Following a ten day vacation in the Santa Susana Mountains, the 67 four-legged stars of Cavalia’s Odysseo have arrived in Burbank, California. Beginning February 27, 2013, Cavalia will premiere its all-new production in Los Angeles for a limited time.
Cavalia mirror performance
Beginning February 27, 2013 Cavalia will premiere its all-new production Odysseo a theatrical ode to horse and man that combines equestrian and acrobatic arts with high-tech special effects in Los Angeles.
© 2013 by Cavalia Press
Created by one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, Cavalia’s Odysseo is a theatrical ode to horse and man that combines the equestrian and acrobatic arts with high-tech special effects set under a magical 10-story White Big Top.
The horses hail from around the world and represent 11 breeds including Spanish Purebred, Arabians and Lusitanos. While performing in Los Angeles the horses will live in a climate-controlled tent stable complete with showers, tack room, a staff of groomers, a veterinary technician and a blacksmith. Rendez-Vous VIP ticket holders can visit the immaculately clean stables following each performance.
At the heart and soul of every performance is the age-old bond between human and horse. The company fosters an environment where patience, trust and deep-seated respect for the four-legged stars comes first. Cavalia’s training methods are designed to ensure the horses enjoy training and performing on stage. Trainers pay close attention to the horses in order to ensure that every request is adapted and respectful of what the horses are ready to offer.
They receive around-the-clock care from a team of grooms, riders, a blacksmith and a veterinary technician. The horses are bathed at least once a day and the stables are cleaned throughout the day. Their diet consists of hay, grain, carrots, apples and vitamin supplements.
The stable measures 1,300 square feet and contains roomy stalls for each horse, showers, a saddlery and a blacksmith’s area. The entire floor is covered by thick rubber mats that are made from recycled tires. Adjacent to the stable tent there is an inside arena for the horses and the trainers to warm-up and train. These fully air conditioned and heated tents are connected together by tunnels to the stage area.
Set under a 110-foot tall White Big Top, audiences will be transported around the world as 67 horses and an international cast play and demonstrate their intimate bond. The 15,000 square foot stage features a real carousel and a magically appearing 80,000-gallon lake in front of a stunning video backdrop the size of three IMAX screens.
Cavalia’s Odysseo is a two-hour dream that will move the heart and touch the soul. It is an evening that the audience will never forget. For more information, visit www.cavalia.net.
The Horses of Cavalia's Odysseo
There are 67 horses that represent 11 different breeds from around the world in the Cavalia’s Odysseo stable. All the horses are male – 20 are stallions and 47 geldings. They hail from 7 countries including Spain, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, Germany, The United States and Canada. The average age of the horses is 10 with the youngest at 5 and the oldest at 18.
At the heart and soul of every Cavalia performance is the age-old bond between human and horse. The company fosters an environment where patience, trust and deep-seated respect for the four-legged stars come first. Cavalia’s training methods are designed to ensure the horses enjoy training and performing on stage. Trainers pay close attention to the horses in order to ensure that every request is adapted and respectful of what the horses are ready to offer.
The horse breeds include:
THE APPALOOSA (3) - A breed developed in the XVIIIth century by the Nez Percé tribe of Native Americans, the Appaloosa is famous for his colorful, spotted coat and striped hooves. Adopted as the state horse of Idaho in 1975, the Appaloosa was once called “a Palouse horse” after the Palouse River which is located in the US states of Idaho and Washington where the breed originated.
THE ARABIAN (15) - Admired for his distinctive dished facial profile, large eyes, and high intelligence, the Arabian horse lived among the desert tribes of the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. Bred by the Bedouins as war mounts for an extreme climate, the Arabian evolved with an unequaled level of stamina and energy. The breed’s age-old affinity with man is legendary; Arabians often shared the tents of their nomadic owners, along with their food and water.
THE ARDENNAIS (1) - Thought to descend from the prehistoric Solutré horse, the Ardennais is one of the most ancient horse breeds in Europe. The use of this breed dates back to Ancient Rome. First bred for the purposes of war, then agriculture, the Ardennais was considered one of the best breeds of draft horse. At the end of the XIXth century, the breed’s legendary characteristics as coach and draft horse slowly gave way to that of heavy draft horse. The Ardennais’ coat color is usually roan or bay, with dark and abundant feathering.
THE CANADIAN (2) - An unknown little Canadian treasure, this breed descends from the horses sent to the New World by Louis XIV. Named “the little iron horse,” the Canadian is known for his strength, willingness, curiosity and resistance to harsh climates. Once on the verge of extinction, there are now more than 2,500 Canadian Horses in existence.
THE HOLSTEINER (1) – Thought to be the oldest of the warmbloods, this breed traces back to the 13th century in northern Germany. Though the population is not large, Holsteiners are a dominant force of international show jumping, and are found at the top levels of dressage, combined driving, show hunters, and eventing. Holsteiners are known for their arched, rather high-set necks and powerful hindquarters.
THE LUSITANO (14) - Bold, brave, and athletic, the Lusitano is the traditional horse of the Portuguese mounted bullfighters and is revered by the country’s classical riding masters. Similar in build to the P.R.E. horses of Spain, the two breeds are thought to have originated from a common source on the Iberian Peninsula thousands of years ago. Portugal closed its studbooks to Spanish horses in 1960, renaming the breed “Lusitano.” Blessed with a thick, luxurious mane and tail, the Lusitano’s more convex profile is reminiscent of the old Andalusian or Iberian horse.
THE OLDENBURG (1) - The Oldenburg derives from the old Friesian horses living between Germany and the Netherlands. The horse grew in popularity after the Second World War, due to his beautiful gait and fluid movement.
THE PAINT HORSE (3) - Known for his colorful coat pattern, compact build and docile disposition, the American Paint Horse is popular the world over. Paint Horses can be a combination of white and virtually any color in the equine spectrum. While the markings can be any shape or size, and located anywhere on a Paint’s body, there are only three coat patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero. It is now the second most popular in the U.S. breed registry.
THE QUARTER HORSE (8) - Blazing fast over short distances, the American Quarter Horse has been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph (88.5 km/h) in races of a quarter mile or less. Known for his versatility, good temperament, and “cow sense,” the Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the world, with more than four million horses registered. Compact, heavily-muscled, and intelligent, this versatile horse is synonymous with Western riding.
SPANISH PUREBRED (P.R.E.) (18) - Linked with the history and culture of Andalusia, the billowing mane, charisma, and unmistakable beauty of the Pura Raza Española, or Pure Spanish Horse, is the calling card for a breed dating back as far as 25,000 years B.C. War horse of the Romans, the P.R.E.’s agile, fluid movement gained him popularity among European courts and equestrian academies in the XVth to XVIIIth centuries. The Spanish closed their studbooks to Portugal in 1912, choosing the name P.R.E. instead of “Andalusian.”
THE WARMBLOOD (1) - A dominant presence on the international competition circuit, many modern Warmbloods excel in jumping and dressage and are the breed of choice for Olympic equestrian teams around the world. The breed began emerging when warriors returned to Europe from the Middle East and Africa with hot-blooded Arabian horses captured in battle, which they then bred with heavier, agricultural breeds. The Warmblood’s popularity grew at the end of the Second World War when recreational horse-riding spread across the Western world.