A common winding-up of the “grand entree” which usually commences the performances at most circuses, is for the horses of all the riders to lie down at the word of command, and at another command, to sit up on their haunches. The lying down part we have already explained; the getting up is taught by Jennings as follows:
“Lay the animal down as previously directed, having a collar upon him; place a hobble or strap, with a ring in it, around each hind foot; take a pair of ordinary driving lines, pass the buckle end through the collar back to the ring in the hobble, and buckle them; pull the feet up toward the shoulders, and carry the lines back to the hind quarters, hold them firmly in one hand, or give them to an assistant. Have a bridle with a long rein upon the animal; take the rein in your hand, stand upon the tail, and pull upon the bridle rein, keeping the lines firm at the same time; this brings him up in front, and prevents his getting his hind feet back far enough to rise upon them, they being drawn forward and securely held by the lines.”
KICKING AT WORD OF COMMAND.
Jennings gives the following instructions for teaching horses a very common trick performed at circus exhibitions:
“Care must be taken in teaching this trick, that you have a horse not predisposed to vicious propensities, or you may make a confirmed kicker; and then you will have the habit to break-up. A horse of a mild disposition may be taught to perform thus without the risk of his becoming a kicker. I have taught one of my ponies to kick when I desire him to do so, and he cannot be made to kick unless the whip is used lightly upon his hind parts. Having selected your animal, take a pin in your right hand, prick the near hind leg with it and say, ‘Kick with the left foot;’ the animal soon learns to obey. Then proceed with the opposite leg in the same manner. After the horse will kick, with either foot, by a motion of the hand without pricking him you will stand off a short distance, with a long whip in your hand; touch the near hind foot and say, ‘Kick with the left foot;’ then proceed in the same manner with the right foot. By proceeding thus once a day the animal will soon learn to do his part very nicely.”
TALKING HORSES.
If neatly managed one of the most “taking” performances of the “arena” is the answering of questions by the horse. Yankee Robinson has a very fine animal, who replies to his master’s interrogations with much seeming judiciousness. Horses may be taught to shake and nod their heads as negative or affirmative replies, in either of two ways. The first method of training is this: Take your position at the horse’s head with a pin in your hand. Gently prick the animal’s breast. The horse bobs his head, just as he would had a fly alighted on the spot. Repeat the operation several times, each time caressing him, and perhaps rewarding him with a bit of apple occasionally. He will soon learn to nod his head on merely having the hand pointed toward his breast, or he may be trained to do the same by a motion of the foot. To teach the horse to shake his head it is only necessary to prick him slightly anywhere along the mane or over the withers. After a little teaching he will do so on your raising your hand to your head, a motion whose connection with the horse’s action will scarcely be suspected by the audience.
The second method is by pricking his breast at the same moment that you say “yes,” or any other particular word; and by pricking his withers at the same time you say the word “no.” He will soon learn to make the desired motion on hearing the word, even though no motion whatever is made. When exhibiting, the questions should be asked first, and immediately after the signal given to the horse. He, of course, knows nothing of the question, but obeys a definite command, just as he would if ordered to “back” or “whoa.”
Madame Tournaire, who performed her horse by the first method, had a way of coquettishly toying with her whip, and would give the horse the requisite signals by what the public imagined to be a mere display of feminine grace.
Where the horse obeys a word, that word must be incorporated into the question asked, in such a way as to attract his attention. If used too near the commencement of the sentence he will reply before the question is out of your mouth. It is not necessary to use the exact word that he “works” by, provided it sounds to him like it; thus, Yankee Robinson says to his horse during the performance, “I guess you’re as handsome a fellow as these ladies and gentlemen ever saw—don’t you guess so?” The horse nods his head at the emphasized word “guess,” supposing it to be his command “yes.” The next question, perhaps, is, “But others know the most?” In this case the horse, not being posted on Webster, and being guided by the sound, gives his head a negative shake, considering “no” and “know” synonymous.