TEACHING HORSES TRICKS. 47 



the horse can conveniently reach. To the trigger attach a 

 small wisp of hay by a string, so arranged that by pulling at 

 the hay the pistol will go off. Lead the horse up to this, that 

 the savory morsel may attract his attention. He will probably 

 . pull at the hay, and in his efforts to get it, will pull the trigger. 

 Let him eat the hay, and repeat the operation several times, 

 patting and speaking kindly to him each time. Now attach a 

 piece of rag to the trigger instead of the hay ; show it to him 

 and induce him. to take hold of it. Every time he pulls at it, 

 and makes the hammer click, reward him with a piece of apple. 

 When he has become used to pulling the rag when it is shown 

 him, the pistol may be capped. The explosion of the cap may 

 startle him somewhat at first ; but gentle treatment and a little 

 encouragement will soon banish his fears, especially if the noise 

 of the explosion be only slight, which would be desirable. 

 When he will snap caps without hesitation a small charge of 

 powder may be tried. A heavy charge only makes a nuisance 

 of the trick, and should only be used when displaying before 

 an audience ', even then the desu*ableness of such a proceed- 

 ing is very questionable. 



TO TEACH A HORSE TO DANCE. 



A horse may be taught to dance thus : Fasten the ani- 

 mal with two side-reins between the posts supporting the leap- 

 ing bar. Take a whip, and, as the music plays, gently touch 

 him with it, using the " jik, jik," of the groom as you go on. 

 The horse being tied to the posts can move neither backward nor 

 forward, but he will be induced to lift his legs and thereby gain 

 the rudimentary movement of his lesson. After a while the 

 teacher must mount on his back ; the horse being fastened by 

 the side reins. Just when he is to raise his leg, a gentle pull 

 must be given to the rein at the proper side to help the move- 

 ment. In course of time the reins must be loosened, and the 

 horse, if tolerably ready, will soon learn to mark time, quick or 

 slow, in answer merely to a slight jerk of the bridle. The rider 

 must then dismount, and commg before the horse, teach him to 

 dance, or keep time, with a wave of the hand, or by a pat on the 

 foot which he is wanted to lift. 



It may be remarked here that, though the dancing horses at 

 the circuses appear to keep time with the music of the band, it 

 is really, in most cases, the band that accommodates its music 

 to the movements of the horse. 



TO EAT AT TABLE. 



An amusing scene often enacted in the ring is to have a horse 



