01/14/110National equine entertainer, horse trainer, and stuntman Tommie Turvey will be performing twice at the Vaughn Equestrian Center on the campus of Culver Academies January 29-30.

Turvey, who performed in the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games in September and rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade for the first time on New Year’s Day – will be performing in the Jud Little Riding Hall at 7:30 p.m. January 29 (Saturday) and at 3:30 p.m. on January 30 (Sunday).

Tickets are available by calling the Academies’ Eppley Auditorium Box Office at (574) 842-7058. Tickets are $10, with a limited number of center-section seats priced at $15.

Headquartered in Brooksville, Florida, Turvey travels thousands of miles a year performing on horseback at horse expos, rodeos, horse shows, state fairs, and equine events throughout the United States. In addition, he provides horses and personnel for movies, commercials, and theatrical productions as well as stunt coordinating. Turvey’s horses have been featured in “Batman: The Dark Knight,” “Larry the Cable Guy’s Witless Protection,” “Jonah Hex,” and “The Greening of Whitney Brown,” to be released in summer 2011. 

Turvey will be bringing four of his own horses and two dogs to Culver. His act includes Roman Riding, a fire jump, trick roping, “The Liberty Act,” which involves working with one horse and then a second; “The Riding Instructor,” a comedy act featuring horse tricks; and an act featuring Turvey’s American mustang and Australian cattle dog.

“It’s a Las Vegas show coming to Culver,” said Mark Waller, Culver’s director of Horsemanship Instruction. “It’s an opportunity for the public to see an equine extremist without having to travel to Chicago, Indianapolis, or Ohio. Plus it’s an opportunity to showcase our school and riding facility.”

Turvey said his shows appeal to non-riders as well as riders, and the audience “will see how much fun I have with my horses.” His goal is to “inspire, educate, and demonstrate what is possible with horses,” according to his website.

In between acts, the audience will be entertained by the Academies’ student riders: the Rough Riders, Black Horse Troop, and Equestriennes.

Turvey’s weekend performances will culminate a weeklong series of private clinics with the Academies student riders and staff conducted by him and his wife, Chantal Turvey.

For more information on Turvey, visit his website at www.turveyhorsemanship.com. Videos of Turvey’s performances are also posted on YouTube.com.

 Photo: Tommie Turvey and Pokerjoe perform the hilarious comedy act, ‘The Riding Instructor.’