Noelia Aragon, with Bernard and Juame Monzo. DA6116P6THIRTY magnificent horses became stars last week as the European touring equestrian show, Spirit of the Horse, delighted audiences in a specially adapted outdoor theatre at Somerley Estate, near Ringwood.
The two-hour show featured Arabian stallions, Andalusians and Friesians, as well as a team of Cossacks, the Ali-Bek Cossacks, of Cavkas, who seemed to perform near-impossible feats on their mounts, galloping round at an incredibly high speed.
The Cossacks are better known for performing daredevil stunts for Russian cinema and the arena at Somerley gave them an opportunity to show off.
Naturally, the horses did not perform alone.
Jana Shanikova demonstrated her equestrian gymnastics on the back of a cantering horse.
The choreographed show is currently on a tour of the country and will be again in the south, this time at Broadlands, Romsey, at the end of August.
One of the highlights was Texas Ollie, with his horse Silver, a performing Connemara.
Silver delighted the audience by removing Ollie's hat, among other tricks.
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