The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
NIGHT SCHOOL FOR HORSES.
TASK or TRAINING THEM FOR
THE TANK DRAMA.

Most Of Them Don't Like 20 Jump into the
water ~ They Are Required 10 De and
Have 20 BE Pushed IN Untn they Get
Used 10 the Part They Have TO PIay
Some nights until long after midniRlA
passersby in Forty-third street sec the
glow OF lights In the Hippodroms Building
and wonder what can be keeping people
there 80 LONG after the performance has
closed. II they listen closely they hear
sharp commands and the pistol-shotlike
cracking Of a whip and the thunder Of
many hoofs pounding irregularly on the
floor Of the big stage. II IL a rehearsal Of
the water horses.
Those who have been 10 a Hippodrome
performance have known the long an
graceful leap which the horses Of Wilson's
raiders take into the pool In the front stage,
The horses take II, most Of them, as though
they liked the trick as much as a small boy
likes the plunge into the swimming hols
always two or three who buck and kick
and hang back At the edge Of the pool.
All these horses were trained at Luna Park
between Christmas and the opening night OF
the Hippodrome. At Luna Park they rea ohed
such a condition Of indifferent e TO the plunge
that they took It almost before the riders on
their backs werB ready. But when they
we're brought into the Hippodrome. and
the glare OF the footllghts and the mystery
Of the great, murmuring house full Of people
complicated the aquatic feat, the horses all
baked.
They would not 60 into that pool.
Nothing would drive them 10 60 in. And for
three days before the Hippodrome opened
there were horse rehearsals three or four
times a day, until the brltss discovered
that there was no more danger 70 them in
the new building than there had been In
the solitude and quiet Of Coney Island
at least some Of them learned IT, But Il
became apparent that there were several
which could never be relied upon to live
up to the theatrical requirements Of the
occasion.
SO few days ago IL was determined 10
break in ten understudy water horBes which
could be substituted for the bakers and
in case Of any accident for any horse that
was disabled in the course Of the perform
ance. II Ia this training which has kept
the back part OF the Hippodrome building
awake until all hours Of the morning OF
late
The horses selected for initiation as
plungers are either thoroughbreds dis
speed or condemned cavalry mounts.
The thoroughbred, cranky and touchy
as he IL, IL found to be the horse which is
quickest to learn that n he doSs exactly
as his trainer tells him no harm will come.
That Is the axiom which seems to have
blood what the Man savs is right can
never bring me TO harm. II may be very
disagreeable or very exciting, but it Will
come out all right
The cavalry horse has learned the lesson
BY experience, even though il is not In
we'll as the thoroughbred when the test
comes.
Or. Potter, the Hippodrome's veterinary.
has charge Of the plum ging lessons. He
selects the after midnight hours for his
work because then, and only then, he has
the stage altogether free and need not
look out for any heads or arms or leRs
other than those Of his own men and horses.
No spectators are allowed-et least, not
n he knows Il. He Ia assisted by the riders.
men, and the Hippodromes trained nurse
sits up In her little emergency hospital
across the street and waits until the rehears-
al is over.
But there have been no accidents 40
far. except barked Sims and bruised legs
and shoulders and bloody nose OF 50.
DR.. Potter gathers the new horses at the
back OF the stage. in line. A heavy pad
IL laid at the corner Of the tank from which
the horses are TO plunge; this Is TO keep them
around and bolt, and in case they do
slip 20 save them some Of the shock OF
the fall.
Then Dr. Potter goes 70 the edge Of the
Jumping
He has a whip in his hand, but he seldom
uses il, except to crack II loudly behind the
back OF a reluctant plunger. The first time
the horses started for the plunge there was
lots OF troubl e.
The very firut horse went up on his hind
legs and made pushing away gestures at
the glazing footlights with his fore feet.
And pirouetting thus, with a boy olinginR
10 his back like a scared monkey. he stepped
on the edge Of the stage and went down.
The next one whirled Ike polo pony at
the brink and bolted across to the Forty
fourth street side Of the stage. He had %
be brought up 20 the brink on the run THREE
times before he could be induced to jump
forward into the wavy, gittering mystery
Of the pool.
And 30 il went. each horse showing his
distrlst and fright in a new way, and finally,
either beca use Of a flick Of the whip lash
across the hooks Of his hind legs OF because
Of an impetus he could not slaoken, tumbling
overheard rather than leaping.
The second trial developed an exhibition
Of horse ingenuity. The squad knew now
what was expected Of Il. Each horse be-
gan trying q different way to defeat the
demands. As q result, some went over
sidewiss and one or two had 10 be pushed
in deliberately.
By the fifth OF sixth trial that hrst night
DR.. Potter was able 20 stand with his
whip behind his back and send them over
with only yell OF Col 10 aid the firm
manu- anu lLo urging pdIo neeE OF Ine boys
who were on the horses backs. The eI-
perience OF a week Of the work IL that each
night the first plunge becomes q little less
terrifying and the later plunges come TO be
regarded as quite commonplace incidents.
The horses learn that the moro freely and
willingly they Jump out into the pool the
less likely are they 10 scrape their hindlegs
gainst the rubber pads at the edge OF
the pool, and some Of them 60 into the
waite, as though they were jumping at a
high hurdle.
The boys who ride the horses In this
plum ginR act are reckless little devils.
There Is never any telling when a terrified
horse, startled by the gunhre and the clash
ing Of stage armies behind him, may not
make his leap out Of turn and land with all
his half a ton Of weight on the head Of the
rider Of the horse before. But the boyB do
not care. They 60 In with a whoop. They
are instructed that when a horse does not
right himself and begin 10 swim promptly
after striking the water, they are to Leave
their mount and strike out for the edge Of
the tank. All Of the boys are good swim
mers, but even a good swimmer might be
pa rdonsd for being In somewhat depressed
spirits In q sixty foot tank with four OF Ave