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STAFF

Body massages, nightly hair braiding and chartered flights on a Boeing 747 with ample room to stretch themselves - these are some of the perks granted to the four-legged stars at Hong Kong's latest attraction.
The 40 horses also get outdoor exercise each day and food flown in from Canada during their stay, just to keep them bright and perky for Canadian equine extravaganza Cavalia.
"An employee that's not happy can raise his voice at his boss; a horse that's not happy cannot. So it's our job to make sure that they're happy - and that's something that we really take seriously," Mathieu Latourelle, tour director of entertainment company Cavalia, said.
The horses were flown in a week ago ahead of the start of the show at the end of the month in which human acrobatics are combined with horsemanship under a big top on the Central harbourfront.

Watch: What kinds of horses are specially trained for Cavalia?
The company was founded by former Cirque du Soleil member Normand Latourelle - Mathieu Latourelle's father - in 2003 and has toured North America, Europe, the Middle East and, most recently, Taipei.
Planning for the Hong Kong extravaganza started more than 11/2 years ago as Normand Latourelle sought to secure the harbourfront location, following Canadian consul general Ian Burchett's suggestion.
The 11 breeds of horses in the shows are chosen for their build and temperament. Cavalia then schools them to handle dressage, jumping and bareback riding.
"Training for us is just an extension of trust and making sure they understand what we are asking them to do," stunt rider Katie Cox, an American who has been with Cavalia for six years, said.
"It's more of a relationship than us telling them what to do."
After they were flown in, the Jockey Club ferried the animals from Chek Lap Kok airport to the harbourfront in air-conditioned horseboxes. The horses passed the required local quarantine and 20 of them were introduced to the media yesterday in a sandy paddock next to Lung Wo Road.
The Jockey Club is providing Cavalia with 24-hour access to vets and its horse hospital in Sha Tin. Normand Latourelle said veterinarians were on hand for colds or stomach upsets as injuries among the horses were rare.
Alongside the horses, 40 human acrobats, dancers and riders from around the world will perform in the show.
Cavalia opens on March 31. Tickets from HK$395 are available for shows until April 26.


Cavalia's equine stars meet the press in Hong Kong

Majestic gets a good look at the media as he and his four-legged co-stars meet the press. Photo: Nora Tam

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