Breaking Horses in Uruguay.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2324, 12 January 1893, Page 2

Breaking Horses in Uruguay.

The British Vice-Consul at Montevideo in his latest report gives some interesting information in regard to the breeding and training of horse* in UniKuay. They are bred, he say*, iv a semi-wild state, and scattered over large tracts of land ; it therefore requires time and labour to'grther them together and drive them, 'into | the "corral." The colts fi&i^^* ' breaking-in are lassoed. Stronfl^Ki^ hide head-stallß are put on, aiufl^K^' are secured to posts set firmly iffHKiyl ground, at which they tug and stflK^fi in vain efforts -to break awayl ■ A^H^ they have been tied up fOT'aeVefalfcl hours, and they hare tired ttiqmteltag out, they are saddled by main force with a curious native saddle called % %X% X " recado," which ia also the Gaucßo'i *) bed. Btirrups are not used by the G-auchos except on feast dajii and holidays. The first bit thalSks|j| into the mouth of a youn% M'»i simply a greased thoug tied round the lower jaw, and the reins we fastened to this. This completes the riding paraphernalia of the Gauctio. As soon as the animal has ceased trying to get rid of this gear the rough rider takes him clear of foft corral, and seizing him firmly by the ear springs into the saddle. Then f ollowb a combat between horse and man, which ends, with rare exceptions, in favour of the latter. The colt is then unsaddled and tied firmly to the same post and left there till tbe evening, when he again is saddled and mounted. A second straggle takes place, but of a less severe nature, and, after sereral attempts to get rid of his rider, he as a rixle submits to his new master. This primitive way of breaking-in the horse, however, is not carried out with the better animals now being reared in the country by crossing with English thoroughbreds, as it is too rough and dangerous, and thoroughly breaks the spirit of the animal.