I know only too well how the
so-called breaking is done, for I have seen it many times, and the
whole performance is cruel and disgraceful. There are wicked horses,
of course, but there are more wicked men, and many a fine, spirited
animal is ruined, made an "outlaw" that no man can ride, just by the
fiendish way in which they are first ridden. But the more crazy the
poor beast is made, the more fun and glory for the breaker.
Rollo is a light sorrel and a natural pacer; he cannot trot one step,
and for that reason I did not want him, but Faye said that I had
better try him, so he was sent up. The fact of his being an unbroken
colt, Faye seemed to consider a matter of no consequence, but I soon
found that it was of much consequence to me, inasmuch as I was obliged
to acquire a more precise balance in the saddle because of his coltish
ways, and at the same time make myself--also the horse--perfectly
acquainted with the delicate give and take of bit and bridle, for with
a pacer the slightest tightening or slackening at the wrong time will
make him break. When Rollo goes his very fastest, which is about 2:50,
I never use a stirrup and never think of a thing but his mouth! There
is so little motion to his body I could almost fancy that he had no
legs at all--that we are being rushed through the air by some unseen
force. It is fine!
Faye has reorganized the band, and the instrumentation is entirely
new.
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