Fr 054 Teaching a Mustang Pony to Pack Dead Game FredericRemington sqs Frederick Remington (1861-1909)

The drawing depicts a scene of frontier labor and animal training, rendered in a detailed, cross-hatching style characteristic of late nineteenth-century illustration. Here we see four men engaged in what appears to be the process of breaking a young mustang pony to carry game – likely deer or elk – on pack saddles. The central figure, positioned diagonally across the composition, is actively restraining the animal with a rope held taut in his right hand. His posture suggests both exertion and determination; he leans forward, eyes fixed on the pony, embodying the struggle inherent in taming wildness.
The pony itself dominates the foreground, its muscular form captured with careful attention to anatomy. It resists the training, its legs splayed and head lowered, conveying a sense of untamed energy. The pack saddles strapped onto its back further emphasize the intended purpose: subjugation for utilitarian gain.
Two other men stand behind the central figure, observing and presumably assisting in the process. One holds the reins of another horse, suggesting a larger operation or herd management. The fourth man stands slightly apart, his posture relaxed but watchful, perhaps acting as an overseer. Their clothing – hats, vests, and trousers – identifies them as individuals associated with ranching or hunting activities on the American frontier.
The background is sparsely detailed, consisting of rolling hills under a hazy sky. This limited depth creates a sense of isolation and emphasizes the focus on the immediate action unfolding in the foreground. The landscape itself seems indifferent to the human endeavor taking place within it.
Subtly, the drawing explores themes of control versus freedom, civilization versus wilderness. The men represent the imposition of order onto a natural world that resists such constraints. The pony’s struggle is not merely about training; it symbolizes the broader conflict between humanity and nature, and the cost – both physical and ethical – of asserting dominance over the environment. The scene also hints at the economic realities of frontier life, where animals were essential for survival and commerce, and their domestication was a necessary but often arduous process. The artist’s meticulous rendering suggests a respect for both the power of the animal and the tenacity of those who seek to harness it.