Broadway Comes to Kentucky This Weekend With Equine Theater Holiday Performance

Press release

A dazzling new holiday production in Central Kentucky, “The Spirit of the Horse: A Holiday Equine Extravaganza,” out of Maple Park, Ill. is scheduled for the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, 2013, at 7 p.m. both nights.

Capturing all the elements of an impressive Broadway musical, “The Spirit of the Horse” has one component rarely if ever seen on a Broadway stage-18 high-level dressage/performance horses ridden by championship riders at the highest level in their sport. Among them is Yvonne Barteau, a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze, silver and gold medalist and a Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) trainer and rider who has trained a dozen horses to the Grand Prix level. Her mount is GP Raymeister, three-time United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Horse of the Year.

Yvonne’s husband and business partner, Kim Barteau, displays his enormous talents as a “Liberty” trainer with his equine partner and huge crowd-pleaser, GP Boater. They have shown across the country to rave reviews and appear in the production as the “master of the house” and his stallion. Also appearing in the show is Dan James, the well-known Australian of Double Dan Horsemanship who plays the “villain” in the 55-minute production.

“What makes our show unique are the multitalented horses that give audiences a spectacular performance every time, be it in a show like ‘Spirit’ or in a dressage arena,” says Yvonne Barteau, the author of the script. “It’s rare that you find horses like the ones you will see in this production – horses that give their hearts in every step they take. These are the true stars of ‘The Spirit of the Horse.’ It is they who inspired me from the outset to write this story.”

In addition to the performances on both nights, barn tours are available to the public from 3:30-6 p.m. and a post-production party follows the show each night. Show tickets range from $25 for VIP seating to $15 general admission for adults, and $10 for children ages 3-12. Barn Tour tickets are $5 for adults and complimentary for one accompanying child when purchased with a show ticket. Tickets to the “Post Production Party” to meet and greet the cast are $25 per person, adult or child. Official programs and The Spirit of the Horse Story Book will be on sale at the show.

Tickets are now only available on site the afternoon/evening of each performance at the Alltech Arena ticket windows, starting at 3:30 p.m. each day. Information about “The Spirit of the Horse” is available at www.kybdressage.com or at www.kyhorsepark.com.