though seldom used, the 

 horse knows full well ; and large blunt spurs, that can be 

 applied either as a mere touch, or as an instrument of extreme 

 pain. I conceive that with English spurs, the slightest touch 

 of which pricks the skin, it would be impossible to break in a 

 horse after the South American fashion. 



At an estancia near Las Vacas large numbers of mares are 

 weekly slaughtered for the sake of their hides, although worth 

 only five paper dollars, or about half-a-crown apiece. It seems 



