​The World of Dressage

Austria

The Oldest School of Dressage

 

Dressage in Austria dates all the way back to 1572 when the Spanische Hofreitschule was founded in Vienna during the Habsburg Monarchy.

 

In 1729,  Emperor Charles VI commisioned the architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach to build the Winter Riding School near the Josefsplaz square in Vienna. The same hall still stands there today.  Fischer built a large white stone carved riding hall, measuring 55 by 18 meters and 17 meters in height. The hall is adorn with many windows in order to allow as much natural light to brighten the hall, however, for when it is dark, crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling to illuminate the arena. 

 

The Spanische Hofreitschule is the largest and most concentrated school of Classical Dressage in the world.  

 

For centuries, the Spanish Riding School has preached a positive training environment that emphasizes the bond between horse and rider. Each rider in the School, after years of basic training, is given a single stallion that he is allowed to train under the watch of the Master Rider. Together, the stallion's rider and the Master begin his three stages of training:

 

Remontenschule: "Forward Riding"

Beginning when the stallion arrives from the breeding farm in Piber, usually around age four, he is handled by his personal rider and taught basic manners. He is taught how to be saddled and bridled, and then for two to three months, he is worked from the ground to build obedience, strength, and stamina for when the rider is added to his weight. Once the stallion has developed the appropriate muscle, he is ridden by his rider and taught to respond to the rider's aids. During this stage of training, the stallion is taught to move forward and freely in a relaxed frame while travelling straight.

 

Campagneschule: "Campaign School"

After about of year of this basic training, the stallions begin to learn the more complicated aspects of dressage. He is taught how to bend on a circle to develop suppleness and collection, working towards self-carraige. His natural gaits are worked to become more powerful and striking, increasing his impulsion, and soon the stallion begins to develop mature muscles of the horse. Once the stallion has built strength, he is taught lateral work and extensions of his gaits. Towards the end of this phase, the horse is introduced to the double bridle, refining the riders aids. The Campaign School is the longest of the three stages, due to the extensive amount of training taking place. 

 

Hohe Schule: "High School"

This stage focuses on finesse of the stallion's training. Eventually, the horse learns Grand Prix level movements such as the canter pirouette, passage, piaffe and One-Tempi-Changes. By the end of the stallion's training of the Grand Prix movements, the stallion is assed to determine if he would be successful in learning the "Airs Above Ground." If he is selected, the stallion goes on to learn his most-suitable Airs. The jump is first taught on the ground and then undersaddle.

 

The Spanische Hofreitschule is a school based on tradition that closely follows the teachings of Xenophon, the creator of dressage. Their training methods are sound, their horses care is impecable, and the results speak for themselves. The Spacische Hofreitschule truly is a classic.