PROFESSOR BRISTOL’S EQUESCURRICULUM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11288, 7 June 1897, Page 6

PROFESSOR BRISTOL’S EQUESCURRICULUM.

Professor Bristol, with his trained horses, arrived from Wellington by the Corinna yesterday afternoon. Tho company came on to town, and will open at the Opera House at eight o’clock this evening. The horses were left on board the steamer, and will come up to Christchurch this morning. A representative of this paper, however, went to see them on board tbe Corinna. They are mostly peculiarly marked, are in the pink of condition, and are intelligent-looking animals. The first to come under review was Denver, the clever mule, which is insured for £4OOO. He appears to be as intelligent as a human being. He virtually takes charge of the other animals, and under the Professor’s instruction “ runs the show.” Sultan is a very handsome piebald, and is said; ■’to„ be -a perfect wonder in solving mathematical problems. Eagle is V pure white, and a splendid representative -of - iho Arabian horse.' Besides leading the -military,,[drill he -is the horse-’ which professor Bristol drives, without bridle oi-•‘reins, in the street parades. Dynamite, the equine Blondin, is a very handsome, mousecoloured mule. Comanche is a prettilymarked skewbald, who assists Denver in the school act, and also performs tho feat of acting as a rocking horse. Toney, who does the .trapeze business, leaping from a flying swing through a hoop to a pedestal, is a beautiful chestnut stallion. Lottie is a white Comanche pony of a style quite new to this country, and does pacing tricks and a skipping act. Claude is a jet black, and beautifully proportioned, and is another mathematical scholar. Alfonso, a stylish, upstanding bay, laughs in a most amusing manner. .Johnny Lautour, who does tire swinging act, is a chestnut stallion totally blind, but he is a perfect beauty, and the loss of his sight does not appear to have made him one whit less intelligent. Not the least interesting of the horses are a. pair of pure Arab twins, Harry and Naomi, both perfect specimens of the breed. There are also The Monk, Hornet, Barnnm and Pet, very handsome Shetland ponies, who represent pupils at school, and half-a-dozen lesser lights. A street matinee will be given at 1 p.m. to-day, when Professor Bristol will drive Eagle in a buggy without either bridle or rein. The company will open at the Opera House at eight o’clock this evening, and matinees will be given on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.