After the wild creature is broken and learns his business, he is exactly the horse wanted:
The horse learned to follow the herds of cattle with a vast touch of superiority in its tone. It would plunge to the mill of a round up and follow like a bird each turn of a running steer, cheerfully biting its thick hide at every jump, and enjoying the fun as much as the rider. It would travel hour after hour across the wavering and superheated stands of the desert country, not complaining about water, and willing to make his living at night by picking at the short grass of the hard ground in the summer, sometimes living on browse in winter, and never, in the early days, even knowing a taste of grain. Early Texas horses would at first nearly starve before they would eat corn or oats. This cow horse never had a grooming in all its life, and if touched by a curry comb would have kicked the groom to death in a moment and then broken down the corral. Its back was sure to be sore, and its temper accordingly a trifle uncertain, but it would go its journey and do its stint and take what nature gave it. It’s rough rider had small apparent love for it, what would occasionally slap its side with a rough gesture of half regard after some long ride, when it stood, tucked up in steaming, panting with the fatigue of the work. No blanket ever covered it after the hardest ride, and in winter it had no shelter, but what it could find for itself. Hardier than a steer, and with more intelligence, it would live were cattle would starve to death, poking down through the snow and getting food while the horned herds were dropping of starvation all about.
Bronco Busting
The old and stupid style of “bronco busting” is almost done away with. “To bust a bronco” was to rope a horse, to throw him and tie him, then putting the saddle on him to mount, sparring and courting him. All this is going out of use today. Gentler methods now prevail and horses are being broken by humane efforts. Of course some punishment may be necessary, but there is no cruelty practiced. Western horses, as a rule, always will pitch or bucked when first written, but this trick is easily cured. A green horse on the ranch was brought in some time ago that had never been written. He was a handsome, well bred gray. In two days under the hands of an intelligent young man, the horse was taught to lead, follow around in the corral, and when called upon to “come here” would walk up to the trainer like a well broken dog. When first saddle he pitched a little. At the end of the fourth day he was quite gentle, and would allow his rider to mount with little difficulty. In 10 days that horse was thoroughly broken, and gentle enough for anyone to ride.