The Dancing Horses
By: Rosemarie Riley
Do you like to dance to music? You do. So do horses.
One day in 1973, in the town of Jerez, Spain, a bullfighter put on a show in a local park. He called it “How Andalusian Horses Dance.” The people loved it so much, he set up a riding school in the gardens of a nearby palace.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, people come from all over the world to watch these “dancing horses.” For the first half hour, the horses and their riders go through a series of steps to music.
Next, the music changes and two horses led by their riders enter the arena. While the crowd looks on, the horses jump in mid-air, kick out their hind legs, and land on their four legs once again. Next, they join four other horses. Together they prance to the music, delighting the crowd.
Soon it’s time for the grand finale. Ten horses and their riders enter the arena. While the music plays, the horses weave in and out, never missing a step. After three turns, they march toward the front of the arena. First, their riders bow to guests of the king. After that, the horses turn to the crowd and bow. As the music dies down, the horses leave and it’s time to go home.
On the way out, children beg their parents, “Please, Mom, Dad, may we come again?”
Illustration Copyright © 2009 Anna Repp
Copyright © 2009 by Rosemarie Riley