Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : Hunting scenes and amusements of the Rocky Mountains and prairies of America. : From drawings and notes of the author, made during eight years' travel amongst forty-eight of the wildest and most remote tribes of savages in North America. |
PLATE No. 4. |
 | Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : |  |
PLATE No. 4.
CATCHING THE WILD HORSE.
Taking the wild horse and "breaking him down" is one of the proudest feats of the Indian, and requires the sudden rallying, and desperate use, of all his manly faculties;
and even with the complete exhaustion of all these he is often compelled to relinquish his pursuit in despair. The most frequent mode of catching the horse is by "throwing the
laso," from the back of a horse at full speed, as is seen in the distant part of this picture; and by "choking the animal down," as is seen in the group in the foreground. For
this desperate feat the Indian prepares his laso, which is a braided thong, made of raw hide, fifteen or twenty yards in length, and coiled upon his left arm, with a noose at the
end of it; which, when he throws out its coil, drops over the horse's neck. This done, by holding back upon the other end of the laso, or by having it fastened to the girth of
his own horse, he gradually tightens it upon his running victim's neck, until its speed is materially checked by the stoppage of its breath. He then dismounts, and leaves his riding
horse, balancing on his feet as he is dragged along by his strangling prize, until it falls from exhaustion. He then instantly rushes upon his game, and having fastened a pair of
hobbles on its fore-feet, and a short halter, with a noose, firmly around its under jaw, loosens the laso around the neck, enabling the horse to breathe; and leaning back with the
weight of his body and all his strength, at the end of the halter, to prevent the horse from rising upon its feet or from throwing itself over and receving an injury by falling
upon its back.
In this struggle, which is called "breaking down," and generally lasts about half an hour, there is a desperate contention for the mastery, which is easily seen to be decided
by reason and invention, rather than by superiority in brute force. The Indian leans back upon his halter, which is firmly held in both hands, and as the horse is getting breath
and strength to rise, repeatedly checks it, preventing it from gaining any advantage; and gradually advances, hand over hand upon the tightened halter, towards the horse's
head, until the poor, affrighted, trembling, and conquered animal, covered with foam, allows the caressing hand of its new master to put it on the nose, and in a few minutes to
cover its eyes, when the exchange of a few deep-drawn breaths from their meeting nostrils seems to compromise the struggle; the animal discovering in its conqueror, instead
rest of its life.
In these desperate struggles the finest and the flectest of the band are seldom if ever overtaken; nor would such misfortune often befall the hindmost, were it not that the
pursuing horse gets advantage of the ground, and shortens the distance, by the superior judgment and guidance of man.
| Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : | |