July 04, 2007 | Tips from Travellers >
Surrey, Festivals & Events
My family decided to spend an evening together last night, and I thought it would be nice to go see the world famous Lipizzaner Stallions because there was a show in Cloverdale. My brother, who is twenty, was not too excited about being forced into watching a “horse ballet”, as we had described it. We got there about an hour early, purchased our tickets and waited in line.
About forty-five minutes after we entered the building, the show began, and the Master of Ceremonies introduced each of the riders and their horses, which I found very interesting. The show consisted of about ten different acts where a small group, or an individual horse and rider, would come out and perform for the crowd. There were a few routines which I found quite boring, such as the “pas de deux”, because they only showcased simple dressage movements around the ring. The highlights of the show were definitely the “airs above the ground” where the horses performed balancing movements and jumps from only simple commands of the riders. Even my brother was impressed when one of the horses started skipping across the ring.
Another good thing about this show was that the Master of Ceremonies explained a lot about the Lipizzaner Stallions, including their history, their markings, their training, and even why only the stallions and not the mares are used in performances. I found it very educational as well as entertaining.
Overall it was a great event, and I would recommend seeing it if you have the opportunity.