Our handlers use special tools to help when working and performing with animals at The Greatest Show On Earth®.

Ankus or bullhook. The ankus has been used for thousands of years by elephant handlers all over the world. It is still used by mahouts, the original elephant trainers in Asia. Over time, there have been variations in its appearance, but the ones seen today are approximately 30-36 inches long with a small hook at the end.
   Elephant handlers in zoos, on preserves and in circuses use the ankus. At Ringling Bros., the ankus serves as an extension of the trainer's arm and is used during performance and in daily routines as a guide or whenever a handler needs to get the direct attention of an elephant.
   Similar to a shepherd's crook or a leash for your dog, the ankus is commonly used with a voice command. For example a touch on the side of the right leg with the command "foot," tells the elephant to lift its right foot forward.

Bridle and reins. As with most domestic horses, our performers use a bridle and reins to direct the horse while riding. The bridle consists of a headstall, bit and reins fitted on a horse's head. The reins are a narrow strip, usually made of leather, attached to the bit of a bridle. They allow riders to provide direction by opening or closing their hands on the reins.

Body language. Posture and body language are very important when communicating with animals. Our animals are attuned to subtle changes in body language from our trainers. Just as moving a hand in a downward direction may instruct a trained dog to sit, a particular body stance or look of an eye can elicit a desired behavior from our animals.

Halter and lead. When walking our animals, a trainer may use a halter and lead. A halter is a device made of nylon or cotton that fits around the head or neck of hoofed stock. The lead is a long strip attached to the halter and allows our handlers to secure the animal or guide it to the correct place.

Lunge line. In the beginning stages of learning a new routine, our hoofed stock rehearse with a lunge line held by the trainer. A long lead attached to the animal's halter or bridle, the lunge line teaches the animal proper direction and posture while allowing the handler to give the animal space to move. This is used in training animals for liberty acts in which there is no physical contact between the horse and the trainer. Each animal will practice on a lunge line with a handler for a few months until it learns its routine in the performance.

Saddle. In other horse acts, the rider sits on a saddle (a leather seat) that rests on the horse's back that is secured around its abdomen. Depending on the rider, Ringling Bros. performers use either western- or English-style saddles.

Tether. Our elephants and hoofed stock are comfortably tethered while riding the Ringling Bros. train and in the stable area. This helps them understand that they should stay in one place and not wander off (for their safety and the safety of the humans who work with and around them). Our animal care staff ensures that the materials we use are comfortable for our animals and easy to keep clean.

Treats. Whether animals are learning a routine for the first time or performing it for the hundredth, we give them treats to reward good behavior. We reward our tigers with meat either taken from a long stick or from the hand, our hoofed animals with carrots and apples, and our elephants with whole loaves of bread, carrots, apples and gum drops.

Voice. All of our animals learn voice commands. Some, like elephants, can learn more than 60 commands. For example, our elephants lift up a foot when they hear "foot" or sit down when we say "sit." "Trunk" for an elephant means to raise a trunk, and "back" means to move backward. The human voice is also used to give an animal rewards, such as "good girl" and "good job," along with a pat on the back, shoulder or head, or a scratch on a favorite spot.

Whip. With the noise of the crowd and the Ringling Bros. circus band, it is sometimes hard for our animals to hear the voice commands of their trainers. Our tiger and hoofed stock trainers use a whip as an extension of their arm to direct the animal to a place on the floor or to nudge them in the right direction. They also might crack the whip on the ground or gesture with it to cue a particular behavior. These actions help the handler communicate directions while performing in the loud ring.