The Sunday Performance

Performances are given every Sunday at 11am, at the Lipizzaner Centre, Kyalami Equestrian Centre, 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami. Tickets can be purchased from the Lipizzaner Centre in advance, or from Computicket, or on the door.

In the indoor arena, arches of red and gold, and decorative chandeliers await the entrance of the stallions. Red banners hang from the ceiling, and the flags on the central pillars billow in the wind. The music starts, the doors open, and the Magic of the White Stallions begins...

1.Young Stallions

The performance begins with the young stallions. These are horses at an early stage of their training who have not yet mastered the collected paces. The stallions are grey, they have not yet turned snowy-white, and they move with light, cadenced paces, eager to go forward and demonstrate their talent. These are the Quadrille stallions of the future, they are learning to work together, and show clearly their willingness to please, and enthusiasm for their work.

2.Young Colts and Lunging demonstration.

A demonstration of lunging is given, along with a speech to educate the audience about the early training of both horse and rider. A young rider shows the various exercises she performs on the lungs (some quite acrobatic!) and the young stallion shows how he learns his first commands from his trainer. The young colts presented are about three years old, and often have not yet begun their formal training. These are led in by hand to allow them to become accustomed to the audience and the arena in which they will eventually perform.

3.Pas De Deux

In the Pas de Deux, two riders, in blue and gold renaissance dress, demonstrate the movements of the high school, on either side of the arena, one being the mirror image of the other. These are highly trained school stallions, and the Senior Riders present a traditional display of this courtly activity.

4.Side Saddle Riding and Carriage Driving.

Traditionally, ladies always rode side saddle, and dressed in old-fashioned riding habits, the ladies of the Lipizzaner Centre present an elegant picture of bygone days. The Lipizzaner has for years been used as a carriage horse, and his skill is thus displayed.

5.Long Reins

To the tune of the Grand March from Aida, a stallion enters the arena, wearing a red bridle, red and gold numnah, with his trainer walking behind him, holding 'long reins'.

In the long reins, the stallion has to be especially skilled, as he is to execute all the movements he has learnt under saddle with only guidance from the reins. The trainer walks behind the stallion, guiding him in movements that the audience has seen so far under saddle. The kind temperament of the Lipizzaner means that rarely is a trainer kicked or injured, even though she walks so close behind her stallion.

6.Work in Hand

The Work in hand is where the Airs above the Ground are demonstrated. These movements originate from the battlefield, when horses were taught movements to perform in war. Only the the most powerful of stallions are trained to perform the more advanced of these movements, as great concentration and physical dexterity are required. All the Airs above the Ground take many years to perfect. The stallions are led in, with saddle and bridle and cavesson, side reins keeping them 'on the bit', and they begin by presenting perfect piaffes, followed by the levade. The audience marvel at the Caprioles and courbettes that the stallions perform with apparently the greatest of ease. At the end, after such exertion, the stallions are led out, as calmly as they came in.

7.Solo Performance

In the solo performance, a stallion and his rider, trained to the highest level, display all the movements of the high school, choreographed and set to music. It is as though the stallion is dancing. Only very talented stallions are selected to perform the solo performance. It is surely from this, that the Lipizzaners have come to be known as the "Dancing White Horses".

8.School Quadrille

The highlight of any visit to the Lipizzaner Centre is undoubtedly the School Quadrille. Six snowy-white stallions, with their riders dressed in red tailcoats, perform the movements of the high school, to the tunes of Smetana's Bartered Bride have the audience entranced. The grace, precision and beauty of this noble breed will melt even the hardest of hearts. The magic of the Lipizzaner never ceases to delight, in this, The Ballet of the White Stallions...

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