As Hurricane Charley pummeled Florida, followed by the fury of Hurricane Frances and threatened by Hurricane Ivan, Gary Lashinsky, the producer of the famous Lipizzaner Stallions World Tour, watched in horror from afar.
He knew his precious Lipizzaner mares, foals and stallions in training were in a pretty sturdy facility and probably would be just fine. But the all-steel barns are just outside Orlando, in the hurricanes' paths and at the whims of the unpredictable storms.
"I watched from Honolulu where we're on tour with the performing company, and it was the most helpless feeling," Lashinsky said. "As it turned out, with all the rain, we can't turn the horses out for training. In three days, Frances dumped 12-13 inches, and it's not draining very fast."
Lashinsky has a right to worry. Lipizzaner horses are both priceless and rare.
Nearly extinct after World War II, there are less than 3,000 of the royal breed living today. The rare horses are famous for performing a kind of equestrian ballet that amazes audiences around the world.
"You don't have to be a horseman to understand this show," Lashinsky said. "It's easy and fascinating to watch if you don't know a thing about horses."
Lashinsky is in his 34th year of presenting the Lipizzaner stallions in north and south American, Europe and Australia and anticipating a good long run ahead.
For those unfamiliar with the breed, the horses became famous for maneuvers and leaps — such as the capriole where the horse leaps in the air, draws up his forelegs and kicks violently with his hind legs, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy. They used such "tricks" to defend themselves and their riders on the battlefield 400 years ago.
They are strong, aristocratic horses known for their nimble, quick gait and white color. They are believed to have originally been bred in Carthage 2,000 years ago, bred to become the fabled Andalusian of ancient Spain and protected by the Austrian House of Hapsburg. Distant ancestors bore Ghengis Khan out of Asia. The Arabic strain patrolled, guarded and raided treasure-laden caravans in the Sahara Desert.
U.S. General George S. Patton, with the 42nd Squadron of the U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry, rescued the breed from extinction at the end of World War II, a story retold in Walt Disney's "Miracle of the White Stallions."
The current tour features 12-14 stallions performing audience favorites such as Airs Above the Ground and the traditional Grant Quadrille, a ballet of four-footed dancers that weave, prance and march with exquisite grace and majesty to music of the Masters.
Lipizzaner stallions at UVSC Friday
The "World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions" will prance into the McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $24.50 and $21.50 and may be purchased at the events center. Call 863-7469 for more information.
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com