The opportunity to turn your dreams into reality will be available starting May 30th and continuing for four weeks until June 25th  when world renowned brother and sister Equine Extremists and stunt coordinators Tommie and Karen Turvey will hold the initial training  session at their Equine Academy of Performing Arts. The school will be located at their home base, at The Wahl Equestrian Center in Sterling, IL.

“Equine entertainment is a booming business,” Tommie says, “the industry is feeling the lack of specialty acts. With such a growing number of expos, rodeos, and shows the opportunities are endless.”

Tommie and Karen speak from experience, they are second generation stunt performers. Their father Tommie Mack Turvey has been a professional rodeo rider, actor, Marine Corps veteran and still continues to work as a stuntman. The pair have continued the family tradition by performing in dinner theaters, wild west shows, movies, on t.v., at rodeos and horse expos for over fifteen years and have never yet failed to bring down the house.    

Among their many credits are a year spent performing in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in Disneyland, Paris, where Karen played the part of Annie Oakley, the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Florida, Medieval Times Dinner Theater, along with doing stunt work for movies and television shows. Karen also spent two years as the Quarter Horse trainer and featured performer for the spectacular equine show, Cavalia. This past December Tommie and his horses performed their comedy act and Roman Riding at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

For the past two years Tommie has been a crowd favorite at the Midwest Horse Fair. Although he will not be appearing in Madison this year, Midwestern fans will still be able to enjoy his show at the Wahl Equestrian Center. 

Both Tommie and Karen are accomplished Roman Riders, drive in chariot races, and Tommie’s classic comedy act the Riding Instructor, featuring his famous paint horse Pokerjoe, has stolen the show everywhere he has performed. They plan to take the month of June off from their hectic schedule of touring to be available to instruct at the school. The classes will be limited to ten students so that maximum personal attention can be given to each participant. The curriculum is still being developed but in addition to trick riding, there will be classes in dressage, driving, jumping, liberty, circus bareback riding, and all around performance training. Also being planned is drill team work, including square dancing on horseback. For those without performance goals they will be providing instruction on becoming a trainer or clinician.

Guest instructors and clinicians, including a driving specialist, jumping coach, a liberty specialist and a dressage master, will also be present for special seminars. More trainers will be added as they become available. Included in weekly classroom lessons will be advice on costume choices, how to make a more professional presentation, incorporating and choosing the best music and help in finding jobs and acquiring sponsors.

“There are many good acts out there right now,” Karen says. “They only need a bit of guidance and inspiration to become great. We can help those who are now performing and not getting paid to advance to the professional ranks. Nothing is held back, we are willing to share all of our knowledge and techniques to help you make the most of your performance. We will take what you are doing or want to do and make it better.”

Prospective students for the Academy should be prepared for serious and rigorous training. Classes will be held six days a week with a free day on Saturday and Sunday being the off day. Although instruction will include work in all phases of entertainment, each person will be given intense training in their specialty, whether it be trick riding, driving, jumping, dressage or drill team. However, everyone will participate in every discipline. Graduation will be marked by the public performance of an equine extravaganza starring all of the trainees. Each of the pupils will also receive a video of their training and performance.

Those wishing to enroll in the school need to send a resume, a video of them riding, and a photo. Tommie and Karen prefer to work those sixteen and over, although the age limit may be waived for younger riders showing exceptional ability. Students will need to bring their own horse although trick horses will be available for use during classes and practice. Novice riders will be considered for the school but they will be in separate classes where they learn the basics of horsemanship while still building an act.

Several excellent motels for those needing accommodations are located nearby or for those with recreation vehicles there is an onsite campground complete with hookups. A trip to the school could make a fun and memorable vacation along with being a unique and valuable learning experience. In addition to the month long session, Tommie and Karen will also be instituting an internship program where students start at the bottom and work to learn the business from the ground up. Interns will be trained depending on their work ethic and initiative. Group clinics with flexible hours will also be held at various times throughout the year.  

If you wish to learn more about this extreme opportunity or to apply to become a student of Tommie Turvey Horsemanship call 815/626-3155 or email Karen@equineextremist.net.