Overview:

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria is the only place in the world where the masterful art of classical dressage riding is still practiced in its purest form. Established in 1572, the school, often referred to as the "cradle of classical equitation," is an extensive and prestigious institution with a long-standing pedigree. To this day, professional riders continue the traditions of the haute école, a style of equestrian artistry suspended in time since the 19th century. Under the extraordinary tutelage of the Spanish Riding Masters, riders continue to channel this ancient aesthetic into the exquisite Lipizzaner stallions, the noble studs that form the foundation of the School's livestock. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Austria
Prominent Features:

1. Polished wooden floors: The polished wooden floors of the Spanish Riding School echo the finessing sound of the horses' hooves. 2. White Lipizzaner stallions: The Spanish Riding School is home to the pure-blooded white Lipizzaner stallions, raised by the Spanish Riding School since 1562. 3. Ornate interiors: The interiors of the Spanish Riding School are intricately decorated in Baroque designs, with frescoes and gilded carvings. 4. World-famous tradition: The Spanish Riding School is renowned for its mastery of classical dressage, which has been passed down through generations since the 16th century. 5. Music and pageantry: Riders at the Spanish Riding School perform to waltzes and marches with precision, elegance, and reverence for the long-held traditions. 6. Famed audience members: Throughout its history, the Spanish Riding School has welcomed many famous dignitaries as guest audience members, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Sisi. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Austria.

History:

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, is the oldest of its kind in the world, having been founded at the court of the Habsburgs in 1572. The court was moved to Austria following the death of Maximilian II and the invitation of Philip II of Spain to become the Habsburg ruler in Vienna. He brought his own horses, among them were three Lipizzans who performed in discerning exercises of grace and power. This original equestrian culture that Philip brought with him to Vienna was the start of the Spanish Riding School. Aside from the traditional Spanish horses, the court also brought its own riders and daredevils, who put on Horse Ballet performances, and classical dressage trainers specializing in the perfecting art of Ballet on Horseback. Over the centuries, the Spanish Riding School has become a source of great pride to the citizens of Vienna. In the age of Napoleon, the riding school was temporarily disbanded, but later re-established in 1918. Today, the Spanish Riding School continues its tradition as the premier riding academy in the world. It offers daily instruction to its students, as well as oversees the breeding and training of the Lipizzan horses. More than 40 horses are stabled in the Armorial Hall’s Stallburg. The pinnacle of the Spanish Riding School’s performances are the Annual Demonstrations held each February and June. During these demonstrations, students and their mounts perform classical forms of dressage, partnered with music composed by the great Austrian masters during the Baroque period. The demonstrations also often include a touch of humor, with dancing horse head, feats of horse acrobatics, and — perhaps most famously — a stallion who performs an impressive walking pirouette. Today, the Spanish Riding School carries on the legacy of Her Royal and Imperial House of Habsburg, showcasing the art of classical dressage to audiences from around the world. Visit one of the famous monuments of Austria with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The oldest riding school of its kind in the world, the Spanish Riding School of Vienna dates back to 1572. 2. Up to 50 riders perform during dressage shows of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. 3. The school is located in the baroque winter riding hall of the Imperial Palace of Vienna. 4. The school performs traditionally built Viennese classical dressage, the same techniques used by the court of Austria for centuries. 5.Only white horses bred by the Spanish Riding School perform at the traditional dressage shows during the summer season. 6. The Lippizaner stallions are trained on a series of basic steps that are built upon over the years to the more complex maneuvers like the capriole and Courbette. 7. The school also breeds white stallions of the same type that are used by the school and exported throughout Europe. 8. Many of the dressage maneuvers have been named after Lippizaner horses, including the Pessoa, the Legolas, the Salieri and the Tristano. 9. The Spanish Riding School has a popular Breeding Centre located in the Piber Stud farm in Styria. 10. The age-old methods of training the Lippizaner horses have been kept alive through numerous books, films and TV programs. One of the historical monuments of Austria, it tells the story of a bygone era