FEARLESS Cossack horse-men thunder around a circus ring at 25 miles an hour in a knife-edge display of brinkmanship, perfected over a century.

When Spirit of the Horse pulled into Eden with its equestrian wonders, nothing could have prepared the audience for the heart-stopping spectacle which followed.

The show, said one reviewer, would do for riding what Riverdance did for Irish Dancing.

In the space of a day, the grounds of sedate stately home Dalemain were turned into a circus, complete with a 2,000-seater big top, makeshift stables and a motley collection of Russian caravans, Andalusian trailers and a mobile box office - all the paraphernalia necessary to make this a 30-horse show no one would forget.

Produced to celebrate the magical bond between horse and handler, only those skulking by the car park entrance, doling out leaflets on cruelty to defenceless animals were unimpressed.

Presumably, they hadn't taken the trouble to look beyond the massive theatre with its state-of-the-art sound and light systems, to witness a compelling link between man and beast, which looked suspiciously like love.

Cossacks refused to leave their magnificent horses day or night, sleeping alongside trusted steeds. Irish cowboy Texas Ollie confessed: "My horse is my life, I eat, sleep and breathe him. Without him, I am nothing".

Mairbeck Kantemirov's grandfather founded the Ali Beck Cossacks of Kavcas in 1906. After the Russian Revolution, he fled from his beloved homeland. On his return, he refused to let Bolsheviks use his daredevil skills. Instead, he turned to entertainment and his riders became the superstars of soviet cinema and television, appearing in more than 200 films.

Using warrior tactics of out-manoeuvring enemies with close-quarter fighting, jumping on and off speeding horses, their bravery and outstanding skills were, and are, only matched by devotion and total trust in their horses.

Mairbeck, whose father was five times named Russia's top horseman, said after a summer season touring with Spirit of the Horse that his team would be ready for home.

Horses and riders alike love the audience's incredulous reaction and fervent applause.

Texas Ollie, born simple Oliver Hepburn back in his native Donegal, thought he knew about horses until he bought sad-eyed dapple-grey Silver at an auction because no one else was interested.

Refusing to be trained, after three unsuccessful attempts at breaking him to ride, Ollie said: "Silver, I am going to shoot, or sell you".

"He went over to where I had left my hat and brought it to me. He was telling me he wanted to be a performing horse."

The half-bred Connemara has a wicked sense of Irish humour and is almost more human than horse.

"I used to go to bed at night and think up tricks for him. He was born to perform and seems to know what I'm thinking before I tell him. You can only do this with mutual love. Silver is what I get up for in the morning. He is my life.

"I've dedicated myself to making him the best in the world. I look after him better than I look after myself."

Silver will lie down and put his head on a pillow, cover himself with a blanket, smile, even kneel down on request. Ollie is regularly asked if he is real.

Show co-director Nikki Fossett was determined to show the many facets of a horse's character, its grace, beauty, intelligence, courage, agility and loyalty.

She has spent the last decade in Europe demonstrating her work with magnificent Arabian stallions. In Paris, she was awarded the coveted Massy Crystal in recognition of her ability.

Her eight thoroughbreds perform highly complex choreographed movements in a performance she calls liberty. They run free and she rightly predicts on this day they will not all respond to her requests.

"First nights are more tricky. The horses have been cooped up in transit and are like coiled springs. They can't wait to get out into the ring.

"Just to have eight pure Arab stallions out there together is a feat in itself and a first for performing horses. They are free spirits and the show is never the same two days running."

After a few days, Europe's largest and most spectacular touring show would be on the road again, heading to Scotland this time.

"It's our life and our horses are our families," said Nikki.

June 5, 2003 14:00