The Tucson citizen., 1902-08-11
TRAINING OF HORSES
CAREFUL HANDLING TO FIT THEM
FOR CIRCUS TRICKS


Must Have Special Points Well De.
veIOped - Horses Can He CORxcd
Like IL Child. but Not Forced.
"A trainer must possess two qua'in-
cations before he can successfully ed,
ucate horse to do the tricks seen In a
circus he must possess kindness aud
perseverance, r,1d'5b i t-.,.II'Y
"A veteran trainer selects his horses
with as much care rs a society woman
plans party gown The candidate for
the future applause OF the circus go!p-
people OF the world must be handsome
in color, rs near perfect as possible in
conformation aad possess an even tenn
permanent Ills eyes must be large aul
devoid OF the least trace Of vicious,
ness, he must hold His ears pointed
sii~hliy forward. ANA h. must have a
sensible looking head, broad between
the eyes. Horses that lay back Their
ears at the approach OF a man. Who
nip ,iciou,ly ut every pasacrby aul
whose eyes plainly demonstrate
mean disposition arr discarded \
tHiuer viii handle no an.ma! of this
k,nl
"OHce the candidate il solicited he is
shipped to the Wiutcr quarters Of tie.
circus ana assigned to coprurtab.,
stall in large, clean, we'll cutilltcd .
barn tenauted by several hundred hcall- I
ties ct his kind. Good hay and oats are
his In abundance. and for several daNs /
he is allowed 10 rest and become fami!- /
lar with his surroundings The trainer
visits him daily and by speaking kind /
ly and occasionally giving the animal
bit of sugar gains his confidence. After
Il time the horse begins TO whinny at
the approach of the trainer. aud the 4
bond of friendship is thus quickly c,~
mruted
Then comes the first lesson. The
cnndnlate is introduced To the training
ring constructed near the barn ana al
lowed To wander about at will lie
smells the sawdust. the pcdcStllS and ,
the hnrncss aud ropes that will soon !
be buckted about his body aud then. '
llorScIile, lies down in the center OF the
ring and enjoys Il good roll.
Next day he is led around ana
around the ring for several hours and I
soon understand, that hc is expected s
% enctrclc ih" ring of his own accord. :
l len strap iN placed around his right /
.oreleG. ani from this strap Il rope is i,
an through harness fastened around
IiS body. he trainer g1asps the free =
nd of 'lIn rope in one hand and a pair <
+ lines attached 10 the horses bride d
n the other The animal is told to c
get up and after the ring is cncircled 4
few times the command whoa IL G
iven. II the horse refuses Ia obey. n Il
.uich pnll on the rope draws his lra 2
rom under him. and he il forced t5 o
top. Ouly a few demonstrations ot
his kind ar" necessary 20 show tie
orsc that he must stop when the con
land Is given
After these preljminaries are salts
lctorily accomplished the equine pupil
taught ~ kneel first on one knee.
ben on the other and finally on both.
IL this is accomplished by drawing S.
p the front legs, one at time. thus Z
)rcns him down His knees are n
added 10 prevent injury. and every Y
me he is forced down the command >,
, kneel is given. aud the animal Is
cited and reassurcd with Kind words
ntii finally he kueels at the word,
''lt is In these preliminary lessons
lat good performer Is made or
poiled. The instructor must be firm o
nd resolute, but kind. always kind. A n
orse is like child; You may coax u (
i'm. but you can't force without spoil
lg his disposition, The animal quick. +,
: notices any show OF Ill temper or "
,ughness on the part of the instructor a
nd resents 1t hy becoming baIky and 81
Estimate. Blows or harsh punishment fC
My make him worse. You frequently k
ear people assert thas animals are Ii
eaten into submission In teaching u
lem tricks, People who say this never
NV the inside of the training quarters
a modern circus. \ horse or any 9th n
animal conquered In this way is ID
ever reliable and IS apt to spoil a per- CT
- III" "N' W an ohtoI CAN VI Ddu TEN
pr, besides being dangerous to handle.
THE next lesson for the horse IL the
IT OF lying down and remaining mo-
oniess until the word is given to rise = :
MS Information Is impaired to the h =
orse In manner similar TO the kneel- fo
g lesson An ingenious harness at
axes 1t possible for the trainer to In
'aw the horse down on a soft bed Of --
~ without injurng him. When the -
)rse willingly lies down at the word
command. he Is taught to sit upon |
y launches and then is gradually
iIled into the other tricks that al
ays draw applause from children and |
luts alike.
at js usually IN enCv ,,attnr IN toonh