His horse knows its painful character, and so obeys the slightest raising of the rider's hand.

It should also be remarked that the cow-pony is guided, not by pulling either the right or left rein, but by the rider carrying his bridle hand over to the _left_ if he wants to go to the left, and vice versa.

There is no pulling on the mouth.

The pony does not understand that; it is the slight pressure of the right rein on the _right_ side of the neck that turns him to the _left_.
The reata in those days was nearly always made of plaited raw hide, and often made by the boys themselves, though a good reata required a long time to complete and peculiar skill in the making of it.

Quirts (quadras) and horse hobbles were also made of raw hide.
As everyone knows, the horn of the saddle is used in America to hold roped cattle with.