Rarely seen horses star in equine ballet

Horses are the true stars at Cavalia

Kristine Berey

April, 2009

Estelle Delgado, trainer and performer in the spectacular show Cavalia, doesn’t like the term “horse whisperer.” Though it denotes a humane method of training, in contrast with the concept of “breaking in” a horse, she says the word does not accurately define her lifelong experience of playing and working with these noble animals.

“When you spend all your life with horses you don’t need words. You understand their feelings – before they show you. It becomes instinctive and very natural just to listen to your horse, take the time with him, and pay attention to his body language, his mood, the way he’s eating and the way he responds when you’re next to him.” Delgado, who was raised on a breeding ranch in “the most beautiful place in France,” has been performing with horses since she was a toddler, along with her family. Her sister Magalie and her brother-in-law Frédéric Pignon are the equestrian co-directors of the show.

Delgado says she feels the horses are part of her family. “For me they are friends and partners. They can show affection in the way a dog can. Even if they’re eating, when I enter the stable they come to the window looking for me. They are very intelligent and have emotions like anybody else.”

In a passionate celebration of the ancient love between horses and human beings, Cavalia combines the artistry of acrobats, singers, musicians and superbly trained animals with evocative lighting and visuals. The horses’ training ranges between six months to 10 years with daily practice to refine their techniques, like in any performing arts discipline. Conceived by president and artistic director Normand Latourelle, an early member of the Cirque du Soleil team, the show has been described as an “equine ballet.” Over half of the featured horses are Iberian horses of Pure Spanish or Lusitano breeds, with the latter bred on the Delgados’ farm. The other breeds represented by the 60 horses that travel with the show (with 40 performing at any one time) include Quarter Horses, Appaloosa, the Friesian, the ancient Belgian, Percheron and more. All the horses are male, stallions or geldings.

Though Delgado’s specialty is dressage, the equestrian discipline seen in horse shows, she has fulfilled a dream she had since she was 15, of becoming one of the rare women capable of a form of acrobatic riding called the Roman Post. The technique originated among the shepherds on the great plains of Hungary, and calls for the rider to stand on two speeding horses with one foot one the rump of each. “This was my dream when I was young,” recalls Delgado, who began riding horses in parades as a toddler.“I would look at the guys performing – it’s very rare to see a girl. Standing on the horses, they looked so free, like a bird.”

Cavalia will be presented from April 21 to May 10. For information visit www.cavalia.net or call 866-999-8111.