I may mention, that the pluckier a horse is, the more amenable will he be to instruction.

In teaching these tricks, it is well to accustom the animal to some invariable and suitable signal, whether vocal, or manual, for each separate feat; and to award his obedience by a piece of carrot, lump of sugar, crust of bread, bite of lucern, bit of sugar-cane, caress, or other appropriate mark of approval.

“Begging.”—The horse may be taught to “beg”—that is, to stand with one fore-leg bent and off the ground—by attaching a strap, or cord, to the pastern of that limb, and, then, pulling up the foot, while at the same time, repeating the word “beg!” After a little, a cutting whip, or cane, to tap the leg, may be substituted for the cord.

Bowing.—While standing at the animal’s shoulder, lightly prick him on the breast with a pin; so as to make him bend his neck, and bite at the offending object. He will, thus, soon learn to make his bow, at the mere advance of the hand in the direction of the indicated part.

Circling steadily for circus-work.—Fix the horse’s head in position, so as to obtain adequate control, by side-reins; and circle the horse in the ring, with the long reins (see page 172), until he learns to canter round, at a steady, uniform rate of speed. Gradually dispense with the use of the long reins.

Coming up to call.—We may make the horse come up to us, when we call him, in two ways: 1. By getting him to stand still in the manner described on page 86; and making him come up, by threatening him with the whip, alternately, on either side. In this way, he can be taught to come up, by, simply, holding up the whip. 2. By the use of the Comanche bridle (see Figs. 49, 50, and 51), in making the horse turn round towards one, first, at one side, and, then, on the other; always accompanying the pull of the cord, with the words, “Come here!” or some similar expression. Mr. C. G. Frasier taught me this method.

Following.—See preceding paragraph.

Jumping over another Horse, etc.—Let us suppose that we want to make one horse stand

perfectly still, and unheld, while another jumps over him. We might, then, adopt the following procedure. Take an enclosed ring, like that of a circus, and close to its side, and on one of its diameters, construct a trench about 3 feet deep, and 2 feet 6 inches wide, with a ramp leading

down to it. Within this trench, place a clotheshorse, or other convenient stand, with rugs over it, and teach, with the long reins (see page 172), the jumper to go round the circle, and jump this

stand. We should continue the instruction, until he will jump it without reins. To attain this, when he is loose, we may have to keep on the standing martingale, or use side-reins; so as to obtain the necessary control. We may, then, substitute, for the dummy, the real horse, and teach him to stand perfectly still, by means of the rope-twitch (see page 113). All that, now, remains, is to gradually fill up the trench, while continuing the lessons.

Kissing.—This is done by accustoming the horse to take some coveted bit of food out of one’s mouth.

Laughing.—This is accomplished in the same way, as a horse is taught to shake his head, by pricking him with a pin, except that, here, the irritation is applied to the muzzle. The horse, thus, learns, on the signal being given, to turn up his upper lip, and shew his teeth. I forget where I, first, saw mention of this trick, which appears to me, neither useful, nor amusing.

Lying down.—Make the horse lie down in the manner described on page 153. When he does so, without offering any resistance, let down the strapped-up leg, and repeat the lesson, until perfect obedience is obtained. We may, then, take off the throwing gear, and make him lie down, by drawing his head round to, say, the near side, with the rein, while standing alongside the off shoulder. The horse will, now, easily learn to lie down, on receiving a signal to do so, by bringing his head round, or, even, by simply saying the words, “Lie down,” if they have been employed from the commencement of the teaching. It is, always, well to conduct these lessons on a soft piece of ground with plenty of litter on it; so as to afford the animal an inducement to lie down. Colonel Salkeld of the 2nd Bengal Cavalry has suggested to me the advisability of giving this instruction to army horses, when ordered, after parade, at a time when they are, more or less, tired.

“No.”—Take a pin, and prick the horse on the crest with it, until he shakes his head, which he will, readily, do, on that part becoming irritated; as that action is the only means he possesses of getting rid of any annoying object which may pitch on that region. By continuing to touch the horse with the pin, we can make him so sensitive as to shake his head, when touched, only, by the finger; and, finally, even by, merely, raising the hand, which will be a suitable signal to make an animal signify his dissent from a question he may be asked. This is an old circus trick.

Obeying without reins.—Mr. Rockwell, the American horse-tamer, instructed three horses so well, that he was able to drive them together in a trap, and make them moderate their speed, turn, stop, and go on, in perfect obedience, by signals, without reins. Professor Sample used to drive tandem with a leader that did his work without either reins, or traces! The following would be appropriate signals for performing these feats:—“Clicking” with the tongue; for “go on.” “Steady”; for “moderate speed.” Holding up whip, or saying “whoa!” for “stop.” Holding whip to the left, or “left”; for “turn to the left.” Holding whip to the right, or “right”; for “turn to the right.”

The right-about-turn, and left-about-turn, might be indicated by bringing the whip round, to the right rear, or to the left rear, as the case might be. The signals should be taught the horse by employing them, on all occasions, when using the equivalent indications of the rein, which, to be additionally impressive, should be given sharper than usual.

Picking up a handkerchief, etc.—This is, usually, taught while standing at the horse’s side, by pricking him on the ribs with a pin, or pinching him, so as to make him turn round and snap, and, consequently, to seize with his teeth, a handkerchief that is held in a convenient position for him to do so. When he catches hold of the handkerchief, the teacher should take it gently away, and should substitute some appropriate dainty. The horse will, then, soon learn to recognise the fact, that he gets a reward for taking hold of the handkerchief; and, then, can be readily taught to pick it up, or to take it off one of his legs, to which it is loosely tied. Horses that are naturally ticklish, and inclined to snap, are the quickest to learn this trick, in this manner. Instead of getting the horse to catch hold by irritating him, the same object may be obtained by tying up, in the handkerchief, a piece of carrot, or other bonne bouche, and inducing the animal to lift up the handkerchief, in his endeavour to get at the contained morsel.

See-sawing on a plank, etc.—Employ the rope-twitch (see Figs. 19-22, pages 108-18), and Comanche bridle (see Figs. 49-51).

Shaking hands.—Teach, as in “begging, q.v., the animal to advance his foot, by pulling it forward.

Shaking the head.—See “No.”

Waltzing.—Tie the horse head and tail (see Fig. 45, page 200), and make him go round by flourishing the whip. As the animal obeys, gradually slacken out the cord, until it can be removed.

“Yes.”—See “Bowing.”