"Trick Horse" Attracts Crowds By Doing Math

"Trick Horse" Attracts Crowds By Doing Math AG WORLD 26-2-21 Kids and older people alike are absolutely fascinated by Johnnie Cox's trick horse. Cox, 82, of Virginia, Ill., enjoys putting on shows and also operates a horse service center where horses are shod and trained. FARM SHOW caught up with his act at a tractor show in Jacksonville, Ill. Performing in a makeshift arena, Johnnie had a ring of kids fascinated with his smart horse. "Flash" is his name. Upon orders, Flash adds and subtracts numbers using his front hoof to paw out the answers. He can also smile, sit down with his front legs outstretched, roll a barrel with his nose, wave an American flag, and lie down and pull a cover over himself. What particularly impressed the kids was the way Flash could do math. A kid would call out something like "4 plus 2" and Flash would paw six times with a front foot. When we talked to Johnnie he wouldn't admit to any signaling, but he wouldn't deny it either. His answer: "I'm going to write a book about all of this if I live long enough. Maybe, I will tell how I do it in there," was his answer. Flash, 10 years old, is the fourth trick horse Johnnie has owned. He's very trainable but Cox says he also tends to be a bit ornery. Yet, Cox is very gentle with the horse. He wouldn't describe himself as a "horse whisperer", but he will tell you that horses definitely react best to gentle talk and treatment. "Flash will do just about anything I ask him to do," Cox says. Johnnie came from a farm family of 12, and his dad had 22 horses. Johnnie started running a horse-drawn riding plow when he was only six years old. Today, Johnnie keeps himself busy full-time training and shoeing horses. He does a lot of traveling. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johnnie Cox, 21795 Garner Rd., Virginia, Ill. (ph 217 452-3509).

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