Florian puts on graceful show

LIBBY LAM PHOTOGRAPHY

TRICKY: Florian can do the Spanish Walk.

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The majestic Florian grabbed people's hearts with his display at the North Island dressage championships at the Manfeild indoor arena on Saturday night.

The Andalusian horse, which turns 27 this year, was imported from Australia for the first Lord of the Rings movie, Fellowship of the Ring, and is the white horse on the Lexus TV advertisement.

A crowd of about 600 watched the display by Florian under the reins of Kapiti Coast owner Jane Lenaghan.

It was part of a five-hour evening show. "We did a routine to music. He's trained to do a number of tricks," Mrs Lenaghan said.

Those tricks include a Spanish walk and stepping through a hoop. Mrs Lenaghan worked as a horse rider throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy and her husband, Ray, was the set vet.

- © Fairfax NZ News