Tournament of Kings at Excalibur is about pomp and pageantry, swords and sorcery, drama and dragon. It’s also largely dependent on horses for spectacle, from the introductions of the show’s six kings to the jousting and the climactic battle scenes. For three shows a week, however, the royal horses are joined by Nobilissimo, an Andalusian specially trained to step in time to the rhythm of the music playing through the sound system.
For several minutes before the coronation segment, Nobilissimo exhibits the results of an expert level of horse training known as alta escuela as six maidens dance alongside him, his rider beaming as if she’s appearing for the first time.
That’s how it feels to Iranda Dyer, who last year became the first female to sit atop a saddle in Tournament of Kings. “Every night it feels like the first run, because it’s a new crowd, new faces,” says Dyer. “We do have a lot of customers that come and see the show regularly, but for a lot of people, they’re not expecting the act to happen. So when we first come out, I love hearing the gasps: ‘What is this? What’s happening here?’ I love that reaction. I love seeing all the little girls in the audience, their faces just lighting up when they see this gigantic horse with a huge mane.”
Dyer, a professional sports massage therapist for horses, says she’s living a childhood dream when she rides Nobilissimo and she’s happy to be able to share that fantasy with the young girls in the audience. With the kings of Ireland, Spain, Russia, Norway, Hungary and France providing plenty for boys of all ages to identify with, Dyer and Nobilissimo add an extra dimension to the proceedings during their interlude, which comes as a surprise after sparks have flown from clashing swords and hammers bashed against defensive shields.
Although she first practiced alta escuela at age 16, Dyer and Nobilissimo had only a month and a half to train together before joining the rest of the cast. “I have extreme respect for what they do,” says Dyer, who felt she in turn had to earn the respect and trust of the other cast members so they didn’t think she would behave like a diva. “They are falling off the horses. They are going all out in their fights. They are hitting themselves with the swords and the ball and chain. There is camaraderie between myself and the other teams that are riding in the show but that is something that developed over time.”
Is it possible a tournament queen will one day ride among the strong personalities of the kings? ”You know, I do joke about it, but the joke originally came from the guys,” says Dyer. “They suggested it: ‘Oh yeah, it would be pretty cool if you were a queen or princess riding in the show.’ But again, that started with me earning respect and trust from them, and knowing that I was a strong person. … We really do have one solid, cool group of people.”
Excalibur, 6 p.m. Mon. & Fri., 6 & 8:30 p.m. Wed.-Thurs. & Sat.-Sun., $59 plus tax and fee, includes dinner and show. 702.597.7600
