Article by Phil Meadows
THE WESTERN HORSEMAN
The Arizona State Prison in Florence is unique in that it covers such a large area that horses still play a prominent part in its operation. The various prison farms along the Gila River furnish a large share of the sustenance, and all the farm work is done with prisoners. This means that all types of men are transported to the work areas in trucks under armed guards, to do the fieldwork under guard.
As each work detail generally consists of three guards to every thirty convicts, the guards must cover all points at all times to prevent escape. This is where a good stout, well-trained horse comes in.
The prison is fortunate in having a warden who has a lifetime background of horses behind him. Warden Frank Eyman has been with horses all of his life. Even a hitch in World War I did not separate him from horses as he was in the cavalry. Sheriff of Pima County for many years (he was one of the arresting officers in the sensational capture of John Dillinger in Tucson), Warden Eyman headed the Pima County Sheriff’s Posse. He brought some good horses with him when he became superintendent of the state prison at Florence. Under his tenure, the guard mount has been built up to a point of pride with the people of Arizona.
Because of the nature of the surrounding country, the horseback guards must have a very thorough knowledge of horsemanship. The country is covered with rocks and cholla cactus, with a lot of dry riverbeds thrown in. In the event of escape, the chase after the escapee can be quite rugged, especially if the prisoner is successful in getting to the nearby mountains.
Again, the prison is fortunate in having men raised in the area who know the country like the palm of their hands. Several are of Spanish-American descent whose people have lived in the area for generations. Most are ex-cowboys, familiar with all phases of horse care.
In addition, the prison gets the use of cowboys in prison for one crime or another. Some found a rope with a horse on the other end. In taking the found rope, they got a hitch for horse stealing. Many get in trouble over drink and the gasoline buggy. As these men are generally easy to handle, they are soon assigned two-for-one jobs as horse boys. The horse boys take full care of the horses and equipment that is needed. Horses must be shod, groomed, and well fed. Equipment such as saddles, bridles, and holsters, must be kept saddle-soaped, repaired, and ready for instant use.
The boys assigned to the care of the horses usually like their charges and spend most of their time taking care of them.
The prison maintains a kennel of trained bloodhounds to trail escapees. These, too, must be followed on horseback as the dogs, once on the scent, trail at a high rate of speed.
The horses are all trained to ride in trucks and trailers so they can be quickly transported to strategic points when the occasion demands. Most of the horses soon pick up the routine and understand what is going on. They will get restless at noon and at quitting time, and also learn to follow the bay of the hounds. They learn, too, to watch the inmates working and give warning of anything unusual by a movement of their ears.
At the prison, the Quarter Horse has come into his own. His ability to stand hard work, his easy-keeping qualities, his speed and easy riding make him ideal. As it is quite hot in the summer, he takes the heat in his stride along with the short winter cold, and remains healthy. The horses are checked regularly by a veterinarian.
Several years ago when I worked at the prison, I rode a roan mare by the good roan halter champion and top rope horse, Thistle. This mare learned to recognize the radio trucks on night chases and would follow the bay of the hounds without help from the rider. She would listen intently to the radio conversations at night. It would be hard to evaluate such a horse!
Each year, the prison band makes a public appearance in the Florence Junior Parada, the original kids’ rodeo held for the past 33 years. Needless to say, the prisoners are accompanied by armed guards. Led by Warden Eyman, this band makes a truly colorful and interesting spectacle.
The prison is furthering its Quarter Horse program by acquiring good mares from time to time. Recently, the prison received several registered mares from the Speiden Ranch at Benson.
In recent years, the administration has constructed modern stables that would do credit to any horse operation. Completely fireproof and weatherproof, the horses have a chance to rest comfortably and remain in tip-top shape.
As the Institution follows the national trend and continues to grow, the foresight of the present administration will see that plenty of good horses adapted to the work at hand will be available. Fine Quarter Horses are being raised and trained to be right at home when they reach working age.
