Speaking ahead of Friday's show, Chris Barltrop from the Great British Circus said: "The trainer just deals with them by word of voice, he's not pushing them around with sticks or whips or anything else. "He just says 'do this' and they follow him and do it. They follow him around devotedly like some sort of dog... [it is the] same sort of relationship. 
I wonder if Mr. Baltrop, Ringmaster of the Great British Circus, is suggesting that just a few of the people posted here are mean, cruel, or not good to their animals, because they have a whip and a hook. These folks aren't the one's who "carry them, but don't use them," as you will see them used in any Zeeb tape which have been referenced at the most accurate portrayal of animal training in the circus. I have used a whip and hook for 34 years with elephants, and we have discussed in the past the vast majority of elephant acts in Europe are worked with a whip and a hook. Assuming Mr. Baltrop is very skilled as an elephant trainer, I am very upset at Mr. Baltrop for calling into question the motives/ability of my self and some of the best in the profession all over the world.
Friday, February 27, 2009
I wonder what Chris Baltrop is insinuating about a whip and a hook?
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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8 comments:
I remember way back when Hugo was training the Billy Smart elephants that Buckles eventually inherited. Hugo used a bullwhip and could pop it so close to you, you could feel the air it pushed when it POPPED. Never did he ever make contact with an elephant from what I witnessed. Jewell New was good enough with his whip also to make his lions respect the POP.
Gary,
Of course the was hit with it. Although yes, it can be used to make a crack as a way to accentuate a behavior, or as a cue to get ready, it is also used to hit the animal. Like a spur, that is not worn, just so it can jingle jangle. The skill, compassion, and objective of the person wielding the whip, like the person wearing the spurs, is dependent on whether it is insistent or abuse. It is not the tool of training that is cruel, it is the person who uses it, in the wrong way, or the way in which it was not intended. That hold's for bits, halters, leashes, collars, hooks, spurs, as well as whips, dressage or lunge. Twisted willow or bat.
Wade
Wade
Chris Baltrop is not ringmaster for The Great British Circus. He does work as ringmaster in an independent capacity, but he is an Equity Councillor and spokesman for circus in general, so often the first person approached by the media for a comment on the business.
John,
He isn't the ringmaster, but he does ringmaster as an independent?
What is an equity councilor, it that a paymaster? A company spokesman needs to be versed in facts, and not patches, or alibis. When statements are as lame and self serving as the one he made here, they will blow up and make a lot of folks look foolish.
I suppose the counter statement could be, he doesn't need a hook or whip because the elephants are lame, and are not going anywhere. That is another example of what you don't want a spokesman to say.
Wade
Since when has knowing the facts ever stopped any company spokesperson in any industry from sometimes trotting out a good alibi? Crude oil prices continue to decline and fuel prices are going up. The best patch I've heard in weeks was a Chevron spokesperson explaining that rising prices are tied to "old oil" refineries had in inventory for which they'd paid a higher price. Might make sense, except that when crude prices were skyrocketing prices at the pump went up every day and nobody talked about old oil for which they'd paid less.
Ben,
I got to tell you Ben, you will go to the moon to find something, that might be close to working. LOL
That says nothing to the ability of other people in the industry. Find me some example of the rodeo, casting aspersions on the circus industry, or the zoo world casting aspersion on the circus industry, as the circus does to those industries? Like this ignorant comment about hooks, and whips, there is not a self serving circus comment that does not harm part of it's oven industry. I think spokesmen are sometimes, quick appointed as many animal people were and are, and we have no more feet to shoot any more. How would you explain that whips are only good for some animals, like horses and tigers but not for some like elephants. How are you going to explain that Jana is not a bad person because she has one? Or myself? Every time we stroke our individual behind, we kick 3 more. Taking care of "mine" is what has killed this deal, Ben.
Wade
LOL.
Wasn't speaking to circus. Rather the defined role of a "spokesperson" whether for the British bigtop or the Dali Lama.
Spokesperson and candor rarely meet in a dark alley.
Ben,
The Circus spokesperson tends to make statements that either casts aspersions on another, or on an industry as a whole. I don't think I have heard a statement that can be isolated to them and their company.
Wade
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