Apassionata

[Joy]

The last chance this year to catch the Apassionata Ovations tour in the UK is at Wembley 15th and 16th April. There is literally something to please everyone in this show which IMHO is even better than last year. From gentle dancing with horses to the high drama of garrocha and fire. From the comedy act of donkey-man partnership (who is training who!) to the fast paced Cossacks and Western riders. I was transfixed throughout, and the time went far too quickly.

And the reason I am putting this in the classical section is because for me the highlight of the performance is the pure classical part - Senor Luis Valenca and his lusitanos. The long reining/ridden quadrille was a work of art, and the airs above the ground breath taking as always. Senor Valenca's introduction described his philosophy and love for the horse totally 'and now we will see the capriole, but only if the horse allows. We must never force the horse.'

Joy

See www.greatesthorses.co.uk

[hinny_heart]

tell me tell me tell me  PLEASE

what does the donkey do????

[franklin]

Oh what a wonderful show, we saw it last weekend in Manchester, and Senor Louis  was brilliant. Sylvia Stanier was in awe the "very very best of high school" were her words. The donkey was just fabulous I think everybody wanted to take it home. Come to think of it I wouldn't mind taking any of those horses home, particularly the dapple grey who did the fire display. A must see show. Jenny

[Heather]

Hi Joy,

Glad to hear the show was up to the usual standards, and Jenny, so pleased to hear that Miss Stanier thought the High School of Joy's and my own trainer, Luis Valenca, of the very best.

Luis Valenca, is one of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever met in the horse world, and the horses he trains bear out the philosophy held by Luis. It is a privilege to know him and work with him.


Heather

[hinny_heart]

PLEASE will someone tell me what the donkey does?????????

[whisper's mum]

All sorts of things!!! He has a wheelbarrow ride on his handler, lies on the floor on command, I can't remember it all!!!! There are 2 in the show and they are the comedy element between the more serious bits.

I loved Luis's part but would much rather have spent the whole evening watching him than seen the rest of the show. It was a fun night out though    

[Heather]

Luis used to have a donkey- about the only equine on the place that actually bit people!! But he was also a real character- only bit you if you werent taking any notice of him!

A friend of ours from the US, Russ, a very eminent lawyer, was learning to ride, and came with us all to Luis's. Despite his grand occupation, our friend is a total clown- has everyone in fits, and as Luis has a similar sense of humour, the two of them got along like a house on fire. One day, for a joke, Luis saddled up the donkey in full Portuguese tack, and announced to Russ that he had a very special horse for him to ride ' a cross between a Lusitano and a Lippizan'.

The entire staff came out to watch. Russ, keeping a straight face, mounted his special 'horse', who promptly sat down in the indoor school and rolled with him. Everyone was nearly rolling on the floor with him in fits of laughter, but the donkey proved that he had the last laugh on them all!!

Heather

[franklin]

The donkey did the Spainish walk and stood under the gazebo that was on fire and a pesade to order. He was brillianr. Jenny

[hinny_heart]

PESADE? !!

No, I don't think I shall be teaching Denny that ... lying down and having a roll is more her thing. Once the weather improves a bit, though, I want to try to teach her Spanish Walk as part of my programme to improve her shoulders, and her forehand in general.

[silverdun]

pesade??

[hinny_heart]

Pesade:

[lisaNW]

Can also confirm it's well worth going - I went to Nottingham arena a couple of weeks back. When they had the Carthusian horses running loose at the start I was quite overcome by their beauty when they're just being horses - made me realise just how much I love horses.

Also vouch for Luis Valenca's bit - that really was a highlight.  And not only were the donkey's hysterically funny, but it also pointed out that 'ordinary' equines can be trained highly, which was lovely.

 It's a cross between theatrical and fairly tale, and my not particularly horsey parents and OH really enjoyed it too! Mum loves the high school work.

Lisa

[Sonora]

Excellent! We are going to see it in London shortly, as a gift as it's just before my b'day Everybody has such good things to say about this show, very refreshing! Looking forward to seeing the cossacks and Luis Valenca and his horses in particular ~ I haven't seen airs above the ground in 'real life' yet lol Can't wait!!!!

[silent_bob]

i am supposed to be going on saturday. big treat fom OH.

the tickets havnt come yet. the help line is hugely expensive.

not sure what he will do.

i am sort of looking forward to it but kind of accepting that just like everything else in my life  - it wont go to plan.

 

[CLT]

For anyone based in London, the Evening Standard has been doing 2 for the price of 1 tickets for the London shows.  Worth checking out.

I saw the show last year and it was great.  Sounds like it might be even better this time around.

CLT