Known in Vienna as the Spanische Hofreitschule, The Spanish Riding School is the only place in the world where you will find the famed Lipizzaner stallions. But it’s beyond just being a fancy stable, as it showcases some of the finest exhibitions of classical horse riding anywhere. The setting is equally arresting. Equestrian exhibitions take place in the grand Baroque Hall that is part of the Hofburg Imperial Palace.
For centuries the school has taught royalty and Vienna’s well-to-do the genteel sport of riding. Visit Vienna today and you also have the opportunity to see the students in action. A combination of lesson, show, and exhibition add up to sheer entertainment for riders and audience alike. Dressage performed here raises this common ‘horse dance’ to a high art.
Visitors will clap loudly as they watch these stunning animals and their highly skilled riders go through the paces accompanied by music. Set in a building that one can easily imagine as the venue of a ball, you just might want to dance along with the horses.
The Lipizzaner Museum is another impressive part of this stop in Vienna. It is a showcase of the tools of the trade for horse-breeding and riding. It is just across the street from the Winter Riding School, in the Stallburg (Stable Palace). Housed in what was once the Imperial Pharmacy, it is easy to see that Hapsburg horses were treated like royalty. Halters, saddles, and more are on display, many of which once graced ancestors of these white equine specimens.
Visitors should take the chance to explore the history of the Lipizzaner stallion. The original breed is a descendant from Spanish-Arabian horses. Later ones evolved from a combination of Neapolitan, Kladruber, and other bloodlines. The ones currently making their home here are the offspring of horses bred in Austria since the 1560’s, derived from stock in Lipizza in Slovenia.
The museum displays paintings, engravings, photographs and other artifacts that provide visitors with information about the horses, their lives and environment. Even the interesting stories about and those who owned and bred them are covered.
Born black and turning pure white in maturity, there are only about 2,100 Lipizzaners left in the world. They are now listed on the endangered species list.
Though tickets to the shows aren’t cheap, they are in high demand. Make sure to book several months ahead. You can watch practice sessions though, and for these you may be able to get bigger discounts.
Other tours and destination in Vienna:
Feel the pulse of nocturnal life on this guided evening tour highlighting the best of Vienna by night. You’ll visit Ring avenue with its famous historical buildings and monuments before ascending the Danube Tower, Austria’s tallest freestanding structure. At 492 feet (150 meters) Danube’s Terrace is the ideal vantage point to admire the marvelous panorama of the city below.
From the magnificent buildings of the Ring to the splendor of Schonbrunn Palace, you’ll see all the highlights of Vienna on this three-hour city tour. The tour gives you a thorough overview of Vienna’s most significant historical sights, and focuses on the famous Schonbrunn Palace.
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