http://www.cavalia.net/siteEn.html

I went down to Richmond yesterday and saw their big white tent-- I had no idea what it was, but all the surounding stores have brochures out, so I picked one up. It's basically Cirque du Soleil with horses.

The brochure says, "Fifty magnificent horses, including seventeen Lusitano stallions, acrobats, riders, dancers, musicians, and famous horse whisperers Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado."

There's this big picture of a horse rearing with a female performer on its back. I'm no horse expert, but the horse's eyes are wide and red-rimmed, its nostrils are flared, and its ears are back-- all suggesting a stressed and unhappy animal. Guess those 'horse whisperers' aren't doing their job too well. If I had any desire to go to this thing, I don't anymore! :no:

Any thoughts? Not as bad as a regular circus? The same? Worse?

I think domestic horses are like people -- some are performers and some aren't. I personally would rather that all circuses be all-human but I could see some circuses with dogs and horses that could be ok -- just not my preference.