Connecticut western news., 1888-05-02
CIRCUS RIDERS.
How Equestriennes Learn to
 Ride Horses Bareback.
The Use of the "Mechanic"-
 A Dangerous Profession.

back2' asked Now York Journal re- porter of Mile. Cadona, one of Bar rum's most skilful riders.
 "Come inside and I will tell you," replied tho charming equestriennc, as she led the way to her dressing room
 'Most of us begin to learn when we are about tea years of age" said Mile. Cadona, when she had doffed her span gled and short skirts and arraycd her self in quiet street costume.
 ''It has become tho fashion among circus proprietors of late years not to engage rider unless sho is fully compe- tent at the start. Formerly tho girls swere the daughters of other riders, who managed to teach them during the tour of the circus on the road, but that is no longor allowed. In order to learn the business now one must go to irregular established school where bareback rid ing is taught"
 "Whero is there such school7' asked the reporter.
 "Oh, there are several of them throughout the country" replied Mile. Cadona.
 "One is in Westchcster County, not far from this city, and is known as the Stokes school. It was once the property of Mir. Stokes who recently died. He was an old circus rider and was the father of Kate Stokes, who married John Stetson, the theatrical manager. Kate, by the way, was once daring bareback rider, but received an injury to her spine from a fall from her horse, and was obliged to abandon the pro- fesslon"
 Another school is Den Stones's at Frankfort, N. J.; and there are others at Indianapolis and Louisville. MT. Bar mum also has school at Bridgeport, Conn.,, where the riders are permitted to practise during the summer months"
 ''What are the first steps taken to be- como rider2" asked the reporter.
 'It requires clear eyesight, presence of mind and nerve," said Mile. Cadona.
 'In the centre of the sawdust ring 6 Eole is erected. This has a cross bar at the top reaching out over the ring. Prom this bar depends cord which is fastened around the waist of the begin ner. A man stands near the pole and turns the cross arm around at speed equal to that of the horse. This ma chine is technically known as the 'mcchanic.' A rope also runs from the mans hands to the cross arm SO that he can hold the rider in the air if she chances to fall from the back of the horse.
 During the first lessons the begin ner is taught how to balance herself properly. The head is thrown back, the arms held free and graceful poise as- sumed. It takes several weeks to ob- tain proficiency in this respect. Next the student is taught to leap lightly in the air, landing on the padded saddle, for bareback riding is not attempted until after success has been gained on the saddle"
 l "Are falls from the horse of frequent l occurrence2"
 "Oh, yes, at first. But the attendant easily keeps the rider suspended in the air by means of the 'mechanic,' and no harm results. Sometimes the horse will take sudden jump forward and your calculations are thus knocked out, but most ring horses are trained so well that they know exactly at what rate of speed to go. Alter time jumping through paper balloons is attempted, and then comes great event in the life of every circus rider. That is the frs, somersault. remember as we'll as il it were yesterday when tried my first one. did not turn half way over, but the ever-ready mechanic kept me from &lling and soon learned how to do it. Then the services of the mechanic are dispensed with, and by constant prac | tlSo auu HUI a AcW 1dilS tuS uOFlCe De- comes an equestlienne and has her name in big letters upon the billboards."
 ''How long does it take to become $ professional rider7' the reporter ask cd. "About year," replied Mile. Cadona, ''but, like anything else, the longer OF: is at it the more proficient she becomes. One of the most dangerous acts known to our business, she continued, 'i. that of jumping through hoop stud d ed with sharp knives which point inward. l received score of bad cuts while practising the feat, but eventually ac. complished it."
 ''How arc the horses taught to carry the ridcrs2' tho reporter asked.
 "The horses arc broken in by means of tho mechanic also," replied Mile. Cadona ''And it takes several month, of steady teaching to make them rcli able ring horses. Bareback riders al- ways learn to ride by using horse that is already broken in. It is impossible to learn on one that has not been. Some malc riders buy horse for say $2OO, and after teaching him tho duties of q ring horse, can dispose of tho animal for $500 or $2O00 to circus men. We are all the time practising tricks On horseback, some of them exceedingly dangerous. It is a risky business, and l do not know one good female rider who has not sustained pretty severo in- juries at some time in her career by ( fall from horse or an accidental kick