Lipizzaner Stallions performing in Ottumwa

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

March 11, 2008 12:24 am

— OTTUMWA — You’ve seen horses leap and jump through the air in movies; now you can see them in person.
The “World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions” will present its second show in Ottumwa at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Bridge View Center. The first performance was Monday night.
Troy Tinker, the master of ceremonies for the event, said it’s important to understand what happens during the program.
“We are not teaching the horses to do something that is alien to them; the stuff they do in the show are things they are naturally able to do,” he said.
“We simply train them to do the things on cue,” he said, noting the horses begin training at age 4.
Tinker said that each rider is assigned a primary horse to work with, but the entire crew helps out with each of the animals. Once the horses know the routine, they become part of the show.
“In the show you will see movements from the area of dressage and the leaps and jumps they are famous for,” he said.
Tinker said it is “a very entertaining show for all ages.”
The show has premiered around the globe including stops in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and across the United States.
There are a limited number of Gold Circle seats available for $26.50. Regular admission for adults is $22.50 and $20.50 for children under 12 and seniors over 60.
Tickets are available at the Bridge View Center box office, all ticketmaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com. Patrons can charge by phone at (515) 243-1888; group discounts and information are available by calling (641) 684-7000. More information is online at lipizzaner.com and bridgeviewcenter.com. An additional facility fee of $1 will be added to all ticket prices.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

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