The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-01
TRAINING TRICK HORSES.
A Professional Trainer's Experience In
the Art of Equine Ilducatlon.

the Art of Equine Education.
A New York reporter was admitted
behind the scenes" of Barnum's circus
in New York, and saw Carl Antony, the
celebrated horse trainer, put several
horses through the "mill." SignorSe-
bastian, trick equestrian, was attired in
costume, but it was simply to give him
freedom of motion while riding the
spirited steeds. Antony brought for
ward beautiful charger that he had re-
Gently purchased. 1t was handsomely
marked. 1t carried its head like prince,
and displayed little apprehensiveness
Mt the large banners and ballons, under
which it had to run. In going around
the arena the course in usually toward
the left. Few riders can keep their feet
in the bareback style in the opposite di-
rection. Riding tradition more than
physical laws make the course toward
the left, although q few skilled riders,
learned to ride i'm both directions.
When a horse new to the ring is to be
broken in, he must be taught to put his
left foot first every time. In that only
can he preserve that nice equilibrium
necessary for the rider. The horses
back is we'll rosined, SO that the eques-
TRANS feet will not slip from the moist
skin of the animal, for steady foothold
is required for those extraordi-
nary acts of horsemanship, Antony
walked around the ring, never taking
his ever-watchful eye from the horses an
| instant. and swapping his long whip that
| carried obedience with every crack, but
| the task seemed too much and it was
| abandoned.
During an interval, Antony indulged
in bits OF talk in regard to his profession.
He has n noble-looking countenance,
with n dainty dark red mustache, which
he is fond of twirling.
| "You see, sir" he began, " horses are
| like men; some are more intelligent than
others. And there are many grades OF
| intelligence, too. / have little Ken.
tucky thoroughbred that understands
everything. As it is, he has picked uI
little wicked soul. Oh, he's wild one
| can assure you,n and he laughed will
a peculiar chucklc. american horse:
learn quicker than any other stock, but
they also forget easier. To-day l may
have no difficulty in getting an idea into
their heads, and tomorrow they vii
forget it. This is true, however, only il
the first days Of the training. After :;
while they become accustomed to thel
newly acquired skill and form valuable
portion of your stud. Russian and Hun
garian horses, on the contrary, are NOR
difficult to teach, but when they do learl
ANYTHING they hold on to it like grin
DEATH The Trakene stations that ] in
troduce day and night came from Em
peror Williams stable in Prussia.
broke them myself, and, as they ha'
never known halter OF stable, of cours
they were pretty lively specimens. The.
were broke in 1874 and have performe,
in the principal cities in Europe.
could tell you interesting things in re
gard to training trick horses, but it i
with us the same as physicians-what W
know is our fortune. Kindness, lind
accomplishes more than the whip, a.
though horse must have a wholesom
dread of the latter. Some people NJ
under the impression it is Difficult
matter to make horses stand on their hin
legs and walk around the ring. thin
it is one of the easiest. / can make an
| good horse do it in two days. 1t require
assuageness. My father. who is in tn
city at present, was considered to be on
ofthe biggest horse breakers in Europe
} and from him | learned the art OF break
ing horses. Since l was seven years {
age / have been, in some way connecte
, with horse business. At that early az
my work was confined to riding horse
at breakneck speed. At fifteen I entere
the Imperial school in Berlin, where
I learned great deal about horses an
| passed examination successfully. The
I went to the stables Of the Emperor {
Russia. and had the privilege of breal
ing for him a magnificent stud. I lov
my work and hope to adhere to the pro
feSsion. IF you ever go into the art, sal
the horse trainer in conclusion, "let n
tell you that stations make hetter tric
horses than geldings. They are are MOI
intelligent. You can begin to teach
horse when he is two years old, and
you take care of him lie will last for
: quarter of n century"