Learn about what takes place behind the scenes at the SA Lipizzaner performances
KYALAMI – Volunteer Gina Boxley unpacks what takes place behind the scenes of the Lipizzaner performances on Sundays.
Members of the public often enjoy the South African Lippizzaners Sunday shows without realising the amount of effort and frantic change-overs that take place behind the scenes.
Volunteer at the SA Lipizzaners Gina Boxley sought to unpack what goes on in the background while community members enjoy a performance. Boxley said that making sure the stallions look their best and are perfectly groomed requires a great effort from many people in the background. She explained that the riders and the horses have to do some frantic change-overs and uniform changes between sequences.
“How some of them don’t land face-down on the other side of the horse as they are so desperate to move is beyond my imagination. “All is great fun and hilarity at times and makes it all the more special to ride these equine beauties.”
Boxley said that boots, jackets, crops and bums are all over the place as riders jump from one horse to another with grooms rushing back and forth as they present each horse, tacked up and looking perfect for the show. “There have been times when a stallion is just not in the mood to perform and a quick adjustment has to be made. This is usually when we have snippets of interest that the announcer can read to the audience about the history and survival of these incredible Lipizzaners.”
Boxley said that there are sometimes moments of deep emotion or frustration as someone has an off day or things do not go according to plan. “Watching a faultless performance, when everything does go according to plan, is the reward of months and months of intense training and connecting with each horse.”
Classical music has to be chosen for each routine and worked into the time of each sequence. “The horses love the excitement and when the audience applause, you can see their tails flash with pride and pleasure.” “So much goes into the choreography of each show as not one is identical.”
Boxley urged audience members to bear in mind that though shows may be an hour of entertainment, the effort that goes into them takes years of training, patience, heartache and triumph, bumps and falls, love, effort and coordination from the riders and the majestic SA Lipizzaners.
