The Greatest Horse Trainer on Earth

For readers whose imaginations are captured by the glamour and excitement of the big top comes a biography of ninth-generation circus performer Sylvia Zerbini, whose astounding liberty horse performances have entertained millions and redefined what’s possible between horse and human. Sylvia Zerbini was born into circus life, a child of a ninth-generation circus family. By age twelve, Zerbini was part of a six-person trapeze troupe, and she went solo as an aerialist at fourteen. But it was her remarkable connection with animals, horses in particular, that would propel her to international fame. Her breathtaking liberty horse acts, often incorporating up to sixteen Arabians, defy what even the most sensitive and practiced horsemen can accomplish. Using her breath, her body, and vocal communications spoken in French, she and her horses compose a dance as beautiful as it is unusual to witness. One of the first people to mix aerial acts and equestrian showmanship, Zerbini has performed for nearly 10 million people around the world as well as in the traveling show Cavalia, the highly acclaimed equestrian-themed spectacular created by one of the pioneers of Cirque du Soleil. In this thoughtful retrospective, the history of the circus life is intertwined with the story of Zerbini’s development as an extraordinary horse trainer. Featuring over one hundred historical and personal photographs, The Greatest Horse Trainer on Earth is an illuminating story of a committed athlete, dedicated artist, and fascinating personality. For horse lovers, Zerbini's journey is a demonstration of the kind of extraordinary connection that is possible between animal and human.