What is happening at the Spanish Riding School?

[shortstuff99]

After reading about the sudden firing of the last of the chief riders trained by the old guard (for complete reasons that no one knows yet) I'm not sure how this institution is going to survive.

Already the stallions seem to be becoming rushed, trained in a more modern way and losing what the ethos of the SRS was.

Andreas Hausberger Fired as Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School after Forty Years of Service

Andras Hausberger, chief rider at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, has been fired effective immediately after forty years of service on 7 March 2023.

eurodressage.com

 

[Cortez]

It has been happening for years, ever since - or actually even before - it was cut loose from government funding and had to make a profit. Sad, tragic.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Sadly I think that sounds as if the seemingly well-functioning very old tradition of training horses at the Spanish Riding School might be going to it's grave. At least in its current format. I can't imagine the horses will stay healthy performing the things they do without the adequate, time-consuming training as a solid base to work from.

 

[palo1]

It really is kind of devastating. I had a picture book when I was a child that had tons of image of horses at the SRS; they and the riders were my absolute inspiration - even when I was zooming round on a hairy and entirely feral Welsh A pony. I dreamt about the SRS and read everything I could find about it. The level of commitment to training for such lengthy periods in such a progressive manner was an inspiration to my younger self in relation to every aspect of horse care. I know things are different now but I am really saddened by the latest news.

 

[shortstuff99]

It is devastating at a further loss of the classical art.

I read today that riders no longer do 4 years lunge work when starting it is now just 1. Everything is being shortened and hurried.

 

[ycbm]

It has been happening for years, ever since - or actually even before - it was cut loose from government funding and had to make a profit. Sad, tragic.

I think it began the year they decided that it would be a money spinner to transport a load of unweaned foals with their mothers and run them round a 10,000 seater arena as mass entertainment.

I thought that was completely unethical and have had little interest in them since I saw it. It was part of a horse circus show, not serious classical equitation.
.

 

[Spotherisk]

I saw them in London 10-12 years ago, and was uncomfortable at stiff horses held in a tight unyielding contact. As many in here I had grown up seeing their photos in magazines and so it was a big deal going all the way to London so see them, and hugely disappointing at the horsemanship.

Podhajsky would not be impressed.

 

[shortstuff99]

Good article her by Ritter about it (including a petition)

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid06tWMgYtAyXizkYiEobgoNGbuPFkGEp8vWz5pdcVQ8Htf7YFj1qLe9iXQ5Lqrxz3ul&id=1191243620

 

[ycbm]

I saw them in London 10-12 years ago, and was uncomfortable at stiff horses held in a tight unyielding contact. As many in here I had grown up seeing their photos in magazines and so it was a big deal going all the way to London so see them, and hugely disappointing at the horsemanship.

Podhajsky would not be impressed.

I felt the same about the stiffness, stilted places and hard contacts, saw them in Manchester.
.

 

[MagicMelon]

I don't find them pleasant to watch. Horses simply didnt look happy, especially doing their weird leap things they're famous for. I remember seeing them live as a kid and even then I was uncomfortable.

 

[Honey08]

I felt the same too. I saw them in Manchester decades ago. I was so excited to go, but the final “airs above the ground” bits left me feeling like I was watching an amazing horse being abused.

 

[Cortez]

I don't find them pleasant to watch. