Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-23
rha aH ,vdust Ribg--IIew DhEldrsn are Train
INV ed fer Ekfders.


Thu San Francisco Chronicle says Visitors to-
the circus now performing on Jackson street lot
cannot fail to have been struck with the excel
Ience Of the Juggling featB on horseback OF Har-
ry Welby Cooke Who for ak years has had a
challenge out TO all coinere TO compete with him
n tbis Class Of acts for $50QO. Mr.. Cooke, who
~ the leading bareback rider Id the company,
and among the foremost in the world, In the
couree of conversation made some interesiing
stRfoInents I'm regard to early training OF riders.
ITs own experience will serve as an example OF
the course Of instruction pursued by nearly all
succeasful riders. At the age OF three and a-half
years he put on the spangles and entered the
sawdust ring for his first lesson. II consisted OF
merely riding q small pony around the ring
barebaeked, in order to get confidence and the
All of balancing--two essentials in bareback III
ding II the child is possessed OF sufficient cool
ness and courage to warrant the hope that he
will become successful rider, with sufficient
uraotice after number of such lessons, he il
Taught to ride two ponies. galloping around the
ring, standing with one foot on the back OF
each pony and holding the reins In his hand,
while his tutor holds cord attached to the
child's waist and passing through ring In the
saddle. This is nsed TO keep the child from
falling under the horses feet iD cape Of his los
ing his balance. 1t is much easier to balance
with one foot on each horse than to ride sill
Gle animal After the pupil il able to ride two
ponies. and has some ideas OF the balance re-
uuired, he is then placed on the pad, or eqnes-
tflanIBauules An bIpbflonCtu IlubE bltb bohiHhY
and the pupil performs in front within reach OF
the tutors arms. Every precaution il taken to
preserve the child from falling, as fall des-
tToys confidence and often undoes months OF
patient instruction. Instead OF using severity,
ii is the aim of the tutor to make the pupil feel
additional confidence and pleasure in the per-
fornlancs every tune it is repeated. The next
alep il allowing the child to ride alone on the
pad, il he has sufficient confidence in himself
and good idea OF preserving his balance; The
t,.I IN
by the tutor to prevent uccidents. After he has
LEARNED to stand on one foot and jump from his
knees to his feet the bare back horse ID intro
duced and the routine OF instruction ID repeated
with additional precautions. Then the "leapIng
objects" are brought in. The first lesson Is
leaping the banner, which takes some time to
perfectly accomplish. II al this stage OF il
structions the boy does not display promising
proficiency he soon drops out OF the list OF III
derA and becomes an obi ct holder. The next
pupil tries hoop Jumping aud when he is we'll
up to these he tries the ''cross ttickH which
consist of somersaults, pirouettlng, standing
face to the horses head. jumping half way anu
and lighting with face to the horses
tail These tricks often require years Of pa
tient practice, supplemented with great cool
ness and judgment.
Juggling on horseback is another branch of
bareback performance, winch IL STUDIED after
the pupil becomes master of the foregoing ao-
compishments. He commences with the balls.
the globe spinning the basin, ete., ,0n the ground
and when he becomes proficient. attempts the
same feats on horseback As the rider keeps
his eyes on the balls or basin all the time, these
feAts become doubly difficult and daring. The
most difficult of all is the trick wlica Mr. Cooke
misunderstanding through the paper hoop,
throwing the basin over the top and catching it
after aliehtng on the other side. This requires
years of practice and an extraordinary amount
of precision. Female bareback riders are put
through the same course OF training.
The foremost bareback riders in the world are
James Robinson. John Henry Cooke, 81 Welby
Cooke, Charles Fish, Donald Melville, William
Bell, Madame Caroline Roland and Madame
Dockrill The average salaries OF bareback ri
ders are from $175 to 5000 per week. James
Robinson, who has been thirty-twe years in the
business, and is regarded AZ the best bareback
rider in the world. has refused 300 per week in
Germany, while filling another more lucrative
engagement. Madame Roland and Madame
Dockfil each command about S400 per week aud
axnauaeH. ......-