barrfieldsboy Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 HAS ANYONE EVER DONE IT AND IF SO HAS IN WORKED? Moderation note : just in case anyone's in any doubt as to what 'it' is, I think what the OP is asking is whether anyone has ever used ponies in an amateur pantomime, and whether or not it was successful. Barrfieldsboy, you might find this useful..... and please don't post in ALL-CAPS in futiure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bright spark Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Errrrr, health and safety? Animal welbeing? What if the pony is frightented and attacks the audience? What if the pony attacks the actors? What happens to it before, after and during the show?? I will advise you more when I have finished p!ssing myself with laughter of the thought.......(no offence, its just funny) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.henderson Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 On a more serious (and helpful) note; I would imagine that if you wanted to attempt this you would need to contract a specialist Stage Animal Handling company to provide a trained pony and train it for your show, look after it for the run and ensure all the health and safety aspects are fine. This will probably cost a fair bit but have a google and see. I know the current Carmen tour is using live horses so why not see where there handlers are from? Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 The only suggest I could make is see if anyone at UK Productions is willing to talk to you and recommend a local animal handling company etc - a few years ago as a lowly stage hand on one of their pantos I spent a large amount of time getting the 2x ponies they had on stage into position for their cues etc... HTHStu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I will advise you more when I have finished p!ssing myself with laughter of the thought.......(no offence, its just funny)What's so funny? It's been done for decades, if not hundreds of years. Now the rules might have changed, but last time I was involved we just had a couple of Shetlands and their owner. No problems, and the roses loved it... Oh, and the kids in the audience love it when REAL ponies come on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 What's so funny? It's been done for decades, if not hundreds of years. Now the rules might have changed, but last time I was involved we just had a couple of Shetlands and their owner. No problems, and the roses loved it... Oh, and the kids in the audience love it when REAL ponies come on!!True. Real ponies have featured in countless productions of Cinderella over the years. I worked on a production several years back which featured two very cute Shetland ponies, and the kids thought they were ace. (They weren't as cute as the stable girls who brought them to the theatre every day, though! :)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_korman Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 HAS ANYONE EVER DONE IT AND IF SO HAS IN WORKED? Moderation note : just in case anyone's in any doubt as to what 'it' is, I think what the OP is asking is whether anyone has ever used ponies in an amateur pantomime, and whether or not it was successful. Barrfieldsboy, you might find this useful..... and please don't post in ALL-CAPS in futiure. Yes, and Yes, for Cinderella in 1991 - but it was LOTS of work. The ponies and coach came from Perriers Petite Ponies. No idea if they are still going. We had to find local stables for the ponies for the 3 week run - fortunately one of our crew has a large house with suitable accomodation and was willing to look after them. Then we had to provide temporary stabling at the theatre, and someone to tend the animals. Then we had to build a ramp over the loading dock (lorry height), and enclose it (with doors at the bottom too) so that the ponies and coach could be protected from the weather whilst being prepared to come on stage. Then we had to build a new set of doors on the scene dock, since we could not use the very noisy roller shutter during the performance, and we couldn't leave the doors open as it was mid winter. Of course, we needed a horsebox to transport the ponies between their stables and the theatre each day. And, if you keep ponies hanging around on stage too long during the tech, they demonstrate their disapproval in the same way as the Blue Peter elephant did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzette Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Your first port of call is contact the licensing officer for the venue you are going to perform in, and also the Technical Manager of the venue. They will be able to tell you whether they have used ponies before and what they did in terms of stabling, entry into the building, access onto stage etc. (At my old venue we kept a ramp cut to fit the stairs access to the stage especially for productions of Cinderella!)The licensing officer will be able to advise on the legal requirements and put you in touch with the "horse health" officer at the council. The Technical Manger can help with the practicalities within the venue - arrange a meeting at the venue with both people to look at the options.The earlier you talk to people the better chance you have of receiving help and advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erroneousblack Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 The main issue when using live ponies, is how many times will they s**t on stage. If it's a long run, set up a sweepstake. Last time I did Cinderella, (2002) we had an automated flying horse and carriage. Looked a million times better and no fall-out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tivoliproduction Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I have just found out that we may be having ponies for cinderella this year aswell which could be fun, having spoken to our resident stage manager there are tricks to stop them leaving any rose feeding presents on the stage (or anywhere else for thst matter!!) if anyone wants to know the "secret" then pm me and I will let you know!! probably best not to put it the website- bit strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 if anyone wants to know the "secret" then pm me and I will let you know!!Given that the whole point of this forum is to share information, and that there are going to be quite a few members who are probably going to be involved with production of Cinderella this winter, I think it would be nice if you shared the information. It doesn't matter if it's strange - just as long as it's not illegal ..... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tivoliproduction Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I have just reliably been told that you have to use nicotine around the back of the horses/ponies in question and it will stop any problems from that region for a while. (long enough for the magical scene.) this bloke stage managed a huge pagent with approx 100 horses etc in Dorset about 12 years ago swears by it. im sure I dont need to explain anymore than already stated. good luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Basson Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 The main issue when using live ponies, is how many times will they s**t on stage. If it's a long run, set up a sweepstake. Last time I did Cinderella, (2002) we had an automated flying horse and carriage. Looked a million times better and no fall-out! Eminently sensible, although it deprives everyone of the look of panic on the MD's face as the hooves "lock" and the small but deceptively heavy beasts skate towards the orchestra pit - a regular occurrence on our rake the last time we had them. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted October 9, 2005 Share Posted October 9, 2005 Search www.KFTV.com for animal trainers in the UK and look for you part of the UK. Ask your local horsey establishment about your problem, They likely know the answer from Pony Club antics at a local show. Most of the suppliers of ponies are very consious of their animal's wellbeing and the handler will usually hava to have a role on-stage to give the animals a familiar face for their comfort. Get the local RSPCA and licencing officer on your side from the start. The effect of reak ponies is worth all the effort - except to the principals, who are totally upstaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derklee Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 I would probably say ' Don't even think of it'!! All the experiences I've had with animals oin stage is that it NEVER works the way the director thinks it should. Generally funny for tech crew & audience, but a huge upset for the director. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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