Under the giant white tents of Cavalia’s “Odysseo,” the true stars are the four-legged performers.
Not only do the horses — 65 stallions and geldings of 11 breeds and from seven countries — form the galloping heart of the circus-style spectacular, their comfort and care get top billing as well.
“There’s a joke in our company that it’s better to be a horse than a human,” said Benjamin Aillaud, the show’s equestrian director. “If you make the decision to take horses on tour, you have to make the decision to take care of them the best you can.”
When your show celebrates the bond between horse and human, after all, happy and healthy horses are paramount.
That frame of mind infuses everything on the grounds of the traveling show — the training and trainers, the accommodations, the daily routine.
“Depending on each horse, we’re adapting to make sure the horse will be in his body and mind happy,” said Aillaud, who was visiting Denver earlier this week to check in on the show. “If he’s happy, he will be happy on stage — and it will be nice to see.”
In Denver, the horses work and live in the white tent city on the Pepsi Center grounds.
In one tent are climate-controlled stables, equipped for heating in cold locales, air-conditioning in warm, Aillaud said. In another, a warm-up ring awaits, connected directly to the big top’s back stage.
Paddocks cover what usually is a parking lot, joined to an outdoor training arena and mechanical horse walker. Each horse goes outside every day.
A veritable herd of humans is responsible for the horses’ daily care, a 20-person stable team that includes a farrier, veterinary technicians and groomers.
Then there are the 23 riders, each responsible for keeping watch over and exercising their own few horses.
Each day, those horses CLICK TO KEEP READING
“Odysseo”
Circus-style equestrian spectacular. Various shows through Oct. 19 on the Pepsi Center grounds, 1522 5th St. Tickets: $24.50-$229.50. 866-999-8111 or cavalia.net.
Author: Mile High Mamas
Amber Johnson
Love this. Many friends so it last week and said it stunned!
Lori Lavender Luz
What an amazing show — I highly recommend!