Catalena-trained Paints used solely for Six Flags' Wild West show

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

July 29, 2004 - Mix some Texas history with some well-trained American Paint horses, a talented cast of actors and Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the result is the crowd-pleasing, wild west adventure show "Rangers and Outlaws."

Sponsored by the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), "Rangers and Outlaws" tells the story of a Texas Ranger's quest for justice in the silver-mining town of Shafter in 1892.

The show includes lawmen and outlaws, gunfights, hair-raising stunts, explosions and even a hotel fire, but in the end its the Paint horses that generate the greatest excitement from the crowd.

Tom Zembrod, who plays the part of Texas Ranger John Hughes and has acted in numerous productions at theme parks across the United States, explained the horses add a unique dimension to the show.

"There is such a difference between the audience's reaction to this show and shows that don't have the horses," stated Zembrod. "When I was Batman, the kids would 'oooh' and 'aaahh,' but the horses are obviously much more interesting to them. The kids, even the really little ones, see these live creatures and they get so curious and excited."

While the horses thrill the audience out front, behind the scenes they provide the actors and production staff with challenges and rewards that are not encountered in other shows.

"It's different working and acting with animals verses machines,"asserted Zembrod. "In past productions we've used cars, boats, motorcycles, four-wheelers, jet skis ... you name it, we've use it.

"It's just such a neat experience working with the horses. They have feelings and can really pull out a different side of some of us."

For Cliff McClelland, "Rangers and Outlaws" technical director, the horses have presented a bevy of new logistical requirements that he had not encountered prior to joining Six Flags. "We've got so many special effects and so many explosions in this production," he explained, "and we have to make sure that the actors and the horses are safe at all times."

Acclimating the horses to the noise and hectic pace of a stunt-based production requires patience and flexibility from both the animals and the humans, added McClelland. "Working on this type of show takes some adjusting and can be very difficult," he said. "Finding a horse you can shoot a gun off of is hard. It (the noise) can be very traumatic for some horses, while others adjust quickly. Luckily for us, the horses the APHA gets for us are great to work with."

For the past three seasons, the APHA has leased the horses used in the "Rangers and Outlaws" show from Sammy Catalena and the Catalena Cowgirls drill team.

"They are beautiful, talented and athletic horses that are accustomed to gunshots, crowds and a lot of action," explained Jerry Circelli, APHA director of communications. "The success of the show, for APHA, is largely dependent on the talent and quality of the horses and we really are fortunate to have access to the Catalena Cowgirls' horses."

The riding skills of the cast members vary and McClelland explained that while they prefer actors with some riding experience, it is not a requirement.

"The relationships developed between the horses and the actors is one of the most important aspects this whole thing," he stated. "We spend a lot of time getting the horses acquainted with the riders and the riders acquainted with the horses. That is so very fundamental."

The "Rangers and Outlaws" stage show is scheduled to run three times daily, Sunday through Friday, and four times on Saturdays through Aug. 15. Following each 20-minute performance, a meet-and-greet session provides audience members with an opportunity to talk with the actors and see the horses up-close. For more information, visit the Six Flags web site at www.sixflags.com.