Equestrians
will gain a new appreciation for the horses and riders at
the Medieval Times.
By Barbara
Nefer
The
stately Andalusians enter the arena and perform a series of
moves that would awe any horse lover. Their piaffes, passages,
and pirouettes resemble an equine ballet and reflect countless
hours of training and a deep bond of trust between horse and
rider. Is this a Grand Prix dressage competition? No, it's actually
a dinner show! For the past 25 years, this breathtaking spectacle
has been performed up to three times a day at Medieval Times,
right in the midst of the 192 tourist corridor in Kissimmee.
Fit
for a King
Nestled near a Super Wal-Mart and just down the road from
Disney World, the castle complex looks rather out of place
in the midst of fast-food outlets and souvenir shops. But
once you enter the grounds, you're suddenly transported from
present-day Florida to a medieval village in Spain complete
with authentic artifacts and craftsmen plying their trades.
Guests admire the handcrafted detail in the castle as they
make their way to the arena. There, they'll dine on a feast
eaten entirely with their hands while they cheer their section's
knight through jousting competitions and epic battles.
While that in itself is fascinating enough to most of the audience,
equestrians are in for a special treat. Medieval Times has a
stable of 26 talented equines who strut their stuff during every
show in games, drill team demonstrations, dressage synchronized
to music and an exhibition of airs above the ground. Although
many spectators don't realize just how much time, trust, and
training goes into the equine ballet, they can't help but be
awed. Those who know anything about horses will have an even
deeper appreciation.
Equestrian’s Delight
The
Kissimmee Castle was the first Medieval Times location. Now
there are nine castles in the United States and Canada, each
with its own cast of 25 to 30 horses. Although Medieval Times
uses several breeds such as Friesians, Arabians, and Quarter
Horses, the spotlight equines are the gorgeous “Pura Raza
Española,” or Andalusians as they are commonly
known in America.
According to Frank Webber, the show cast manager, each breed
is carefully selected for its role in the show. For example,
the fast, agile Arabs and Quarter Horses are used for the gaming
exhibition. The Friesians are ridden by the emcees because of
their size, calm nature and imposing presence. Andalusians,
of course, are known for their dressage prowess, and their talent
makes them the undisputed stars.
Medieval Times is also home to a very rare breed that puts on
a show-stealing performance: The Menorcan. Musk, the resident
Menorcan horse at the Kissimmee Castle, performs the amazing
specialty of his breed - walking on his hind legs! These horses
are specially bred to walk and dance in an upright position.
“Pura
Raza Espanola” or Spanish Andalusians are bred and
selected by Medieval Times for their ability to perform
dressage movements.
This
unusual equine hails from the Balearic Islands and is extremely
rare in the United States. Tom Reed, horse trainer and stable
manager, says, “I think there are maybe eight in the
country, and Medieval Times owns all of them!”
Top
Training
For
almost two decades, Tom has been in charge of the equine ensemble
that entertains guests up to three times each day. Prior to
working at the Castle, he spent eight years with the Royal
Lipizzan show.
Normally the horses will perform in two dinner shows, but
Medieval Times also holds special matinees and educational
programs for local schools and youth groups.
“We
place a big emphasis on education,” Jessica Zuniga,
sales and marketing manager, explains. The horses are an important
part of the program; besides their on-stage performance, two
equine representatives are moved in special stalls out in
the village when groups visit so they can see a horse up close.
Although
some are purchased from various sources, most of the horses
come from Medieval Times' own ranch, located on a 241-acre
spread in Sanger, Texas. The ranch, called Chapel Creek, is
dedicated to preserving bloodlines going back more than 1000
years to the breed's roots in Spain. Tom says proudly, “We're
the top breeder of Andalusians in the country.”
The horses begin their education at the ranch, learning as
weanlings to wear a halter, walk on a lead rope, and accept
brushing and handling. Once they turn two, they start to work
on long reins and are also introduced to the saddle. When
they are proficient in the basics, they are ready to learn
the dressage moves for which their breed is famous and to
take their place at one of the nine castles. According to
Tom, it typically takes six months to prepare a new arrival
to be used in the show.
All of the performing horses must be incredibly calm and spook-proof,
as they work in front of up to 1200 waving, cheering guests.
In various parts of the show, they are in battle scenes or
in the midst of waving flags and flowing banners. Thanks to
careful preparation, the horses take it all in stride.
While
any person will enjoy the entertainment at the Medieval Times,
equestrians will be awed by the level of talent exhibited
by the horses and riders.
Behind
the Scenes
Guests see the pomp and pageantry, but little do they realize
the Herculean effort that goes on behind the scenes to ensure
that everything runs smoothly. Preparations begin three hours
before show time when a small army of grooms, known as squires,
arrive to prepare the equine stars. Each horse is bathed in
the indoor wash-rack and tacked up in preparation for the
riders. According to Tom, on a typical night, 20 of the 26
horses will appear onstage. Because their work is so strenuous,
they don't have an exercise regime; the performances alone
are enough to keep them in shape.
