Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-05-08
CIRCUS RING HORSES,
The Way They Are Trained For
Their Snowy Work.
TAKES TIME AND PATIENCE.
The Willing Animals Must Be Shown,
Not Whipped They Readily Re-
sPond to the Efforts of the Trainer.
The Whip and the Apple.


spond to the Efforts of the Trainer.
The Whip and the Apple.
In purchasing an animal for circus
ring Observation-Disclosures In tho
purchaser is perhaps n more important
factor than mere technical knowledge.
but both are important. However. be-
yond such intuition the points 20 be
looked for are broad breast. straight.
broad back. short coupled body ana \
broad, intelligent forehead. he must
be young and. OF course. sound and
well marked After he and the trainer
nave met ard come TO know each other
the latter gets on him for trot around
the ring. giving the animal his own
gait Tor awhile. then bringing him into
lope. Next he IS given little sDur-
Always pointless and usually n ten cent
piece with the milling worn down so
that II does not cut the skin-and the
knees Of the rider are pressed in grad
ually until the animal comes to canter
This is continued patiently and with
many encouraging words until the
horse gets his right leg out-the left
leg out Is what Is known as 4 false
galiop. The wise trainer acts on the
theory that all horses. candidates for
the ring. are from the Iron Mountain
State-nirst be shown. not whipped
and when once the animal gets the idea
that his trainers motives are OF the
kindliest IL Is surprising how quickly
he responds in kind.
After the horse has been broken into
a proper gait large pieces Of paper are
scattered about the ring. sacks thrown
UP before his head. dummy figures cast
on ana OF his back. pistols fired into
the air and under the feet. drums beat
en- on his back and under and around
him 70 accustom him To all sorts Of in
umidating noises and sights. To q
nervous animal this Is a trying exneri-
ence. and confidence in his master who
continually soothes him with reassur-
Ing words. is all that keeps the pupil
from going 20 pieces. But even then
some are panic stricken. and the train
er's motto is, Take time-have Da-
uence." lie then works the novice
around the ring with an experienced
| animal, allows him 10 smell of the sad
I die and other objects used and bi+o
I them If lie wants TO. But sometimes
/ even after all this. the subject Is found
/ 70 be too nervous to stand the strain
ana he is turned out for few DAYS.
weeks or months or longer. rs NAV
/ seem best
Early IN his training the horse is han.
/ died all over until he becomes so used
TO il that he viii not finch. After he
has been broken 10 gait and noises q
dummy rider is put up I'm such Il man
ner that it Will hop pretty much all
over his back. When he has got used
10 this real rider takes the place OF
the dummy. However. even after rho
circus horse has been. through all those
experiences. he will sometimes sull,
In that event the trainer gives hin,
"one-two" across the front legs with
whip. AMI there Is no more sl,l5inc
after that, for the impression of this
Ms nrst real punishment. is q lastina
one. An All. all. there usually Is
Sulncient thereafter 10 correct him.
Some horses will break in two weeks
but put new rider up and the AMI
NAL seems possessed. throwing III,
equestrian the moment he essays ,
stand, but this generally is found 10 3,
the fault of the rider. Some. with fee
at horse. standing in one place 20.
long. viii get an animal ticklish after
awhile. causing him 10 Mex and souoal
thus running an otherwise artistic re-
tormance. and then the rider has 10 "a
requested 10 move about more on m,
horses back. The feet of an exveri
enced rider. you Will observe II vo,
take notice. are never in one SDor fol
more than 0n instant. They arr. con
SANITY ON the move. working much a.
! ballet dancers do.
To teach him To kneeI touch his knee,
with the whip and have the groom mn
MIN down gently with trip straps. on.
loot at time. The animal shout
wear knee caps in this schooling SO 81.
not TO intimid0te or make him stub
born. In lying down tactics use III,
same two straps. hopping him In
harness. Tap gently on both knee.
with the whip, have the groom Duu Ill
straps, and down goes the horse on ht
knees Next pull down on the rc.n
ana touch the whip lightly 10 the L.u
sometimes the beginner VIII non hcav
lly- In this event the trainer does tL
fall all over again. both he ana ia,
groom bracing against the animal q.
he comes down 10 show tiat fallin.
easily Will not hurt him. such an OIL
Ject lesson is usually found effective
Apples and sugar are used freely rs
reward for work we'll done Sitting IN
on the launches is accomplished D.,
/ lifting on the reins. coaXing the ho~S,
I gently SO he does not want To jump III
and run away. which is the natural I'm
Sunct with the beginner Should n,
have done wrong when lie returns z,
/ ths stable the trainer says. No aDDlc-
\ today, sir" nj the same time shown.
him an apple and taking IL away aftc-
/ allowing him 10 smell Of II. Two or
three experiences OF this sort and tn,
animal sees great light lie has beer
shown. - Frank Patchin in Leslie
/ Weekly. .