Cavalia: a Dazzling Display of Horse Power and Beauty

A show that has charmed millions of people in other parts of the world is now playing in the United States. What makes Cavalia special is that the stars are horses, riders, and acrobats who combine to create a visual extravaganza. Breshna Omarkhel of VOA's Afghanistan Service produced the piece. It is narrated by Penelope Poulou.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• horse
• cavalia
• performance
• acrobat
• normand
• latourelle
• cirque
• du
• soleil
• art
• equestrian
• atlanta
• poulou
• voa
• news
• Omarkhel

[TaylorRunyon]

Dehzee:

Slaughter houses aren't the problem. People backyard breeding and creating more and more unwanted horses are the problem.

No unwanted horses = no slaughter houses.

Don't attack the effect, attack the cause.

[Dehzee]

I think the best tribute we could give our horses in Canada and America is to stop sending them to brutal, inhumane deaths on the slaughterhouse floor.

[86Horsechick]

someday..THAT will be me. ^^

[lovehorses57]

most beautiful show I've ever seen..

[juliaeaton]

@kalenvS - I think they have a book out about their horse training on their website cavalia.net. They are very dedicated to promoting the philosophies of classical dressage: partnership & communication and promoting humane treatment of animals. I know there's a lot of information about their stance on training on their website. You can see during the show some of the subtle signs of their training when you watch them with the horses (ie: lots of patience and communication).

[juliaeaton]

@gingersharmony - I've only owned mares myself but I understand why Cavalia doesn't have mares because they work with stallions too. Have you ever tried to work with a stallion and a mare in heat at the same time in the same place? It doesn't work! At best it's comical and at worst it's a dangerous catastrophe. I doubt Cavalia have anything against mares they're just making good safety choices.

[operationNOBO]

@TaylorRunyon That is very true when it comes to backyard breeding. I know many breeders who are responsible, and never have sold horses to slaughter buyers. The backyard breeder is unrealistic and wasteful, however there will always be slaughter for horses.

[riverfest1]

I had the chance to meet all the Cavalia horses in person! Even the babies! It was amazing!

[evenstar34]

I had the opportunity to see this last night in Atlanta, and it was very beautiful! Those horses are very loved by the performers, and you can see that. To Dehzee, this is not the place to bring up horses and slaughter houses. Until you can figure out how to stop animal overpopulation, it is what will end up happening. What is more humane, letting an animal starve to death slowly, or put them down? Either way, it is a no win. These animals are not being tortured, so save it for some other video.

[1346claire]

i went to cavalia and it does seem like a dream

[xXDDanielle]

I saw this show in Portland a couple weeks ago and i LOVED it!!! so beautiful :') i wish my horse could do those tricks! lol :p

[lancieannie]

I think that they choose boys over girls because boys have more play drive. Mares are too serious.