| 189"There are, of course, some brutal cowboys,
just as there brutal people in any
class or profession, but the average cowboy
loves his cow-pony a great deal better
than many people love each other. They
know that by care and attention these
rough little fellows will respond as gamely
as the best thoroughbred in the country
and that, too, to a longer and harder test
than a thoroughbred could possibly live
through. Thoroughbreds are trained consistently
for races and they are supposed to reach their greatest degree
of effectiveness in these races. Why
should not these western horses have a
chance? They are built just for this kind
of work and are trained for it. They are
the natural outgrowth of the needs of the
generation. These horses in this race can
come along making fifty or sixty miles a day,
and can be ridden into
this city without turning a hair.
With such care as I am sure the cowboy
riders will exercise in regard to their mounts
I am confident that they left Chadron.
Then we will have an example of the
practicability of the western horse. It was
exemplified in the old days of the pony
rider on the long hard scouts in the Indian
wars when horses were ridden day and
night continuously without even a chance
to take the saddle or bridle off or to groom
them a bit. Many a time have I had to
throw the reins over my horse's head and
let him get a few nibbles of bunch grass
while I took just forty winks, then up into
the saddle àgain without even a chance to
give him a rub.
"These boys in this race have got two
horses and with the extra animal there
should not be even the least signs of distress.
When they complete their sixty miles,
a rest and rub in the little camp made
by the solitary rider will make the horses
as good as new. Mind, if there was the
least approach to cruelty in this race I
would be one of the flrst to cry quit. If
there was any killing or maiming of horses
I would be one of the first to ask that the
race be stopped, for I am a member of
Berg's society and I am also a lover of the
horse. I ought to know the animal pretty
thoroughly in my many years' service on the
plains and in the army.
"Look at our horses in the show. They
are cared for in the best manner possible
and are sleek and fat. I defy any one to
find any cruelty in our treatment. I know
that the cowboy has an innate love for his
horse and will not - Ah excuse me," and
the colonel rushed into the outer tent to
shake hands with Senator Ed Wolcott, of
Colorado, who, with his wife and a party of
Washington ladies had entered to make a
call on the leader of the congress of rough
riders.
You've got the greatest show on earth.
I never saw the like," declared impulsive
"Ed," who knows what life on the plains is
like. After declining an introduction to a
cold, small bottle, the party left. Colonel
Cody resumed his narrátive.
"The prizes in the race are secondary in
the consideration of the cowboys. What
they care most for is the honor of winning
the great Columbian cowboy race. Of
course, the man who finishes first and wins
$1,500 and the Colt rifle which was fired as
the signal to start from Chadron will be
satisfied with the monetary part, but the
fame and honor will be dearer to him than
all the money considerations. But to win
this I am sure no one of them will resort to
to cruelty or unfair tactics. Those
two humane officers who were at
Chardon to see the start came to
me for a letter of instruction to Harvey
Weare, the secretary of the company
and I gave them the letter desired, although
I did not have a personal acquaintance with
Mr. Weare. Their attitude at the start,
cheering the riders, was sufficient to show
every ope that they considered there was
no cruelty.
"The journey is about seven hundred
miles. Figuring on sixty miles a day for
an average speed, the first man should put
in an appearance about June 26, although
there is no telling how the roads are. Of
course, I shall take great pleasure in presenting
the prizes, although I assume no
responsibility in the matter; but I hope
that in such an honest, manly struggle as
this there will be no question of cruelty or
jobbery, or that the public will feel any
need for interference."
| 189"There are, of course, some brutal cowboys,
just as there brutal people in any
class or profession, but the average cowboy
loves his cow-pony a great deal better
than many people love each other. They
know that by care and attention these
rough little fellows will respond as gamely
as the best thoroughbred in the country
and that, too, to a longer and harder test
than a thoroughbred could possibly live
through. Thoroughbreds are trained consistently
for races and they are supposed to reach their greatest degree
of effectiveness in these races. Why
should not these western horses have a
chance? They are built just for this kind
of work and are trained for it. They are
the natural outgrowth of the needs of the
generation. These horses in this race can
come along making fifty or sixty miles a day,
and can be ridden into
this city without turning a hair.
With such care as I am sure the cowboy
riders will exercise in regard to their mounts
I am confident that they left Chadron.
Then we will have an example of the
practicability of the western horse. It was
exemplified in the old days of the pony
rider on the long hard scouts in the Indian
wars when horses were ridden day and
night continuously without even a chance
to take the saddle or bridle off or to groom
them a bit. Many a time have I had to
throw the reins over my horse's head and
let him get a few nibbles of bunch grass
while I took just forty winks, then up into
the saddle àgain without even a chance to
give him a rub.
"These boys in this race have got two
horses and with the extra animal there
should not be even the least signs of distress.
When they complete their sixty miles,
a rest and rub in the little camp made
by the solitary rider will make the horses
as good as new. Mind, if there was the
least approach to cruelty in this race I
would be one of the flrst to cry quit. If
there was any killing or maiming of horses
I would be one of the first to ask that the
race be stopped, for I am a member of
Berg's society and I am also a lover of the
horse. I ought to know the animal pretty
thoroughly in my many years' service on the
plains and in the army.
"Look at our horses in the show. They
are cared for in the best manner possible
and are sleek and fat. I defy any one to
find any cruelty in our treatment. I know
that the cowboy has an innate love for his
horse and will not - Ah excuse me," and
the colonel rushed into the outer tent to
shake hands with Senator Ed Wolcott, of
Colorado, who, with his wife and a party of
Washington ladies had entered to make a
call on the leader of the congress of rough
riders.
You've got the greatest show on earth.
I never saw the like," declared impulsive
"Ed," who knows what life on the plains is
like. After declining an introduction to a
cold, small bottle, the party left. Colonel
Cody resumed his narrátive.
"The prizes in the race are secondary in
the consideration of the cowboys. What
they care most for is the honor of winning
the great Columbian cowboy race. Of
course, the man who finishes first and wins
$1,500 and the Colt rifle which was fired as
the signal to start from Chadron will be
satisfied with the monetary part, but the
fame and honor will be dearer to him than
all the money considerations. But to win
this I am sure no one of them will resort to
to cruelty or unfair tactics. Those
two humane officers who were at
Chardon to see the start came to
me for a letter of instruction to Harvey
Weare, the secretary of the company
and I gave them the letter desired, although
I did not have a personal acquaintance with
Mr. Weare. Their attitude at the start,
cheering the riders, was sufficient to show
every ope that they considered there was
no cruelty.
"The journey is about seven hundred
miles. Figuring on sixty miles a day for
an average speed, the first man should put
in an appearance about June 26, although
there is no telling how the roads are. Of
course, I shall take great pleasure in presenting
the prizes, although I assume no
responsibility in the matter; but I hope
that in such an honest, manly struggle as
this there will be no question of cruelty or
jobbery, or that the public will feel any
need for interference."
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