allop G T he "equine actor" (a horse enacting a specific character on the theatrical stage) has had a significant effect on theatrical scenic design and production practices in the United States from the nineteenth century to the present day. Specifically, the inclusion of the horse in the theatre inspired theatrical stage machinery that was designed for (and most often used in) the production of equestrian or "hippo" dramas, a popular nineteenth century form of spectacular drama, which featured equine actors in leading roles and also "extra" or "supernumerary" equine characters enacted by live horses onstage. Although horses had made occasional appearances on the theatrical stage prior to 1800, it was not until the midnineteenth century that they became regular (and extremely popular) performers in theatrical plays, particularly the variety of spectacularly realistic plays that were popular during the latter half of the nineteenth century. 46 F A L L 2 0 0 5 TD & T