April 9, 2012
04/10/12 Recent star of Cavalia (2008-11) Sylvia Zerbini will be bringing her Arabian horses and “Grand Liberty Tour” to the Vaughn Equestrian Center on the campus of Culver Academies April 21-22 for two performances.
Zerbini and her horses will perform in the Jud Little Riding Hall at 7:30 p.m. April 21 (Saturday) and at 3:30 p.m. on April 22 (Sunday). Tickets are available by calling the Academies’ Eppley Auditorium Box Office at (574) 842-7058. General admission tickets are $10, with a limited number of reserved seats priced at $15.
Performances by Zerbini and her 10 Arabians, a third of them stallions, showcase the heart-and-soul of liberty work. “At liberty” (loose) is a captivating style of horsemanship in which the trainer directs horses much like a conductor leading an orchestra. More than just an exhibition, Zerbini will also explain how she does it.
In addition to her signature “Grand Liberty” presentation, which features eight Arabians at once, Zerbini will demonstrate training techniques with two 3-year-old stallions. This entertainment-meets-education event also will include a meet-and-greet with the trainer/ performer, who has been featured on CNN, in The Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times, and in countless horse magazines.
Fluent in French and English, Zerbini coined the phrase Grande Liberté (French for “Grand Liberty”) specifically for liberty exhibitions involving more than six horses – her specialty. Using only body positions and a handful of verbal cues to communicate with her horses on stage, Zerbini has inspired horse lovers and owners to learn about liberty training.
“Culver’s Horsemanship program is all about teaching our students leadership using the horse as a tool,” said Mark Waller, Culver’s director of Horsemanship Instruction. “Sylvia will be showing the ultimate in leadership skills with this concept.”
Born in Sarasota, Fla., Zerbini has performed for nearly 10 million people throughout Europe, North America, and South America. She made her stage debut at 5 years old and grew up on tour with her parents. By the time most teenagers are thinking about getting a driver’s license, Zerbini was training and performing professionally with liberty horses.
For more information on the Sylvia Zerbini Grand Liberty Tour visit her website at www.grandlibertyfarm.com. Video of Zerbini’s performances at the 2011 Equine Affaire are also posted on YouTube.com.
About Academies Horsemanship
Since 1897, Culver’s Horsemanship Program has been teaching students the qualities of wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice by placing them in the saddle. These virtues have not only proven to develop good riders, but more importantly, good citizens.
Through the program, students are exposed to several equestrian sports, including cross country riding, hunter/jumper, dressage, polo, and rough riding. In addition, Culver’s horsemanship units, the Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes, have developed national reputations for appearing in the 16 Presidential Inaugural Parades, the Indianapolis 500 Parade, and the September 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Culver touts an equine science curriculum and one of the finest stable/riding complexes in the country, the Vaughn Equestrian Center.
For more information visit www.culver.org.