Andalusians steal the show
A display of “equestrian theatre” from Spain will be the main attraction at a London exhibition which opens this week
Spanish riding will form the centrepiece of what is being billed as the UK’s first ever extravaganza dedicated to Spain.
Organisers of the exhibition, Viva Espana, which takes place at Olympia in London from 25-27 January, say it will bring together the largest number of Spanish property developersand estate agents ever gathered in Britain.
Spokeswoman for the organisers, Helen Vickers, said: “We expect the equestrian display to be the major scene stealer.
“The Andalusian horse captures the flavour of Spain at its best – the passion, the colour and the drama.”
Peter Maddison-Greenwell, who heads El Caballo de Espana the English-based display team, said: “The Andalusian is probably the oldest pure-bred saddle horse known to man.
“We perform theatrical demonstrations using moves from classical dressage and the skills used when the horses are worked on farms in the Spanish countryside.
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“The horses are very agile, athletic and graceful with wonderful temperaments – and they are very forgiving of our mistakes. ”
Peter Maddison-Greenwell also believes Iberian horses are becoming more popular as dressage horses.
“People are beginning to realise there is no breed better for doing passage, piaffe and pirouettes. ”
“Tickets for the exhibition, which includes the equine demonstrations cost £7.50. There is a £2.50 discount for booking from the website: www.vivaespana.com or (tel:0207 939 9853)
- Click here to read about Andulisian horses starring in a new version of Carmen.
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