File:Astley's, Mr Pablo Fanque, and his trained Steed ILN-1847-0320-0013.jpg

English: Astley's, Mr Pablo Fanque, and his trained Steed. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 20 March 1847.

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ASTLEY'S :-MR. PABLO FANQUE, AND HIS TRAINED STEED. This extraordinary feat of the manege has proved very attractive, as we anticipated in our Journal of last week; and we have judged the success worthy graphic commemoration. As we have already described, the steed dances to the air, and the band has not to accommodate itself to the action of the horse, as in previous performances of this kind. The grace and facility in shifting time and paces with the change of the air, is truly surprising. The skilful rider, Mr. William Darby, or, as he is professionally known, M. Pablo Fanque, is a native of Norwich, and is about 35 years of age. He was apprenticed to Mr. Batty, the present proprietor of " Astley's Amphitheatre," and remained in his company several years. He is proficient in rope-dancing, posturing, tumbling, &c.; and is also considered a very good equestrian. After leaving Mr. Batty, he joined the establishment of the late Mr. Ducrow, and remained with him for some time. He again joined Mr. Batty ; in 1841, he began business on his own account, with two horses, and has assembled a fine stud of horses and ponies at his establishment at Wigan, in Lancashire, in which county Mr. Pablo is well known, and a great favourite. The black mare, with which he is at present performing, was purchased by him of Mr. Batty about three years since, who had previously obtained her from the Queen's Mews. Mr. Pablo has trained her to do the most extraordinary feats of the manege, an art hitherto considered to belong only to the French and German professors of equitation, and her style certainly far exceeds anything that has ever yet been brought from the Continent.