Lipizzaner stallions
Before he began working with Lipizzan stallions, Gary Lashinsky produced concert tours with performers, including Elvis, The Doors, The Rolling Stones and The Who.
“Dealing with horses is not easy, but it’s a lot better than dealing with the insanity of rock and roll,” said Lashinksy, 70, creator and producer of “The ‘World Famous’ Lipizzaner Stallions” show, which will return to Memphis Sunday for its first performance at the FedExForum.
“The ‘World Famous’ Lipizzaner Stallions” show is Sunday at FedExForum.
The equine ballet emphasizes the Lipizzan’s historical background, including being European horses of war and of nobility and aristocracy. The majestic white horses demonstrate leaps and maneuvers once used by riders to protect themselves on the battlefield. Other horses, including Andalusians, the ancestral forefather of the Lipizzans, are included in the show.
In the ’60s, Lashinsky produced musical acts with his twin brother and their dad. He remembers Elvis as distant. “He was basically in the arena and did the show and was out.”
Performers demanded “certain wines, certain liquors, certain beers we’d never heard of. I’m from the South. I know Budweiser. That’s it. We provided them with everything. Ninety-nine percent of the time, half the stuff we gave them was never used. The band didn’t use it. It went to the roadies and the stage hands.”
Horses just want a nice stall, food, vet shots to keep them healthy and their hooves trimmed, Lashinksy said. “Horses, they don’t talk back.”
Lashinsky was struck with Lipizzans after seeing them perform at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. “I fell in love with the concept of Lipizzans. They didn’t tour that often. Once every 8 to 10 years they’d come here and do special performances in the United States.”
He realized there was a market for the shows. He bought some Lipizzans and in 1970 began producing “The ‘World Famous’ Lipizzaner Stallions.”
Lashinksy, who was “more into horses than rock and roll,” let his twin brother handle the rock bands.
Lipizzans are “the most beautiful animals God has ever created,” said Lashinsky, who added, “They’re like art that was made by God.”
The Lipizzans are “very, very quiet, nice horses” with an attitude of “teach me and let me show what I can do.”
Lashinsky calls them “beautiful four-footed white dancers of the equestrian world.”
The late entertainer, Arthur Godfrey, used to talk about his palominos. “He used to say, ‘The outside of a horse is good for the inside of man.’ And he was right about that.”
Lashinsky described the “The ‘World Famous’ Lipizzaner Stallions” show as an “entertaining theatrical presentation of dressage.”
The horses are trained the same as they’d be for competitive dressage, but they perform in the show with spotlights, narration and special music. “It’s a show to entertain everyone. You don’t have to be a horse owner to enjoy the show.”
The Lipizzans perform to light classical music by composers, including Johann Strauss Jr. and Wolfgang Mozart. “It’s like stepping back 100 years in history to see these horses perform.”
That’s not to say an Elvis song might not one day be included. “Oddly enough, we have a horse in the show this year just being introduced. A black Dutch Friesian, 17 hands high and his barn name is ‘Elvis.’”
The horse, whose real name is “Tiburon,” got the “Elvis” moniker “’cause he’s got lots of locks of hair. He’s gonna feel right at home in Memphis.”
During the Memphis show, Elvis will demonstrate dressage steps and movements. “He’s there to get his education in show biz — spotlights, applause, people, being in the arena. Next year he’ll have a solo number.”
And, Lashinsky said, “I would definitely use Elvis music for his floor music and presentation.”
— Michael Donahue; 529-2797
“The ‘World Famous’ Lipizzaner Stallions”
2 and 6 p.m. Sunday at FedExForum. Tickets: $24.50, $26.50, $31.50. Go to ticketmaster.com; call 205-2640 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
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