“Coyote Trails”: Tom riding bareback

Tom Tyler was an expert horseman, but there are few existing film scenes where he is riding bareback without any reins nor other riding equipment. The best one I can think of is his film “Coyote Trails” where he has the task of taming a beautiful wild stallion named Phantom (not to be confused with The Phantom, Tom's 1943 film serial role). The few scenes where Tom manages to jump upon the stallion and ride through the valley in hopes of discovering what is happening to all the stolen mares is something to watch.

It is clear from the first meeting of Tom with Phantom led to a kinship, for he helped free this magnificent horse from a trap intended for the animal.

And of course as soon as Phantom is freed Tom says “So long, Handsome!” to it. Phantom seems to prefer his new name given him by Tom – after all, what horse wouldn't? Handsome is a perfect fit for Handsome, that is, Tom Tyler.