Equestrian passions
Singing in the show Lipizzaners with the Stars was a golden opportunity for me to combine two great passions of my life: music and horses.
Observing at close range the care and attention devoted to these special animals, who definitely know just how special they are (horses with attitude), was something
I never tired of over the months of our association.
For example, watching René, my instructor, patiently lunge the stallion who refused to do the levade at the matinee, because he had his mind on mares! It took René about an hour to win him back and in the evening we all stood with bated breath waiting to see what the horse would do – he was great!
The audience doesn't know what the horse is meant to be doing, so they cheer at even a litle jump, but we knew! and believe me no horse will do anything it doesn't want to – you have to have a bond, respect and wllingness to please.
Riding Geerd (not a Lipizzaner as you can see from the picture, but a magical Friesian) was for me a personal challenge. Firstly to ride him and then to sing and keep in time with the orchestra! Phew!
I chose to sing Queen of the Night as the rhythm is constant. Horses are quite musical so provided you encourage them, they can fall into the rhythm with you. My over-ambitious original concept, incorporating Spanish Walk, had to be ditched for a relatively uncomplicated routine at the walk. René assured me he could train me, but that it would take about 2 years, which wasn't viable. So we just coped with what we could plus the singing – traing initially to a CD.
Only one performance was perfect (where Geerd and I completely melded as one). Other times the horse had a can't be bothered attitude, a cold, etc. But generally, when he saw me approaching in my costume he sort of went "Here's my starring moment'" plus "Great, soon I'll get my licorice!" which I gave him at the end of each performance.
