To have a memory like an elephant means that you remember everything. Just ask Brett Carden, 28, owner/elephant trainer for the Shrine Circus/Central States, and he’ll tell you that this saying is definitely true.
“Elephants never forget what you’ve taught them,” said Carden, who travels the circus circuit throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. Their most recent performance was in Flint, where they finished a four-day run at the Perani Arena on Monday. They have now moved onto to the Dow Arena in Saginaw.
Carden has been an elephant trainer since the age of 15, when his father, circus owner George Carden of the George Carden International Circus, asked him to take over the position when his elephant trainer quit. “I’ve been doing it ever since,” said Carden.
Like other animals, elephants need to be taken care of 365 days a year, so Carden’s three “pet” elephants are fed, watered and bathed every day, along with the ponies, camels and other animals that are part of the Carden circus family. But, in spite of his title as “elephant trainer,” there isn’t much training to do. “They were trained many years ago,” said Carden. “Now all I have to do is tell them what to do and unlike many animals, they actually understand. Elephants are very smart.”
“We work all year away from home,” said Carden, whose wife, Cathy, is also from a circus family dating back to the 1800s. The couple is raising their two sons, 6-month-old Cash, and 2-year-old George, from the circus’ traveling bus, but Carden plans to send Cathy and the boys to Springfield, Mo. when they’re old enough to start school.
“I didn’t have much of a childhood growing up,” he said. “We were always on the road. I want our boys to go to school and have a more normal life.”
The fun part about circus life is coincidentally, also the hardest part — traveling. “We’re always on the road,” said Carden. “It’s a lot more work than people think. You’re not just setting up the circus, you’re also pulling permits, handling all the advertising, making sure all the employees are fed and have a place to sleep, plus taking care of the animals.”
Carden’s job as the elephant trainer is actually the easiest part of his work.
The rest of his time is spent coordinating and promoting the circus before it comes to town, then making sure that everything is taken care of while it is being set up. Like any other business owner, he has a lot of responsibilities in making sure his 80-plus employees are taken care of, down to the important details of keeping all the insurances well paid.
“My job with the elephants isn’t dangerous,” said Carden, who has never been attacked by the them, even though they are considered “wild” animals. “But, those who work on the high wires definitely have the most dangerous jobs in the circus. I’ve actually seen people take a fall.
“Another dangerous job is the motorcyclists in the globe — one of our most popular stunts,” he said. “Motorcyclists ride around inside a giant globe doing daredevil tricks. There have been some bad wrecks.”
The upside of circus life, according to Carden, is that it’s like one big family. “We’re a tight-knit group,” he admitted. “We have people from all over the world, but we all know each other well. I’ve also grown up to be very adaptable in any situation because of my circus upbringing.” |
