Wild about horses

I am writing about Amy Barratt's review of Cheval Théâtre ["Equestrian nights," May 31]. I feel that she has been unfair and biased in her report--I have seen the show and appreciated it very much. Maybe I am biased too, being around them (horses) so often.

First off, let me reassure you about the horses' working conditions--for them, it's not working, it's playing. Anyone who knows horses will tell you this: horses are like dogs, but with the important advantage of their formidable strength and peculiar sense of humour. Turn your back on a horse in a ring and he will inevitably try to gently push you around and gnaw on your coat to surprise you. The horse is a domesticated animal and cannot really be considered otherwise.

The Cheval Théâtre number with the horse fooling around with the ringmaster is probably the best example of this. You cannot force a horse to do this, believe me, not even with a whip (whips are not used to actually whip a horse, but rather to control the horse when you are not riding him). Talk about a noble animal!

And Ms. Barratt thought that the ring was cramped? It may have been cramped for her eyes, but for the horses it doesn't matter. These animals are used to doing 180-degree turns in six foot by six foot boxes, which are the customary measurements of stalls in horsing events.

It seems that I saw Cheval Théâtre in a different light. I was impressed by the lighting and the theatrical effects of the opening number and the battlefield, and I loved the costumes. On the other hand, I went there by car and after waiting a full 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot, I remember thinking that I should have used the metro. And, like Ms. Barratt, I was also frustrated that the program did not mention the names of the performers.

What Ms. Barratt failed to mention, though, is the fact that you have to walk through the beautiful stables to get out of the site. Most of the performers are there by their horses and eager to talk about the show. I had a charming discussion with a performer from Florida about her loving horses and her great experience with the show.

One last thing: I am not a sucker. I would exert caution before giving such a harsh conclusion to a review. When a movie sucks, at $9 a pop, it leaves the screens after two weeks. Think about this: at $40 a seat on average, Cheval Théâtre sold out and even got extended an extra week. Who's wrong here?

-- Daniel Lord