![]() ![]() School riding into the circus in the early 19thĬentury.In 1783 the Italian Antonio Franconi (1738-1836) came to Paris to work with Philip Astley. Laurent Franconi, an Italian in Paris, introduced High The French capital became the heart of the European circus world in the 19th century with circus in permanent buildings. Later Ashley went to Paris where he caused a stir by showing 12 horses and riders in a ‚minuet“. Born in Newcastle, he founded a circus in London where he showed horses in different ways: From trick riding to horses showing tricks. The first to make himself a name in the circus, after an illustrious career in the cavalry, was the Englishman Philip Astley (1742-1814). Indeed the circus became the place where non-military riders could present their riding skills long before equestrian competitions, like we know them nowadays, were in existence. And from the beginning horses played an important if not decisive role.ĭominique Denis wrote in his article „Le Cheval au Cirque“ that for a long time the circus was „the temple of the horse“. ![]() In 1767 the first circus "manège" was built in Paris and three years later the first tent (of linen) was erected in London. Pictured Astley’s RoyalĪmpitheatre in London.However, the circus how we know it only dates back to the 18th century. Even back to ancient Rome the world famous Circus Maximus fulfilled that purpose with gladiator fights, animal baiting, and of course chariot races.Ī visit to the circus, over all in the 19th century,īecame a social event and the biggest circus hĪd permanent buildings. The Origins of the CircusĪt all times people were looking for entertainment in the few spare hours they didn’t have to work. World famous as youngest school rider in history before World War II, Knie became a pioneer because of his nonviolent way of working horses and making it accessible for a wide public.Įven more so, Fredy Knie senior had an original interest in dressage competition and stamped it in a remarkable way in his own country Switzerland in the 1970s and 1980s, besides his friend Georg Wahl.īut long before Fredy Knie senior entered the stage, circus and dressage riding had some surprising relations. I speak about Fredy Knie senior, the 2002 deceased former director of the Swiss national circus. For this it is indispensable to take a short look back in history, before I will take a closer look at the man who revolutionized training horses at the circus and who made himself a name world-wide with his classical and horse-friendly approach. Students to much admired performances.This discrepancy between what some relate to circus riding and what I personally do, triggered my interest to dig in deeper into the topic. Were the ingredients to bring his four-legged My own idea of equitation in the circus was stamped by the Swiss national circus Knie and I feel there is injustice done to this circus and certainly some others which uphold the correct way of training horses and thus maintaining their health over a long period of time.įredy Knie senior became world famous for his ![]() However, every time I see it used that way, it gives me a stab in the heart and I feel slight anger. It is, therefore, often used as a curse word in the equestrian world. Whenever dressage competition drifts towards the spectacular, whenever expert horsemen have the feeling movements are artificial or executed at the expense of correctness, the term of „circus riding“ is quickly at hand. ![]() But in fact it is a title renowned German equestrian magazine ST.GEORG already used for its report of the 2009 European dressage championships in Windsor, picturing a spectacular but a moment of incorrect trot movement. Our title certainly fits this introduction to a series about circus and dressage competition which is going to follow. ![]()
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