The Chasing/European style of Wild Animal Training

I have had a number of emails from readers in Europe questioning the lame diagrams I drew a number of months ago attempting to show the European/chase style of wild animal acts and the American/come to me style of wild animal acts. This video may make it easier to understand. The "styles" were developed because of the different environments of the presentation. Europe has the one ring, band behind environment, audience in front, while in America we have the audience surrounding us in a 3 ring format. Now that Ringling Bros. has "turned the ring" and "changed the front of the house" with a U shape as opposed to the traditional Oval shape of a coliseum/Three ring tent it is a style suited for America. In the European style you will note the animals all move in one direction counter clock wise and are chased from point A to point B. Once they are at point B they are now facing the front for the presentation of the trick/behavior. But you will note the animals laying down facing the "side" and the presenter having to turn to style the trick to the front. Again study video's of the great Charley Baumann and Gunther Gebel Williams. Because of their style in a different environment they brilliantly combined the European and the American style of moving the animals. In 2003, I was told a European colleague was attempting a forward/backward hind leg walk that GGW was famous for. In 2007 he still didn't have it, because he had studied the video tapes available wrong. I suggested he view them a different way, explained how GGW moved the animals and in 2008 he had it. I would have liked him to do something better/different, as it is about advancement and improving on the original concept. To young American colleagues: America has done 3 hind leg walks, who is going to step up and do 4? That is how you respect the predecessors. Take what you have been shown, don't copy it, improve it and advance it.