Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-18
TRAINING CIRCUS HORSES.
THE OBSTRUCTION BETWEEN TRICK
AND RING PERFORMERS.
Tutors Never Punish tor Blundcrs-
The Green Horse Gets Giddy-
Spotted Animals Rare.

have taken to train the animals. The
horse, which justly claims our atfec.
tionate gratitude for the many addi-
tions he makes to our comfort, happi-
ness and pleasure, is capable of much
under the training hand OF kind and
patient teacher, who must be likewise
firm and mastery.
Trainers begin the education of a
"green horse" when he is two years
old. Should he be older, he will not
be so tractable, but will probably
sul1, so of his feed and lose condi
ton. Some horses, like some men,
can be taught nothing. while others
are quickly impressible, and show
great delight when brought into the
training ring, AS soon as the young
ster is mouthed and lunged, his train
ing in tricks" commences. The
trickmaster must have unquestionable
patience, perseverance and resolution,
with perfect command of his own
temper, and quick perception of indi-
vidual equine idiosyncrasies. Kind
ness and perseverance alone are sue
ccssful.
At every forward step, however in
significant, tho pupil is encouraged
and rewarded with few pieces OF car
rot, which the tutor carries in his
pocket. An intelligent animal soon
begins to guess what is required of
him. He must never be punished
should he make blunders. The tutor
gently, firmly and kindly continues
the practice in hand until the blunders
are no longer committed, the instruc-
tor always keeping the mastery. If
the horse turns sullly, the lesson must
be persevered with till he comes out of
his sulks; but if he is good and
amiable, short and frequent lessons
are the most effective, say, half an
hour at time, and, perhaps, eight or
nine lessons in!the day. A horse is
never struck unless he proves vicious.
Spectators in circus often wonder
how the horse has the intimation of
what he is desired to do. The most
careful watching may fail to detect
the ''cue," il one does not know what
the ''cue" is, but, nevertheless, it is
always given, and by it alone the
horse is directed in his performance,
and his concentrated attention when
in the ring is easily discernible. The
professional phrase is "giving the
Office" In teaching, the "ofiice" is
given by touching the horse sharply
on particular parts with light whip.
The general "offices" are, for march
ing, to touch the horse on tho front
part OF the shoulder, on the off or near
side, according to what leg he is to
march with; the "oiiice" for crawling
is touch on the under side; for lay.
ing down, tap between the knees,
and so on. There are many other
"oiiices." according TO the taste of
the individual trainer, who must, in
the course of training many animals,
discover idlosyncrasies and accidental
intelligence, which, if he have the
necessary tact himself, he can make
available. complicated trick, such
as firing of Il pistol, takes a long time
to teach, and should the animal take
fright at the sudden noise, he will
never be able to accomplish it. The
horse has remarkable memory.
When II step in his instruction is once
acquired, he never forgets it; and
even il he should not be called upon
to practice it for years, very small
effort is sufficient to recall it, aud he
will be as expert as ever at it.
The office of trick master is branch
profession of the circus, the same
teacher seldom undertaking to teach
trick" and ring" horses; likewise
all "trick horses" are net "ring
horses" and comparatively few "ring
horses" are trick horses"
The "riug horse" does not require
so much intelligence as the "trick
Lorse;" his qualifications must be
steadincss OF nerve and tolerable sagac-
ity. TIE first lesson consists in walk.
ing round, to enable the animal to
overcome the giddiness which affects
men and horses alike on the tirsl
entry into the ring. Some are wholly
unable to conquer it, however they
try. A giddy horse staggers, and ends
by rolling over the edge of the ring.
A'ter the animal has "felt the ring, .
as it Is called, the lessons in canterinq
begin. The horse is taught to strike
off with the inner legs TO whicheve.
hand he is working. If he cannot be
relied on to do this, he is not safe fol
single round. 1t is very difficult tC
train horse to canter courn2eously
under objects held close above him
The object is to get the horse to tha
slow, collected, equable canter whicl
is an artificial pace, but indispensable,
/ for circus work, so that he may MOI
yield to the impulse to stop deal o.
to swerge while the acrobat isexpectet
to jump over banners or to crasl
through paper globes and alight once
more on the horse cantering placidlJ
below.
4 horse comes into the ring full two
months before the acrobat mount,
him. Some time elapses before the
horse adapt3 himself to the latera
sway which comes from the heightened
center OF gravity in the rider standing