Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-07-16
TRAINING OF HORSES
CAREFUL HANDLING TO FIT THEM
FOR CIRCUS TRICKS.


Like "A Child, but Not Forced.
"a trainer must possess two qualif-
ucate horse to do the tricks seen in a
circus-he must possess kindness and
perseverance.
"a veteran trainer selects his horses
with as much care as society woman
plans party gown. The candidate for
! the future applause of the circus going
people of the world must be handsome
In color, as near perfect as possible in
conformation and possess an even tenn
permanent. His eyes must be large and
devoid Of the least trace of vicious
ness, he must hold his ears pointed
slightly forward, and he must have a
sensible looking head, broad between
the eyes. Horses that lay back their
ears at the approach of Il man, who
nip viciously at every passerby and
whose eyes plainly demonstrate a
mean disposition are discarded. A
trainer will handle no animal of this
kind.
Once the candidate is selected he is
shipped to the winter quarters Of the
circus and assigned TO comfortable
stall III large, clean, well ventilated
barn tenanted by several hundred beau
ties of his kind. Good hay and oats are |
his in abundance, and for several days
he is allowed to 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
time the horse begins to whinny at
the approach of the trainer, and the
bond of friendship is thus quickly ce-
mented.
Then comes the first lesson. The
candidate Is introduced to the training
ring constructed near the barn and al
lowed to wander about at WILL He
smells the saWdust, the pedestals and
the harness and ropes that will soon
be buckled about his body and then,
horSelike, lies down in the center of the
ring and enjoys good roll
Next day lie is led around and
around the ring for several hours and
soon understands that he is expected
TO encircle the ring of his own accord.
Then strap is placed around his right
foreleg, and from this strap rope is
run through harness fastened around
his body. The trainer gIasps the free
end Of the rope in one hand and pair
Of lines attached to the horses bride
in the other The animal is told to
get up and after the ring is encrcled
Il few times the command whoa is
given. If the horse refuses to obey, Il
quick pull on the rope draws his leg
from under him, and he is forced to
stop. Only few demonstrations of
this kind are necessary to show the
horse that lie must stop when the COM
mand is given
after these prelminaries are salts
'actorily accomplished the equine pupil
) taught to knccl first on one knee,
hen Oh the other and finally on both.
All this is accomplished by drawing
Up the front legs, one at time, thus
'orcing him down. His knees are
padded to prevent injury, and every
ime he is forced down the command
o kneel is given, and the animal Is
'etted and treasured with kind words
Until finally he kneels ut the word.
at is in these preliminary lessons
hat good performer is made or
poiled. The instructor must be firm
nd resolute, hut kind, always kind. A
orSe is like child you may coax
i'm, but you can't force without spoil
ne his disposition. The animal quick
Y notices any show of i'll temper or
oughness on the part of the instructor
nd resents it by becoming balky and
Estimate. Blows or harsh punishment )
My make him worse. You frequently
ear people assert that animals are
eaten into submission in teaching
ZEN tricks. People who say this never
NV the inside Of the training quarters CT
modern circus. y horse or any 9TH ~,
animal conquered in this way is In
ever reliable and is apt to spoil Il per- tb
)rmance by an outbreak of bad tenn go
Pr, besides being dangerous to handle m
THE next lesson for the horse is the To-
t of lying down and remaining mo- II,
OnlesS until the word is given to rise q
his information is impaired TO the tb
)rse in n manner similar to the kneel- 81,
< lesson An ingenious harness vi
axes it possible for the trainer to 10.
'aw the horse down OH soft bed Of no
~ without injuring him. When the rs
rise willingly lies down at the word fr,
command, he is taught to sit upon Gil
s launches and then is gradually NI
illed into the other tricks that al I'm
nys draw applause from children and nv
ultS alike en-
1T Is usually an easy matter to teach ie;
horse to stand upon II pedestal to yo
lltZ. rear on his hind legs and march w
unison with equine companions aft
these simple lessons are thoroughly
lrncd and the horse understands the I,
liner is his friend and not his enemy. Oh,
lie horse of average intelligence m
rms quickly as soon as he realizes 40,
nat Is required of him. The main vol
luisite on the trainers part is pa III,
nee, and !. i man hasn't got this. ori
lots of it. he had better keep out of hrc
: business If he gets excited or i'm fro
tent and goes to hauling the horse Ar.
out unnecessarily, the animal is sure nv
become uneasy and fretful and fan
Ic VNPerIcncc OF thlS kInu WIZ SpOll ACC