Cavalia settles in for its Abu Dhabi performances

Cavalia, the equestrian and acrobatic group that will perform at the Qasr Al Hosn Festival, is gearing up for what will be a spectacular, Arabian-themed show. We go behind the scenes to meet its four-legged stars and the horse whisperers who make it all possible.

Katie Cox, a 27-year-old US performer and one of Cavalia's stunt riders, looks up to her horse, Emilio, a Canadian-born percheron. Silvia Razgova / The National

A week after they arrived in the capital, the four-legged stars of Cavalia, a touring equestrian theatrical production, are leisurely pacing in their spacious stables temporarily set up at the Qasr Al Hosn site.

Having flown in from Perth, Australia, after completing a series of shows, the horses will participate in a new, customised show created by the Cavalia founder Normand Latourelle for the Qasr Al Hosn Festival that begins on February 22. Cavalia is a multimedia presentation that honours the link between humans and horses, which has existed for more than 6,000 years. The show, featuring aerialists, acrobats and riders uses verbal cues, sounds and gestures to guide the animals in special acts and tricks, and has been seen by more than four million people across North America, Europe and Australia.

Horse talk

The animals are taking time to adapt to the desert climate, but their trainers aren’t in a hurry, and keep busy by grooming their charges and concentrating on keeping them comfortable.

“That is the thing about Cavalia,” says Katie Cox, a trainer who works with five horses in the show. “Here, we understand that dealing with a horse takes a lot of care and requires the same sensitivity as dealing with people. We make sure our horses are happy. They even have understudies; if they are not feeling well, they get the day off.”

The smallest show pony, called Troubadour, a miniature, has a box near the entrance of the barn. At the slightest noise from visitors, the horse shakes the forelocks off his eyes and backs away, but seems quite unaffected by the neighing of his much taller companions who occasionally peer out of their window to nuzzle their trainers.

A way with animals

Latourelle, who is also the co-creator of Cirque du Soleil, began working with horses in the 1990s.

“The horse used to be just an extra in my show, but I noticed that everyone was looking at it. No costume or make-up was involved, but it attracted the most attention,” says Latourelle, who also is Cavalia’s artistic director.

Latourelle says since horses have a strong connection with the Arab world, they wanted to depict this in the Abu Dhabi show, which has been “culturally modified” for its ­audience.

“While reading local works I found that horses here have always been next to man,” he explains, adding that a horse’s “simplicity” is reflective of the lifestyle of the Bedouins who once roamed these areas. “You cannot be complicated with a horse – it won’t like you,” he says. “The people here led a simple life because they had to fight for survival in the desert.”

A local theme

The artistic team was advised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority on creating locally inspired costumes and music. After a few trips to the desert, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and Qasr Al Hosn fort, Latourelle teamed up with Cavalia’s director Wayne Fowkes and the equestrian choreographer Benjamin Aillaud to draw up a programme that would encapsulate the capital’s heritage.

A white 35-metre-high, custom-designed big top is being assembled and filled with 2,500 tonnes of earth for the production. For three months before they arrived in Abu Dhabi, the team had been practising newly introduced routines, such as a special act with the horses in water, and a pearl-diving performance featuring acrobats.

Seven Arabian steeds from the United States will join the regular cast of 10 breeds that have toured the world. All the horses will also feature in “Liberty Act”, where they will be left free to gallop on stage.

A personable lot

Donna Morton, the stables director, points out an Arabian horse (who has just has gobbled up his details chart) to explain that new members are kept away from the show regulars (Pure Spanish, Australian stock, comtois, percheron, miniatures, lusitano, criollo and warmbloods) until they feel more at ease. “Because they come from different environments, we cannot introduce them without some preparation,” says Morton, adding that only mature horses are selected for the ­line-up.

“A horse needs to be about five years old,” says Morton, “which gives an idea of their structural development. But, most importantly, we look at their temperament, because they all need to get along.”

Every horse comes with a story, which their trainers enjoy sharing with visitors.

Renato, a comtois, is a stable favourite. The European draft horse, affectionately called Barbie by her riders, stands patiently while two staff members braid her blonde mane. The horse, which suffers hereditary blindness in one eye and was rescued from an abattoir in France, is now an important part of the show.

Then there is Troubadour, a 15-year-old miniature who is the clown of the lot.

“He is kind of our little comedy,” says Cox. “He has a cameo appearance in the show where he just runs across the stage chasing someone. It fits his personality and he loves it.”

Cox is also responsible for 10-year-old Emilio, a percheron, one of the biggest breeds.

“I’ve been working with this mischievous guy for four years,” says Cox, tightening her grip on the reins while the beautiful white horse restlessly shuffles around the pit inside the big top. “With this one, I had to work slowly, concentrating on our relationship, on voice recognition. It took him six months to get used to me.”

Cox will be directing the horse in classical dressage, where the horse “dances”.

Improv is the key

Laura Baubry will be leading her 12-year-old horse Armas, a Spanish stallion, in trick riding.

“Armas and I have developed a relationship,” says the French rider, who began riding at the age of 6. “This is a dream job. I get to ride him, care for him and perform with him.”

She takes him out for walks every day and alters his routine so that he does not get bored.

“We try to vary what we do with them,” she explains. “If I do dressage with Armas in the show, I will probably make sure he is stretched and worked out, but I might also include him in the Liberty Act so that they don’t get bored on stage.”

But with animals, says Latourelle, there is always an element of surprise, but the resulting improvisation keeps the audience entertained.

“We follow the horse,” he says. “If the horse isn’t ready to do something, we improvise. We find another way to keep the show going.”

• Cavalia is at Qasr Al Hosn Festival from February 22 to March 1. Tickets start from Dh250 and are available at ticketmaster.ae, Virgin Megastores or by calling 800 86823