Over such ground we would gallop at full speed and with little hesitation, trusting absolutely to our locally-bred ponies to see us through.

English horses could never have done it, and probably no old-country horseman would have taken the chances.

We got bad falls now and then, but very seldom indeed considering conditions.
The bits used then were murderous contrivances, being of the kind called spade or ring bits.

By means of them a horse could be thrown on his haunches with slight effort, even his jaw may be broken.

Luckily the bit is little used by the cowboy.