After the show, the horses are rewarded with overnight pasture
time. Tom says, “We're lucky enough to have a piece
of property behind the barn where we can turn them out.”
In the morning, they are returned to their roomy, rubber-matted
box stalls for breakfast. They relax in the barn until show
time nears and the process starts all over again.
With almost 30 horses on-site, Medieval Times has a weekly
standing appointment with a farrier and veterinarian. They
receive routine care such as regular shots and worming, and
their teeth are checked every six months and floated if necessary.
Tom says that the horses typically perform until they reach
15 or 16 years of age. At that point, they are either returned
to the ranch in Texas to be used for breeding or adopted out
to carefully selected homes. “We don't give them to
people who will show them or use them heavily,” he explains.
“We make sure they will only be used for light pleasure
riding. Once they are retired, they will never perform again.”
The
horses at Medieval Times are not limited to show business.
They also perform in horse shows, parades and other equestrian
events.
Although
it's apparent that the riders at Medieval Times have a close
bond with their mounts, Frank says, “When they first
come here, many of the knights have no experience with horses
at all.”
Under Tom's experienced tutelage, they undergo a transformation
from greenhorns to skilled, confident riders. Along the way,
they usually become closely bonded to their equine partners.
Trust is essential between horse and human, as the performance
is quite strenuous and safety depends on split-second timing.
Jessica says, “Everything here is real. The weapons
are not dulled; they are not razor sharp, but they have a
real edge. The performers take real falls from the horses.”
Although
riders suffer occasional bumps and bruises, a show has never
had to be stopped because of an injury. Frank says, “Safety
is our top priority. We take every measure possible to protect
our knights and horses.” This emphasis has paid off
in an admirable safety record.
He adds, “The knights become very protective of their
horses.” Several years ago, when hurricanes swept the
Kissimmee area, many of the knights came to the castle to
make sure that the horses were safe. Because there were widespread
power outages, Medieval Times became a sort of impromptu shelter.
Although it was one of the rare times that the show had to
be canceled, the castle still had power, water, and a kitchen
full of food. Workers and their families were able to shower,
have a meal and stay in a safe place as they watched over
the animals.
Frank tells the story of one knight, a strapping man standing
over six feet tall, who worked with the same horse for five
years. When his mount reached retirement age, he actually
broke down in tears. “Here was this big, strong guy,”
Frank recalls, “and he cried for two days.”
Out and About
The Medieval Times horses don't limit their performances to
the castle grounds. Tom brings them to various horse shows
and equestrian events to provide entertainment. They've appeared
in the Macy's parade, as well as the Orange, Rose, and Citrus
Bowls and a variety of local parades. The castle even donated
a horse to the University of Central Florida to act as mascot
Pegasus along with UCF's Golden Knight.
The horses have graced the TV screen, too. Tom says that one
of the most memorable events was taking an Andalusian into
a television studio to appear on the David Letterman show.
“I brought that horse right into the elevator, and we
rode up 13 floors!” he recalls.
The famous Andalusians have even rubbed elbows, or perhaps
noses, with celebrities such as Donald Trump; two of them
appeared at a private party he hosted in Atlanta, pulling
a wagon with a dancer on top.
Dinnertime
in the Barn
The
human guests at Medieval Times enjoy a banquet of chicken
and ribs, but once the show is over the horses have a
feast of their own. All of the equine performers eat Wellness
Compete Safe from Seminole Feed to keep them in top condition.
“Ever since we started feeding them Wellness Compete
Safe, I've noticed a definite difference,” says
Tom Reed, horse trainer and stable manager at the castle.
“They're shedding now, and their coats have such
a healthy glow. They're sleek and shiny, and you can really
see the dappling.”
Tom also appreciates the fact that Wellness Feed provides
complete nutrition without creating excess energy. “Andalusians
are already an energetic breed,” he says, “so
we don't want a feed that increases that. Instead, we
want something that allows them to maintain their stamina.
Wellness Compete Safe gives them the nutrition they need
without an energy spike.”
Just like any other stars, the horses must look their
best and be in peak condition. By using Seminole
Feeds, Tom makes sure that they reach both of
those goals.
Happy
Horses
This may sound like a hectic life, but a stroll through the
stables makes it apparent that that horses are quite content.
None indulge in stall vices; when someone walks down the aisle,
they either relax and pay little heed as they rest up for
the next performance or they hang their heads curiously over
the stall doors, expecting praise and a pat.
But when show time rolls around, these low-key equines will
be transformed into eager performers ready to wow the audience
waiting in the arena. Suddenly they're no longer in present-day
Florida but in a Medieval fairy tale, and when they start
their graceful dance, everyone from city slicker to experienced
equestrian will be swept up in their magical spell.
Medieval Times is located at 4510 West Irlo Bronson Highway
(192) in Kissimmee, FL. Call
1-888-WE-JOUST for more information or visitwww.medievaltimes.com.
Barb
Nefer is a freelance writer in Celebration, Florida.
In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Appaloosa,
Figment, and racking up hours in the ApHC Saddle Log
Program.
