certain Western illustrators and from a few samples,
our notion of the cow-pony has become that of a lean,
rangy, wiry, thin-necked, scrawny beast. Such may
be found. But the average good cow-pony is apt
to be an exceedingly handsome animal, clean-built,
graceful. This is natural, when you stop to think of
it, for he is descended direct from Moorish and Arabian
stock.

Certain characteristics he possesses beyond the
capabilities of the ordinary horse. The most marvelous
to me of these is his sure-footedness. Let me give
you a few examples.

I once was engaged with a crew of cowboys in
rounding up mustangs in southern Arizona. We would
ride slowly in through the hills until we caught sight
of the herds. Then it was a case of running them
down and heading them off, of turning the herd,
milling it, of rushing it while confused across country
and into the big corrals. The surface of the ground
was composed of angular volcanic rocks about the
size of your two fists, between which the bunch-grass
sprouted. An Eastern rider would ride his horse very
gingerly and at a walk, and then thank his lucky
stars if he escaped stumbles. The cowboys turned
their mounts through at a dead run. It was beautiful
to see the ponies go, lifting their feet well up and
over, planting them surely and firmly, and nevertheless
making speed and attending to the game. Once,