Dancing Horses
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers don't have anything on the stars of National Western Stock Show's An Evening of Dancing Horses. Article by Kati Christensen.

*Meet Osado, Cody, Tesoro and Chabo. While they'll never see their name in lights, these magnificent creatures are the stars of the National Western's An Evening of Dancing Horses.

Fred Astaire's soft shoe can't compare to Cody's high trot; and a ballerina's pirouette is no where near as beautiful as Chabo's. If you're shocked by the comparison, you've never seen a Dancing Horses production.

More than horses maneuvering to music, An Evening of Dancing Horses features highly trained athletes performing elegantly choreographed routines to musical numbers played by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra. From dressage to reining and trick riding to vaulting, the stars of National Western's Dancing Horses are bound to thrill and entertain even the most discriminating tastes.

Athletes in training
Like professional dancers, the stars of the Dancing Horses production spend years training and conditioning for the opportunity to perform.

"Our horses have been in training for eight to nine years," said Jerry Diaz, the director of the 2005 National Western's An Evening of Dancing Horses. "The horses (that perform) have to be dependable, mature and strong, both mentally and physically."

Noted trainer Caroline Williams agrees, "Preparation for the act is intensive work. The horses' physical and mental states are very important." Her horses have been in training for more than 10 years each.

Diaz is proud of the fact that he and his wife, Staci, who also will perform in An Evening of Dancing Horses, have trained their horses themselves.

"There's a special communication between the horse and rider that comes from working with the horse and developing that partnership," Diaz said. "It takes many days of hard work between you and the horse to make the performance work."

Such performers are kept in condition throughout the year. Along with regular exercise, their owners focus on proper feeding, including supplements, and proper shoeing.

"It's really no different than preparing a horse for a race," Diaz said. "The more the horses are in shape, the easier it is for them to go through their routines."

When the horses are in shape and have learned their routines, Diaz and his fellow trainers still have to think about the special effects that going into making An Evening of Dancing Horses a professional production.

Sound, lighting and fog effects are huge distractions for horses, even when they are mature performers.

"Riding a horse around special effects can be really dangerous because a horse can scare and make a maneuver you're not prepared for, and you can easily lose a stirrup and fall," Diaz said. "I've seen good horses perform, and once they got under spotlights, their whole attitude changed."

In the end, each horse is chosen to perform in specific numbers based on their individual talents and abilities.

"Both of my horses really enjoy their work," Williams said. "They're hams. They love to perform."

Also starring
You've met the stars playing the leading roles in this spectacular show. But, let's not forget the elite equestrians, known for making their mounts shine, and the magical musicians, famous for bringing these performances to life.

The National Western has gone to great lengths to make this the biggest and best Dancing Horses in history.

"We've concentrated our efforts on horsemanship and music for the 2005 production," said Marvin Witt, vice president of operations for the National Western Stock Show. "The Front Range is such a hot bed of horse enthusiasts, tying the program together with a Front Range orchestra seemed to be an appropriate partnership for the production."

In addition to Jerry and Staci Diaz, fans can watch Caroline Williams and top dressage rider Sabine Schut-Kerry, not to mention top local professionals like reiner Steve Schwartzenberger of Longmont, Colo., and dressage rider Sue Traylor of Nederland, Colo.

Williams comes from an eight-generation family tradition of training horses and has performed throughout Europe and traveled with Cheval Theatre.

"Caroline Williams is a beautiful performer, and what she does with her big and little act is very special," Diaz said. The big and little act includes a black Friesian stallion and a black Miniature Horse stallion performing together at liberty.

Schut-Kerry is one of the world's most distinguished equestriennes. Atop a giant black Friesian, she has performed in top venues, including the Olympic Games.

"Sabine is probably one of the best equestrian riders I've seen perform," Diaz said, "and what she does on her Friesians is really spectacular."

Making their National Western Stock Show debut, the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Wes Kenney, will transform the National Western Events Center into a stylish music hall.

One of the premier regional orchestras, the Fort Collins Symphony promises to bring a classical, artistic flavor to an already beautiful performance.

Something for everyone
Millions of people possess a love for horses; little girls can't wait to own their first pony, and ranchers talk with pride about their favored mounts. But, finding three people who agree on their favorite breed or their favorite discipline is somewhat of a challenge. Enter An Evening of Dancing Horses.

A showcase of the different abilities and disciplines of horsemanship as performed by a variety of breeds, National Western's Dancing Horses production offers something for everyone.

At this year's Dancing Horses, spectators can expect to see dressage, freestyle reining, vaulting, liberty performances, trick riding, and a special performance by Thunder, the Denver Broncos' retired mascot.

As the show's director, Diaz focuses on bringing these styles of riding to life for his audience.

"I think people will be surprised," Diaz said. "They'll see mellow acts, fast-paced acts, acts that require a lot of athletic ability. And, they should expect to see some comedy. I want people to laugh and to enjoy the show.

"People also can expect to see the individual talents of different horses," Diaz continued. "They'll see Friesians, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Andalusians, American Paint Horses and Appaloosas.

"It's a combination of different horses dancing in different styles," Diaz said. "It's a really neat package with big, big variety."

*A throwback to the early days of the National Western Stock Show, An Evening of Dancing Horses makes exquisite horsemanship the highlight of its performances.

"Prior to the days of the National Western Rodeo, some of the greatest attractions of the Stock Show were the horse show classes," Witt said, commenting that they called it Society Night because the ladies would wear their best fur coats and new spring hats. "I think Denver still wants to have a Society Night," he said.

The difference between now and then lies in opening the performances up to a wide range of horses and disciplines, giving the show something for everyone's soul.

"The overall (Dancing Horses) program is not just for the horse people who understand the horse and it magnificence," Diaz said. "It's more for the non-horse people who do not understand the abilities of the horse, for a family to come out and enjoy An Evening of Dancing Horses."

Cutlines:

(Sabine) - The 2005 Dancing Horses production features world-renowned dressage performer Sabine Schut-Kery of Waxahachie, Texas, atop her giant Friesian stallion. Photo courtesy of Sabine Schut-Kery.

(Sitting Horse) - Dancing Horses fans can expect to see a wide range of equine disciplines. Director Jerry Diaz performs with his Appaloosa horse during the 2004 Dancing Horses production.

(DH2004) - With a new look and an elegant touch, this year's Dancing Horses production is designed to thrill even the most discrimination horse enthusiast.

(CarolineWilliams) - You'll love the big and little act performed by well-known performer and top trainer Caroline Williams and her horses Chabo and Tesoro.