ATTRACTIONS
Animal Kingdom Meet the band of horses—and a few birds— that call Medieval Times home BY ELIZABETH FLORIO
Head horse trainer Felipe Ramirez with Ivan
rive around to the south-facing side of Sugarloaf Mills mall in Lawrenceville and you can’t miss the 11th-century-style Spanish castle. Some of the most magnificent horses in the world, including athletic quarter horses, colorful palominos, handsome white Andalusians, Mexican Aztecas, and European Friesians, make their home inside its walls, just steps away from Starbucks and a Forever 21. These noble steeds are the stars of Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, a live-action show offering jousting, royal drama, and utensil-free dining. The horses split their week between the castle’s 22-stall stable and a nearby ranch (its
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specific location is hush-hush due to the horses’ value). With nine locations around the country and a 240-acre home ranch in Sanger, Texas, Medieval Times is the largest breeder of pure Andalusians in the country. Atlanta’s equine cast members—all male to avoid distractions—range in age from three to 18. Before getting the okay to perform, each spends a year or more under the tutelage of head trainer Felipe Ramirez. Depending on the breed, they might practice dressage movements or stunts like letting a knight fall off mid-run, but most importantly, they learn how to cope with bright lights and cheering fans. “You can have the perfect horse in practice, but then you ride out in a show
