James buchanan
La Vida, Carrousel, Bungees cavaliers, Roman Riding

James was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. At two years old, he rides a horse for the first time at his grand-parents’ farm. Over the years, he learns different equestrian disciplines and enhances his knowledge of horses. As a rider in different shows, he travels the United States from coast to coast.

In 2004, he sees Cavalia for the first time and is amazed at the uniqueness and beauty of it all. When he joins the show, his greatest challenge rests in learning to work with acrobats. “It’s one thing to know how to ride and understand horses, but there is a lot to learn when you work on stage with aerialists. We must push our coordination notions to a higher level; take into account the horse’s pace, be aware of our environment and the acrobats around us, all while maintaining a personal rhythm.” James sees Cavalia as an exceptional opportunity. “I evolve in a working environment that enables me to perfect my equestrian knowledge and at the same time, I get to discover the acrobatic world. It’s certainly a unique context for a rider!”