- El Caballo Blanco
El Caballo Blanco was a theme park that operated at
Catherine Field on the outskirts ofSydney . Its main attraction was its Andalusian dancing stallions, but the park also featured miniature Fallabella horses, and a number of non-equestrian related amusements such as waterslides, train rides, and a small wildlife zoo.For many years after its closure the complex was used for storing items such as carpets, until a fire engulfed much of the building housing the main show arena. The Andalusian horses remained on the site, cared for by a group of horse enthusiasts.
Another El Caballo Blanco park operated near Perth in
Western Australia .In June 2007 a new El Caballo Blanco show paying tribute to the Spanish dancing horses re-opened playing regular shows at
Horseworld Stadium , located atMaraylya in Sydney's north-west [cite web|title="El Caballo Blanco Website"|date=2007-08-27|accessdate=2007-08-27|url=http://www.elcaballoblanco.com.au/] . This new show was put together byRene Gasser , the "Master of unique equestrian entertainment" [cite web|title="Equiworld Magazine"|date=2007-08-27|accessdate=2007-08-27|url=http://www.equiworld.net/uk/ezine/0802/gala.htm] who boasts 7 generations of horse-care and showmanship [cite web|title="Sydney Weekender"|date=2007-08-25|accessdate=2007-08-27|url=http://visitnsw.com.au/default.aspx?PageID=2517] .In September 2007, equine flu made its way to El Caballo Blanco with three horses showing clinical signs of equine influenza. This caused the suspension of all shows. [cite web|title="Sydney Morning Herald"|date=2007-09-16|accessdate=2007-09-16|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/flu-outbreak-hits-star-sydney-horses/2007/09/16/1189881330833.html] .
External links
* [http://www2.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/LocalHist/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=007116 Photograph of the carpark area, circa 1980-1989]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Camden/2005/02/17/1108500193221.html Article referencing the park] , even though by 2005 when the article was published, El Caballo Blanco had been closed for some time.
* [http://www.ausequinearts.com/AboutManolo.html Brief biography of Manolo Mendez] , who directed the shows at El Caballo Blanco.
* [http://www.ahaa.org.au/ElCaballoBlanco.htm Article by the Andalusian Horse Association of Australia on the Perth operation]References
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