A school of classical horsemanship situated in Vienna, founded in the late 16th-c. The school is famous for its Lipizzaner horses, bred especially for haute école (Fr high school) riding, and originally imported from Spain.
The Spanish Riding School (de: Spanische Hofreitschule, literal translation: Imperial Court Spanish Riding School) of Vienna, Austria, is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses.
The methods used by the Riding School, like those of the Cadre Noir, are based on the teachings of the French riding master François Robichon de la Guérinière. They are then assessed to determine if they are suitable for the demanding 'airs above the ground.'
The riders, too, are carefully schooled, working first without stirrups and reins on well-trained horses to teach a balanced and independent seat.
Performances at the Spanish Riding School include individual and pas de deux (two horses at once) displays, as well as a Grand Quadrille consisting of 16 horses working in formation at the walk, trot, and canter, including flying changes, piaffe, and passage work.
All riders wear the traditional brown frock coat uniform with bicorne hats, and all horses wear red and gold saddle cloths.
Location
The Spanish Riding School is located in a number of buildings on the Michaelerplatz and the Josefsplatz near the Hofburg in central Vienna. Performances take place in the Winter Riding School, an elegant riding hall that was completed in 1735 and was commissioned by the Emperor Charles VI.
Tourist information
The Spanish Riding School is a famous tourist attraction in Vienna and offers 80-minute performances of Lipizzan horse riding.
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