They sidestepped, they trotted, they leaped and they entertained.
The Lipizzaner Stallions performed at the O’Connell Center Friday afternoon and evening, and about 1,100 tickets were sold for each show, according to O’Connell Center representatives.
Moving in cadence with classical composers such as Mozart and Strauss, the horses, whose backs carried riders adorned in traditional military uniform that varied in color, gracefully strutted in front of enthusiastic audiences, who applauded with every precise turn and pop of the legs.
The horses executed feats such as side-stepping across the floor, trotting in place, synchronizing movements and the performing the capriole, where the horse leaps into the air while kicking out its hind legs.
Alexandra Murnaghan, the president of the UF Equestrian Club who watched the performance, said the tricks require precise timing and synchronization between horse and rider.
“A split second is the difference between a movement being performed properly and not,” Murnaghan said.
For six to nine years, the stallions spend 45 minutes every day honing their skills under the careful watch of trainers in preparation for their life as a performing horse, according to the show’s narrator.
The commentator also explained how the stallions were bred to assist the Austrian military. Their ability to leap out of danger’s way made them a huge asset in battles.
For the last act, the horses performed a quadrille, a traditional military drill done with several horses. The evening show’s quadrille used six horses.
Many audience members, including Venustiano Sanchez, were amazed by the stallions’ performances.
“If they can do what they did tonight, they can do anything,” Sanchez said.
