I ran the pictures of some Europes finest wild animal trainers doing hind leg walks this morning and it got young Cainian into a competitive tizzy which is great. He down loaded a video of his tiger he has started on it's hindlegs for me to critique this afternoon. Maybe these pictures will shake up the elephant world. Ian, remember one time when I suggested to you that maybe you hadn't experienced what Circus really was?
Well Wade, I was lucky to see all the innovative acts and presentations that Gunther brought to America, and some of the excellent trainers that the Felds showcased, but apart from that, I saw every single show that was travelling in the 70's, and probably every act that was working in America in that time period, I have never seen the type and quality of the horse acts that you've had up on the blog recently. Actually, until Sylvia's unique presentation, every horse act was pretty much identical - oh, I forgot some of the great acts that Katja and her dad put together (I'm thinking of the Carvival in Venice number especially). The only European style shows I've seen in person were Chipperfields, Billy Smarts Christmas circus in London and Boswell Wilkie in South Africa.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty shameful to say that American trainers have been so devoid of creativity. The highest compliment, it seems, one can pay an American trainer is that they can "throw an act together fast". Ever try to compliment a European act to an American trainer and they'll say "so what, so-and-so did the same thing 50 years ago" Never mind that so-and-so was most likely a European too.
Ian
Ian,
ReplyDeleteA Frenchman had a lot to do with Sylvia act. Europeans have the great advantage of proper footing, and a living round pen in which to work. Most of Americas great liberty act were in the day's of the tent. Once they moved to buildings it was a more difficult situation, I feel because of the bad footing. John Herriott disagrees but hasn't offered an explanation for the decline.
Wade
Ian, I don't think it's that the Americans are devoid of creativity, at least not in my case. I think it has a lot to do with finances. If I were going to put together a show, and I have and did for 5 years, I would need lots of very pretty horses, a place to train, grooms and time, then a place to present them. I did it the hard way having lots of horses in training resulting in "lots of pretty horses and personal hard work", getting amateur riders and training them and having my own few trained horses. Building the show were late nights in front of the computer editing music, building the show and sitting on the floor with little pieces of paper arranging the acts so it all happen. Then I rented the arena, did the advertising, paid all the extra bills to running a show and "took my chances." Yes it worked but at great stress in a one man operation, why? because no one else was interested.
ReplyDeleteDo you think anyone would offer the facility and backing necessary to operate something like this? Forget the complete show just the time training the horses for new and different presentations. I say that Europe has it all over us not because of talent but generations of establishments that allows for the time and expense of these operations. The ones that are successful are great trainers and being that have ruled their territory their way.
I think, in fact I know, American audiences appreciate a good show with beautiful horses but how is one to accomplish that without the backing necessary. I have thought of and done things with horses that were not done before and in big arena's not little 6 foot circles but my imagination which is huge, is stopped because of my limitations of finances. I can sit at home with four trained horses, show them when hired but I cannot sit home with 20 and hope someone will take an interest. In America it just isn't there and with the onslaught on the horse expos now the amateur's are in the spotlight for free. Where I used to demand thousands to move my horses now is subject to "well maybe the gas money".
Bottom line we, (Americans) are screwed because we do not have the situations that are so in view in Europe but not for a second do I believe they are any better if given equal footing. So those of us that have the talent to do what is done in Europe are sitting on the sidelines "re-inventing ourselves" in the horse world.
This is my view and further responses would be welcome.