Rene Gasser

Rene Gasser, aka Sonny Gasser Jr, came to this country as a boy with his parents, Ernest Gasser (Sonny Sr.) and Maddi.

In his youth he worked a variety of acts - wire, knife throwing etc but his specialty was hand balancing. He was among the strongest hand balancers that we have seen in this country.

With his family he worked for his uncle Frank [Franz] Gasser's Circus Royale and Circus Atlas.

Later he started his own circus - Circus Sonelli.

When Circus Sonelli folded the horse show came out of nowhere. Sonny's horse experience at that stage was more or less zilch but he did gain some knowledge from a Spaniard, the late Fernando Alvarez who was living in Australia.

He must have been a quick learner because his shows today are world class. He employs his sisters and brother in law, owns some of his horses and leases some others from breeders who see the market value of their horses as being increased through association with this European horse master.

He works indoor venues as well as tent shows and will probably embark on overseas tours from Australia at some stage.

He is married to a beautiful Polish girl, Barbara, and they have one child.