© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Selected stories from the WKAR NewsRoom in your morning email. SUBSCRIBE HERE

War Horse: Puppets Bring Horses to Life

Courtesy
/
Brinkhoff/Mögenburg

To bring the story of "War Horse" to the stage, it was necessary to create convincing likenesses of horses.

The British company behind the play turned to the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa for the job.

"War Horse" arrives at MSU’s Wharton Center tonight. There will be eight performances.

It%20was%2018%20months%20from%20the%20first%20cardboard%20model%20that%20I%20sent%20to%20opening%20night.%20Adrian%20Kohler

WKAR's Scott Pohl spoke with Adrian Kohler, artistic director of the puppet company, in Capetown, South Africa. Kohler says when he first heard the story of a farmboy whose horse is sent off to the battlefields of World War I, he thought a horse puppet would be relatively simple to design. Then, he read the book. The scenes of plowing and battle charges showed him right away that it wouldn't be that simple.

Getting it right took extensive research, including the study of horse anatomy, observations of live horses, and films made by Monty Roberts, the self-proclaimed Horse Whisperer. The detailed puppets are able to display what Kohler refers to as a horse's "emotional indicators," the ears and the tail. In all, nine horse puppets are seen on stage.

Handspring also trains the puppeteers who operate the horses on stage.

Kohler says "War Horse" has brought the Handspring Puppet Company its greatest international acclaim.

Scott Pohl has maintained an on-call schedule reporting for WKAR following his retirement after 36 years on the air at the station.
Local journalism matters—and it’s at risk.


WKAR brings you trusted news, without barriers—no paywalls, no corporate spin. But now, federal funding that helps make it all possible is on the chopping block. Your support is more important than ever. Stand up for independent journalism in mid-Michigan—make your gift today.