Behind the scenes with a Canadian horse trainer for Odysseo

WINNIPEG – It’s an adrenaline rush, that’s hard to beat but behind the scenes of the magic on stage is a rigorous routine.

“I come in at 9 or 10 in the morning to just come and see them how they are,” Odysseo horse trainer and performer Virginie Loiselle.

Practicing for 12 hours each day, six times a week and on the road more than 10 months of the year is a lifestyle 45 artists in the show learn to love while travelling on tour.

“I’m able to share with people all around the world with different minds and different ways to think… that opened my eyes so much,” Loiselle said.

Loiselle saw Odysseo three and a half years ago at home in Montreal and was hooked enough to audition for a performer role.

“I saw those girls standing on two horses and I was like wow that looks so nice and so fun I want to try I want to do it,” Loiselle said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I saw those girls standing on two horses and I was like wow that looks so nice and so fun I want to try I want to do it," Loiselle said.

Since landing the gig she has toured across Canada and internationally with the production company Cavalia, training and riding horses.

“In the artist section we’re a lot of people all around the world so we speak different languages like French, English, Spanish and Portuguese,” Loiselle said.

But it’s the relationship with the horses that makes life on the road exciting for Loiselle.

“Sometimes they teach me stuff and sometimes I teach them stuff so that’s how our relationship is, we need to listen to each other,” she said.

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Each rider has three to four horses to train each day, even before performing at night.

“Where I’m touching him, how I’m touching him, the direction I’m looking in directs him,”  Loiselle said while training.

The daily schedule includes gymnastics and dance classes, physical conditioning as well as one to two rehersals before the show.

“When I’m training them during the day I want him to be happy, to give me something… I’m not going to ask him if he don’t want to do it,” she said.

The Odysseo crew will showcase their talent in five cities this year, staying in Winnipeg until October 18.

“I think that’s the really important point in this show… showing the public what I love to do and I really want them to love it too.”