WALKING ON HIND LEGS. 373 



largely into play. The effect of the voice may be restricted 

 to obtaining the halt. The horse should be light-mouthed, 

 and of a generous and observant disposition. We may 

 commence in a riding-school or other suitable enclosure. 



Polka, dancing the. — A circus horse at liberty is said to 

 dance the polka when he changes the leg at every stride 

 (see page 310) at the canter. This movement, which is 

 particularly difficult to teach, may be obtained by the use 

 of the long whip in getting the required changes of leg. 



Pushing a man out of the ring. — The familiar circus 

 trick of a horse putting his forehead against the back of the 

 clown or ringmaster and pushing him out of the ring, can 

 be taught the animal by making him, by means of the 

 whip, follow us (see page 367), while our back is turned 

 towards him. We should then gradually make him come 

 up close to us, in which endeavour it is well to use a whip 

 in each hand, until we get him to rest his head against our 

 back. We must, of course, regulate the direction in which 

 to proceed ; for we cannot do more in this case than to 

 make the horse follow close behind us. 



Rearing and walking on the hind legs. — In a circus a 

 horse is taught to rear by taking the snaffle reins over his 

 head and jerking them, so as to hurt his mouth, and by 

 touching him with the whip in front. I may remark in 

 passing that many animals are unintentionally taught to 

 rear, by precisely similar treatment, outside of circuses. In 

 a short time the circus horse will stand up on his hind legs 



