For some reason snakes will not cross a hair rope.
"Now, as to throwing it: "The riata, say, is hanging from the horn of the saddle--not tied, but ready for use.

No vaquero who understands his trade ties his rope to his saddle.

He knows that his life may depend on his ability to let go of his rope in an instant, and he isn't going to chance killing himself or his horse.

You see, the vaquero might be on a side hill, and a bull or steer he wishes to catch be on a trail below him, and the ground between them to be too steep to admit of his riding down to it.

Now, suppose the noose, instead of catching around the horns of the steer, should circle his neck and draw down to his shoulders?
Accidents are, of course, as likely to happen in catching cattle as in anything else, and give a bull such a hold and he could pull a house, let alone a mustang.