C.S. Lewis, the renowned spiritual writer, used to say that if God had created anything more beautiful than a horse, He had kept it for Himself. His close friend J.R.R. Tolkien shared this vision and, as proof of it, placed majestic steeds at the heart of his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.
Horses may indeed be one of nature’s most artistic creations, especially when moving elegantly with a skilled equestrian. But, like any work of art, their beauty can be enhanced by light.
This was clear to see at Cadre noir of Saumur, a stunning riding exhibition that took place at the famed seaside resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, as part of the Gala of the Squires of the Cadre noir of Saumur.
Highlighting the aesthetic harmony of horses and their riders at this popular event was an elegantly balanced lighting design that relied on the precise performance of 16 CHAUVET Professional Maverick Storm 2 Profile projectors supplied by Alive Angers, the technical provider for sound and lighting.
Charley Guitton of Alive Angers, who served as the project manager, and Esteban Sabatier, the lighting console operator, managed all aspects of the show’s illumination. Speaking of the fixtures, they explained:
We needed IP65 fixtures, given that the shows are held outdoors and there is a lot of dust with the Cadre noir horses, not to mention the potential rain, said Guitton.
Sabatier elaborated: “I particularly liked these spotlights for their wide aperture, power, colors, and incredible range of over 70 meters. We used 16 spotlights instead of the initially planned 20, which demonstrates their efficiency”.
Lighting the Cadre noir of Saumur presented unique challenges, as a horse’s vision differs greatly from that of humans. Horses have a near 360-degree field of vision but cannot see directly in front of their noses. They also have a layer of tissue called tapetum lucidum that makes them more sensitive to light. These and other factors had to be carefully considered.
The specific challenge with lighting for this type of show is that we must not frighten the horses while highlighting them, even during the first part of the performance when there is still daylight. We cannot use strobes or sudden, aggressive color changes, as that could scare them. But with the Maverick Storm 2 Profile, we were able to create subtle and effective lighting effects that enhanced the performances without disturbing the animals. The Maverick Storm 2 Profile spotlights are high-quality and affordable, making them perfect for our needs. Also, we required high-output fixtures, as they were located 70 meters away from the scene and the first part of the show still had daylight, explained Sabatier.
To address these factors, Guitton and Sabatier worked closely with a talented team that included Jean-Philippe, General Manager of Alive Angers; 50 Prod, the organizer of the event, especially Alexandre Demaere, the Production Manager; Philippe, the security manager; and the invaluable technical crew: Arnaud, Dylan, Etienne, Raf, Axel, Ben, and Pierre.
Thanks to their collective efforts and the versatility of the fixtures, Cadre noir of Saumur was a resounding success, delighting not only the large crowd of spectators but also respecting the magnificent creatures at the heart of this renowned event.
