Cavalia Encore: the bond that binds horses and men...

fansele 2016-08-17

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Six unfettered horses circle the dirt track for a while before approaching their trainer for hugs, nuzzles and pats. On the tent-topped stage, riders, acrobats, aerialists and musicians all follow the tempo of the horses.

Cavalia, the horse-centered show, is returning for a second season with a premiere on Aug 11 in Beijing’s Chaoyang Park after a one-month summer break.

Having performed 70 consecutive shows in the first season, the horses needed a rest to avoid fatigue and the scorching summer heat, according to Sinocap, the show's organizer. To help the horses relax, Canadian osteopath Julie Beaubien was invited to Beijing to provide massage and acupuncture treatments during the break.

With 40 riders and 40 horses in total, the two-hour Cavalia presents a harmonious human-equine relationship of patience and mutual trust.

Keith Dupont, 25, Cavalia’s equestrian director, has been working with horses for 18 years. The Belgian has spent almost five years with his six Arabians in Cavalia and treats them as friends.

“I come in the morning and they are the first ones I go and see. When I leave at night, they are the last ones I see before going home,” said Dupont. “I’ve spent a lot of time with them.”

Knowing that horses are strong-willed animals that resist being controlled, Dupont and his fellow trainers never try to force them to follow their orders obediently. Instead, they follow the horses’ free will to “ensure that they are happy”.

“They are the real artists, we are just here to support them,” said Dupont. “They don’t always do exactly what we want them to do, and we have to improvise accordingly. That’s also why we have a live band.” As a result, no two shows are ever exactly the same.

In addition to giving the horses freedom to improvise, the whole team also provides them with premier living conditions. Each horse has its own fixed stall and is always next to the same neighbors. Specific diets are formulated each week by two veterinary technicians for each horse based on their weight and state of health. A team of 15 grooms is on hand to take care of the horses every day.

“The priority is the horse. Everybody needs to adjust to them,” said Dupont.

Kong Xiang Yu contributed to this story.

More about Cavalia Season Two

The circuslike spectacular created by Normand Latourelle (a founder of Cirque du Soleil) will take up residence in Beijing from Aug 11 to Feb 14 next year.
The show, which has toured Europe, North America and Southeast Asia since its inception in 2003, will be localized and adapted to Chinese audiences’ tastes for music, cast and performance.

A miniature horse called “peanut”, which has the same characteristics and proportions as a standard sized horse, will make its debut on the stage.
The two-hour show is to be split into two sessions, each lasting one hour, to better meet the audience’s needs.

If you go

Camera flashes are discouraged, as they may startle the horses, resulting in injuries and accidents.
Show time: Wednesday to Sunday; 14:30 afternoon show, 19:30 evening show.