282 TEACHING TRICKS. 



couraged. By persevering in the treatment, he will soon learn to 

 throw the most expert rider. But it will be 'noticed, that he will 

 make a greater effort sometimes than at others. When he does not 

 seem to work well, put on a poorer rider, and work up again gradu- 

 ally. When the horse makes a par- 

 ticularly good point, give him ap- 

 ples, and caress him, for encour- 

 agement. It is important now to 

 teach the horse to throw his rider 

 only when commanded, or at a sig- 

 nal. To do this, when the boy is 

 on, lead the horse a short distance 

 around the ring, and then signal 

 for him to throw. Repeat in this 

 manner, also letting him go around 

 Fig. S49. -Tommy as the Gentle Pony. alone with -the boy on his back, 



' until he will go on a sharp trot or 

 run, and throw when commanded. 



I trained a pony to throw so expertly that he would 1 at times 

 turn a man or boy over in a double somersault, and bring him down 

 squarely upon his feet, The best throwing pony ever exhibited in 

 this country was admitted to be "Tommy." (See Fig. 348.) He - 

 has bqen exhibited in all the principal places in the North ; and al- 

 though the best riders, frpm the bare-back circus-rider to the mus- 

 tang-trainer on the plains, have tried, no man has ever been able to 

 sit squarely upon his back one minute after the horse was signaled 

 to throw him. His performances in this way have been regarded as 

 wonderful. He will even carry two boys on his back for a while, 

 and then at the motion of the finger throw them both. This some- 

 times afforded a good deal of amusement. First, if a boy' was indi- 

 cated to him .as being good, he would allow, him to ride as long as 

 he wished, and then to safely slide off behind* down to the ground. 

 Then another boy would come who perhaps used tobacco, or had 

 some other vice, when the pony would throw him immediately. 

 Again, if there was a sharp political campaign, a Democrat and a Re- 

 publican boy would mount him at the same time, and the one who 

 could ride him the longer time could declare his party the victor. 



To give something of an idea of the wonderful performances of 

 these ponies, especially the expertness with which Tommy could 

 throw a rider, I give some extracts from the press : — ; 



Last night a large number of our leading citizens, by special imitation, were 

 present at Prof. Magner's exhibition on Champlain Street. 



