Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1895 — Tricky Ponies. [ARTICLE]

Tricky Ponies.

The Western ranchman puts a bell about his horse’s neck as the people of the East place bells about the necks of their cattle, to aid in their detection when at large. Occasionally a horse shows a cunning determination to outwit this precaution of his master. The stable of the Western horse often has no rafters but the outspread limbs of trees; no ceiling but the vault of heaven; no flooring but the sod. The ranchman never has to put food in his horse's manger, and when he wants to use him he must go forth on the’ range and j seek him in unnumbered stalls. j To aid him in finding his steed quick- | ly, he “hobbles” him, and puts a bell about his neck. The intelligent animal sometimes plays a trick on his master. He gets behind some thick-growing clump of cedar or mesquite and stands still, absolutely motionless, so that his bell will not make the slightest sound. The man in search of him listens intently for the bell. He is sure he knows the sound of that horse’s bell from a dozen others. He hears nothing. Going further, lie pauses to listen again; then, not hearing the slightest sotihd to indicate the vicinity of any breatiling creature, the owner of that very intelligent animal proceeds to travel much further than he anticipated, wondering how that precious horse could have strayed so far, all hobbled as he Is. All the while that precious home Is in comfortable hiding In some sheltered nook, if it be winter—in a cool, shady place If it be summer—enjoying the joke, or the thought of the long journey or irkome task he has gotten rid of.