Del Womacks Getting His Trained Horse to “Play Dead” While Amused Children Look On, ca. 1900

Del Womack’s horse may not have been a tradition house pet, but it knew tricks like “play dead.” Womacks, an animal trainer and regional performer, trained his horse to collapse gently and lie perfectly still on the ground while still hitched to the cart.

(Photo: Missouri State Archives)

The secret to triggering the trick was dropping a hat on the ground. If you look closely near the horse’s flank, a black hat can be seen lying on the ground, which served as the cue for the horse to perform.

While the sight of a collapsed carriage horse would normally cause panic, the lighthearted expressions of Womacks and the smiling boy standing next to the cart reveal the performance nature of the scene. Such animal acts were highly popular at local fairs and exhibitions during this era.