we want 'em for. There are three sorts of horses in use in a circus --
ring horses, trick horses, and school horses; but it doesn't matter
what he is wanted for, a horse is all the better if he knows nothing.
A horse that has been pulled about and partly trained has to unlearn a lot
before he is any use to us. The less he knows, the better it is."

"Then do you just try any sort of horse?"

"Any sort, so long as he is a good sort, but it depends on what
he is wanted for. If we want a ring horse, he has to be a quiet
sober-going animal, not too well-bred and fiery. A ring horse is one
that just goes round the ring for the bareback riders and equestriennes
to perform on. The human being is the "star", and the horse in only
a secondary performer, a sort of understudy; yes, that's it,
an understudy -- he has to study how to keep under the man."

"Are they hard to train?"

"Their work all depends on the men that ride them. In bareback riding
there's a knack in jumping on the horse. If a man lands awkwardly
and jars the horse's back, the horse will get out of step
and flinch at each jump, and he isn't nearly so good to perform on.
A ring horse must not swerve or change his pace; if you're up in the air,
throwing a somersault, and the horse swerves from underneath you --
where are you?"

"Some people think that horses take a lot of notice of the band --
is that so?"

"Not that I know of. If there are any horses in the show