Evening star., 1932-07-10

Ken had gone to meet him. Its all right
as long as you are" he seemed to be saying.
II learned all I know about horses from
men in small circuses and carnivals years ago.
When these men used to tell me that horse
has a left brain and right brain, thought
they were kidding me. We always trained our
horses from the left side because that's the
mount side and most tricks are done on that
side. That's the way I trained Tarzan, OF
course.
IAN went well until one day had to signal
Tarzan from the right and then / discovered
the carnival men knew what they were talking
about, for TarZen stood there unconcernedly,
not even noticing that had spoken. had
to begin again from the beginning, working
on the right side so that today he can take
direction from any quarter.
During sient-picture days I used to train
Tarzan by using one-syllable words. II
wanted him to nod his head, I'd say yes and
nod my own head When the horse got used
to the word I'd cut out the action and use
only the word, and Tarzan would always nod.
Same with mo- and the shake OF the head,
and here for the horse to come to me.
One-syllable words don't confuse horse
When talkieS came along, we had to use
signals, SO / rigged up stick with white cloth
tied to 1t so that Tarzan could 1t easily.
Then I taught him that moving the stick up
and down meant yes and moving it from
other actions and Tarzan picked them up
quickly.
'If 1 am in the scene, the trainer holds the
stick and gives directions, and Tarzan under
stands this OF course if am riding him
can give him directions with a touch Of my
fingers. But he is devoted to the trainer,
too, and trusts him absolutely"
A BOJJT this time Ken who had been talk
ing to me on the set, hat in hand,
consulted by his director who brought the
script to him. The hat dropped, unnoticed,
while the two men talked over their problem.
Tarzan, who had been standing in i'm
proyised stall made in a bedroom (part Of the
picture set) glanced at the hat with q vor-
ried air. Presently he left the stall, came
over to the hat picked it up and with it
nudged Ken's arm
Here's your hat old man." he said, as
plainly as If he had spoken, and, Ken having
accepted it, trotted back TO his stall
"Tarzan's very particular about my belong
ings." smiled Ken.
The most dangerous thing he ever did?
II suppose the worst thing I ever asked him
to do was to carry me over Newhan Gap on O
log three feet wide. One slip and we'd have
gone down 80 feet. But he didn't slip.
IAN by himself, though Tarzan did what
ton called for him to enter an old-type, un-
walled elevator. go up to the next floor in 1t
and get of there. AS there were no walls to
. the elevator and the platform was small, any
unexpected movement might have sent him
over the edge to the ground.
II told hims what wanted sent him into
the elevator and warned him to stand still.
But can tell you held my breath while he
was going up and prayed that he'd mind his
business and not be diverted to outside dis
turbances into moving an extra foot or so.
needn't have worried. Tarzsn understood"
Both Western stars emphasize the importance
of gaining and keeping horses confidence.
In the early days of pictures, when ami
mails were not so safeguarded as they are to-
day. certain company filmed a scene in
which bridge was blown up. A horse and
rider were supposed to be on the bridge at
the time. The rider was instructed to leap
before the discharge of dynamite, but the
horse 70 take his chance. Nobody
thought it was even chance
The horse galloped to the bridge, onto 1t,
his rider leaped as the charge was set of. the
bridge was blown up, the horse thrown into the
river-ali as expected However. the horse was
uninjured. miracle it seemed.
But from that day to this the horse has not
been used in any film. He SHES and dodges
He bares his teeth. HIS heart is broken and
he no longer trusts any man.
Copyright 1922