The legend of the horse phantom in Yaroslavl is well known. IN from time to time a ghost appears in the building of the city circus – they say it is a snow-white horse Sultan, who died 22 years ago on the eve of Christmas. – About three years ago, I was preparing a room without insurance. Very risky, – said Oleg Gymnast Veniaminov. – And on the days of the winter school holidays before going to I heard a quiet neighing in the dressing room. Turned around – white horse stood on its hind legs and immediately disappeared into the air. Thought that from fatigue I started glitches. But it was impossible to cancel the number, and went to the arena. Soaring under the circus dome, I suddenly made an awkward coup, and one hand slipped. Miraculously did not die. Then I realized that the horse warned me of danger. I think this one ghost – guardian angel of all circus! Former director Yaroslavl circus Anatoly Shalikov recalls: – In 1992, our The Sultan was suddenly ill. He went to the arena for 16 years, brilliantly performed tricks. In the issue “Horses on the loose” he led for other horses, setting the pace. And suddenly passed … In the evening after Speeches Sultan did not touch the food, stood dull. The trainer Stanislav Stein called a veterinarian. He examined the horse and said he had a heart condition. And that he had to live nothing at all, kept silent – did not want to upset. Trainer Inessa TRAKHTENBERG riding on the Sultan (photo from the artist’s personal archive) 
Photos from open sources
Stanislav stayed next to a friend. He brought the Sultan into the stall, locked the stable. Bending the front legs, the horse fell on its side. The trainer lay down nearby. Stroking a silk mane, wiping wet from tears of a horse’s face. And suddenly dozed off. – Something pushed me in the shoulder, – says the trainer. – I open my eyes and see that the door to the stable is open. And the horse is not there. I ran down the corridors to arena. At the very center of it stood my Sultan. Stanislav said: “Let them say goodbye” – and brought thumbs and barriers into the arena. Horse performed familiar tricks. – Then he bowed, went to the stall, lay down and soon died. It was three in the morning, December was raging outside blizzard, Stein recalls. – I am a trainer in several generations, dealt with many horses, but the Sultan is special. He is like a man – understanding, sensitive. I still have dreams. Probably his soul misses the arena, so he can’t part with circus.
Time
