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horseback. "Everybody was involved in this act, and I really loved doing it," he says. As his career took shape, Zoppe performed with Cheval eatre, which was owned by Cirque du Soleil co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix, where he also gained experience working with Ste-Croix's fellow Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberte as well as Cirque's famed artistic director, Franco Dragone. "Being around those incredible innovators and directors really helped me see the performance world in a whole new light," says Zoppe admiringly. e experience also helped him to crystallize his own visions; where they leaned into more contemporary productions, Zoppe says he opted for a balance that includes more Old World styling in addition to modern elements. e result is a show that connects with audiences at a more intimate level and showcases the artistry of the performers and the horses without overly extravagant production grandeur. "ere's not a bad seat in the house," he says. "ere've been other shows where you're far away, and visually it's like, 'Wow,' but you can't really appreciate the connection between man and horse, and how the two are working together in synchronization in a lot of ways, and the subtleties. Here, you get to see everything. You get to see the cues, you get to see the response, you get to see the energy of the horse. You get to see the two just taking off together. So, it's really cool." Audiences can deepen the experience by purchasing a backstage pass, offering an opportunity to meet and take photos with the performing artists as well as take a backstage tour guided by Zoppe himself, who'll share more about his beloved horses, their breeds, and how each one came to join Cirque Ma'Ceo. For the duration of the show's 20-performance run in Del Mar, Zoppe will be joined by Sylvia Zerbini — a name horse lovers may instantly recognize for her work in Cavalia, another renowned production showcasing equestrian arts. However, another performer may threaten to steal the show: Zoppe's seven-year-old daughter, Ottavia. "She is spectacular. I can't tell you enough — she's just a beaming light in the show," he gushes proudly. He admits that he hopes Ottavia, a tenth generation performer who inherited love of both horses and entertaining, is the pint-sized future of the family trade. "It's definitely in there. I was worried because you never know. But when you have that kind of lineage, I think…it's just in you." ough the human history behind Cirque Ma'Ceo is remarkable, Zoppe never lets it overshadow the role of his beloved costars. "Ma'Ceo is a Latin name that translates to 'gift of God,' and I really feel that horses are just that. I've been in love with horses my whole life," says Zoppe. "ey've changed my life, and probably kept me out of trouble when I was going down the wrong way when I was a youngster. Horses have just always been the answer." cirquemaceo.com @ranchandcoast