Jean Richard - Horses Video (1974)

Jean Richard, liberty"Liberty act", "Horses at liberty": Unmounted horses presented from the center of the ring by an equestrian directing his charges with his voice, body movements, and signals from a ''chambrière'' (French), or long whip. act, at the 41st "Gala de l'Union des Artistes," held at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris. This was Jean Richard's first major public appearance after the car accident that nearly cost him his life in 1973—which explains the lengthy announcement by the French actor Jean-Claude Brialy. Since this annual fundraising gala (the forerunner of all "circus of the stars" events) began traditionally at midnight, the presentation of animal acts at an unusual time of the night was not always easy. Alexis Gruss, whose horses Jean Richard presented, had to step in the ring to put his unruly charges back through their paces. (1974)

See Also

• Biography: Jean Richard