Danube River Cruise #27: Vienna's Famous Spanish Riding School

a Look at the arena

In Blog #27 of our May vacation seeing 5 countries in 7 days, we're still in Vienna. Today we'll tell you about one of the most famous horseback riding schools in the world, that has been around over 450 years! You'll learn about the horses, the superstition about them and the 3 stages of training. Read on!

IT'S IN THE WINTER PALACE! - The Spanish Riding School is located in the Winter Palace. It's dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of Lipizzaner horses, based in Vienna, Austria, whose performances in the Hofburg are also a tourist attraction. The leading horses and riders of the school also periodically tour and perform worldwide. It is one of the "Big Four", the most prestigious classical riding academies in the world, alongside the Cadre Noir, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and the Royal Andalusian School.

morning exercise. Credit: Musement.com

OVER 450 YEARS OLD - The riding school was first named during the Habsburg Monarchy in 1572, long before the French manege of Antoine de Pluvinel, and is the oldest of its kind in the world.[2] Records show that a wooden riding arena was first commissioned in 1565, but it wasn't until 1729 that Emperor Charles VI commissioned the architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach to build the white riding hall used today. Prior to that time, the School operated from a wooden arena at the Josefsplatz. For a time, the riding hall was used for various ceremonies, but it is now open to the public, who may witness the training and performances by the stallions. The Winter Riding School was built between 1729–1735


WHY NAMED SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL? - The Spanish Riding School was named for the Spanish horses that formed one of the bases of the Lipizzan breed, which is used exclusively at the school. 

HORSE FACT- There are 72 horses. 70 White, 2 Brown. 

SUPERSTITION - As long as there is 1 brown horse in the school, the school will remain lucrative and stay open.

STALLIONS TRAINED IN 3 STAGES

Crest for the school

1) Remontenschule: ("forward riding") This stage begins when the horse is first brought to the Spanish Riding School as a 4-year-old. The stallion is taught to be saddled and bridled, and is started on the longe to teach him the aids, to improve his obedience, and to strengthen his muscles in preparation for a rider.
2) Campagneschule: ("campaign school") The horse is usually ready for the second stage after a year of riding in the first stage, although this time-frame is always adjusted to the individual horse.
3) Hohe Schule: ("high school" or Haute Ecole) In this stage, the rider will gradually push the horse to perfection in straightness, contact, suppleness, collection, and impulsion, to produce improved gaits.

NEXT: ST. PETERS AND THE "PLAGUE PILLAR"