The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-22


a good school teacher will note the
peculiar disposition of the boys under her
charge.
Do not keep trick horse at the outset
too long in one position. Remember
that he is assuming what to him is an
unnatural attitude. III see he is tired
I tell him to get down and Tpush him q
little; he must understand that he gets
down at command from me. I also
give him to understand, if necessary, that
he must not attempt to do any of these
things voluntarily.
KEEPING A HORSE IN POSITION.
People often wonder how, in my
"horse school, keep the animal in
position; they would like to know how
you can train horse to remain in one
place.
First of all I put the horse in certain
place and leave him there. He is to
learn to stand there without being tied.
Then walk around him several times,
each time getting little further away
from him. I go up to him and get away,
and keep enlargipg the distance. Pretty
soon he discovers that though get away
off always return to him. He expects
me to come and I do not disappoint him.
Finally I will 60 away for half an hour
and he will remain in that same position.
He is contented because he expects me
to return.
If, during lessons, he moves away from
his position, I place him back, at the
same time giving him a gentle pat.
Then for while, do not test him for so
long a time as l did before he moved.
He may move quite a number of times
during this effort at training, but, in
order to gain his confidence, must deal
with him the way I suggest.
1 pursue, separately, the same course
with the other members of the school.
Then 1 put them together, adding one at
q time to che class. Having their regu-
lar mates beside them they soon get used
to this arrangement and so my school is
formed.
A NEW SCHOLAR.
Sometimes I have to add a stranger to
the group. By talking and pantomime
I give the others to understand that the
new co1ner is to be member of the class.
And in this as in other respects, the hor.
ses behave good deal like boys in
school when strange boy comes into
the class. The horses look critically at
the visitor, ''size him up" as boys say,
and, as boys do, sometimes persecute
him. They will bite him, and he, seeing
that be is not welcome will make an
attempt to leave. If he does put him
back in his position. pat the others on
the back and make themunderstand that
they must allow the newcomer to remain.
! can truly compare their conduct to
the actions of school boys. They will
pick at the new horse and seem to try to
test him, or, as boys say, ito see what he
is made Of" And will shrink away by
himself; but, in the course of time he
will gradually become acquainted with
the rest. And then,. with the others, he
too, will "pick" at the next new horse
that is added to the group.
Another curious thing. After the
horses have been trained to perform
various tricks theJ not only enjoy taking
part in an exhibition, but sometimes,
when horse is negligent or reluctant in
going through his act, those next te him
will urge him out, and, by biting or
crowdipg against him, they seek to pun.
ish him for not performing promptly or
properly.
TEACHING A HORSE TO FIRE A PISTOL
This is long aud difficult piece of
work. First, 1 teach him to hold
small, fiat piece of soft pine wood, about
half an inch thick, in his mouth, or,
rather, his front teeth.
At first he will spit it out. 1 put it
back again, carefully, without hurting
him. holding him by the halter with enc
hand and gently pressing the bit of wood
against his teeth. Finally he will relax
his grip to allow the stick to pass in
easily between his teeth. After awhile
be will shut his teeth and hold on to it.
Then I let go of it. II he drops it pick
it up and gently replace it.
As soon as he shuts his teeth down l
pat him approvingly on the neck and, in
the course of time, he finds that wish
him to hold the stick between his.teeth.
When he has learned that you wish him
to do this and discovers that it does not
hurt him to do it, he is willing to do it.
The next step is to hold the stick down
below his head make him lower his
head little and then put the stick in
his mouth. That drill is followed until
the stick is placed on the ground and he
consents to take hold of it and pick it up
with his teeth. You can finally throw
the stick on the ground, say "pick that
up; give it to me-" and he will obey.
He will turn his head towards you and
allow you to take it out of his mouth.
I now take strap of leather and 80
arrange pistol that it can be fred off by
pulling the strap. The pistol is not
loaded when the horse is first taken up to
begin his training in regard to the strap.
This is very different thing from the
wood, but he must be taught that the
strap is the object ne is to take, and
when he tries to fasten his teeth on it
they slip off and you have to keep exper-
imenting with him.
Next you take common blank car
fridge, which nowadays is used altogether
for there tricks. Extract from it about
two thirds of the powder and put the