Friday, September 25, 2009

Back to the basics

Tiger Training 101
Ok, well I do not really know much about training tigers to teach anyone anything. But I learn a lot from Casey and cannot wait to train tigers myself one day. Every day I am allowed to go in the arena to practice makes all the hardwork pay off.
At the suggestion of renowned bear trainer Jimmy Hall, Casey did some adjustments to the leapfrog routine but continuing to use all five cats. It is difficult to explain but you can see in the video how everything plays out. This was the first attempt at the new trick and went rather well. Casey tells me Tora has never bounced over separated tigers in this manner, rather only a single cat, or multiple cats standing together. She is a quick learner and eager to do what she is told, gathering that she understands what is expected of her. Practicing this trick also helps with conditioning the other tigers in regards to their body positions and moving them to the necessary placement. Shonti is doing well with the "slide under," to our knowledge the only cat that performs the trick, first trained with another cat by Wade Burck.
Casey is talking of shortening the trick so that the act is not so long. No one ever complains that an act was too short and exciting. Apologies to any that might "fall asleep" watching.

6 comments:

Rose said...

I have no ability, training, or specific awareness to say anything about the technical aspects of this act.

I can just say one thing:

Wow.

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
It is called a "crawl". Ricky Henderson "slides" when he steals bases. Tell Casey, if he needs advise on training bears, I'm the guy to ask. LOL
Wade

Unknown said...

Nicely done.
That's a fantastic looking routine.

Mireille. said...

Casey;
You are really doing a super job,
the Tiger look great ,they are getting bigger.
Bravo ...Bravo.... and more Bravo.
sincerely, Mireille.

Mireille. said...

Casey;
You are really doing a super job,
the Tiger look great ,they are getting bigger.
Bravo ...Bravo.... and more Bravo.
sincerely, Mireille.

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
"Casey is talking of shortening the trick so that the act is not so long". Tell him to move the cats faster. Time will melt off, like a snowman on a hot day.
Wade Burck

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