342 CIRCUS TRICKS. 



like that of Mr. Probasco with his " talking horse,'* 

 Mahomet, is that the signals are so skilfully arranged and 

 given that they cannot be detected by the spectators. I 

 may mention that a " talking horse " is one which bows to 

 say " yes," shakes his head to signify "no," and paws the 

 ground to indicate numbers. In this way he can answer 

 questions in the affirmative or negative, count, do " sums," 

 and, when his master has the aid of an accomplice, per- 

 form " thought-reading " feats. For such work we require 

 a horse which has a natural aptitude for the business. 



BEGGING. 



The horse may be taught to " beg," that is to stand 

 with one fore leg bent and off the ground, by tapping 

 the leg with a whip or cane, or by pulling up the foot by 

 means of a strap or cord, while at the same time repeating 

 the word " beg." As soon as the horse's foot is off the 

 ground he should be rewarded with some dainty, the very 

 sight of which, after a short time, will make him " beg " ; 

 or he will do so if the whip be pointed towards the part. 



BOWING AND SHAKING THE HEAD. 



These tricks are taught by lightly pricking the horse on, 

 respectively, the breast or the crest, so as to make him bite 

 at the offending object, or try to remove it by shaking 

 his head and neck. He will thus soon learn to make his 

 bow (to say " yes "), or to shake his head (to say " no ") 

 at the mere advance of the hand in the direction of the 

 indicated part. The pin may be held in the hand or fixed 

 to the end of a stick. 



CIRCLING STEADILY AT LIBERTY. 



After having taught the horse to circle with the long reins, 

 we may fix his head in position by side reins so as to obtain 



