It is this very appeal that makes horse circus a popular art form enjoyed by a wide audience.
We arrived at the Vietnam Circus Federation while the artists were enthusiastically practicing with their circus horses in preparation for the "Horses' Spring Tour of Three Regions" show, which took place on the afternoon of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year).
On the circular stage, three magnificent horses trotted in a line. The cheerful sound of hooves echoed throughout the stage. From the horses' backs, the performers showcased their talents: some contorted their bodies to pick up scarves, others juggled, some performed headstands, some somersaults… The faster the horses ran, the more dramatic the performances became. The artists nimbly weaved their bodies under the horses' bellies and necks, then suddenly leaped from the ground onto the horses' backs, much to the delight of the audience…
Having been involved with horse circus performances since 1995, artist Tran Duc Vinh says that horses are intelligent animals, but they have sensitive nervous systems and are large animals that can bite, kick, and throw people around... therefore, training and performing with horses is an art form. Artists not only have to conquer speed to keep up with the horses, but also need to overcome their own limitations through perseverance, skill, and courage.
According to Mr. Vinh, the average time for a horse to be ready to perform on stage is about 10 months, but to perform flawlessly, it needs another three or four months, meaning at least a year or more. During this process, the trainer must find ways to bond with the horse, talking and playing with it daily; training the horse to run on stage, familiarizing it with commands to know when to run fast or slow, and then practicing coordinating movements with the actor.
For the horse and rider to get used to each other, Vinh has suffered countless injuries. In over 30 years in the circus, he's been tossed off the stage by horses almost daily. Not to mention, when first getting used to the lights and music on stage, many horses would panic, run wildly, and lunge at the performers. Vinh's back is still covered in scars from numerous training sessions where he got caught and slammed into the stage.
Young actor Nguyen Duy Son also vividly remembers the time he performed a stunt where he jumped onto a horse's neck, got caught in the reins, and fell to the ground. Three horses behind him, running at full speed, then rushed forward and trampled him. Luckily, the injury wasn't too serious...
For a successful horse circus performance, keeping the horses calm and running at a steady pace is crucial. That's why there's always a person whipping the horses in the middle of the stage to control their speed and rhythm, ensuring the performers can execute their acts safely and accurately. This person is considered the "director" of the performance, because even a slight misstep can cause the horses to panic, throwing the performers off balance, or if the horses are too close together, they can easily trip and ruin the act.
At the Vietnam Circus Federation, artist Tran Duc Vinh is currently in this role. Having spent a long time directly training and mastering the performance techniques of each movement on horseback, he knows exactly how to control the horse effectively.
Sharing his experience in selecting circus horses, Mr. Vinh said that it's a very difficult process. Besides that, choosing the right size of circus horse is crucial to suit the performer's physique; if the horse is too tall, training will be difficult, and if it's too short, the movements will look awkward. Furthermore, not all horses have the same abilities, so it's necessary to test all the movements to see which ones each horse adapts to best, then train and develop them further.
Mr. Vinh said: “Currently, the Vietnam Circus Federation is taking care of three circus horses, named Moc, Thuy, and Kim. Moc is very clever, but lazy to run; Kim is intelligent, but timid; and Thuy is more reserved and stubborn. We have to adapt the training to each horse's personality.” Having been together for a long time, the horse and rider are like best friends.
At the Federation, horses are treated like artists, so they receive very scientific care and nutrition. Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang, Deputy Head of the Animal Training Team of the Circus Federation, said that the diet of circus horses is always adjusted flexibly according to the season and intensity of exercise, combining grass, starch, vegetables with vitamins and minerals to ensure the horses are always healthy and meet the demands of training. Besides nutrition, the horses are regularly bathed, checked, have their hooves groomed, and receive all necessary vaccinations to prevent disease.
According to People's Artist Tong Toan Thang, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, entering the Year of the Horse, the Federation has decided to prioritize investment in horse circus performances. Recently, the Federation renovated the entire stage system to international standards, ensuring the slope and shock absorption so that horses can run more comfortably and safely, while also creating conditions for the seamless integration of human-horse circus acts on stage. The Federation also plans to add two more circus horses to complete the "five elements" lineup, creating a foundation for further development and improvement of horse circus acts.
Along with the spring opening program "Horses on a Spring Trip Across Three Regions," which uses horses as the main symbol connecting the cultural spaces of the North, Central, and South, the Federation is also developing many new artistic scripts, such as the play "Saint Giong" or the horse circus performance combined with human circus acts recreating "The Heroic Spirit of Dong A"...
In particular, the Federation not only utilizes circus horses more on stage, but also brings them out before performances so that audiences can take photos with the horses, try sitting on their backs, etc., thereby creating a close, interactive experience and evoking excitement even before the show begins.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/hao-quang-and-kho-luyen-post943054.html
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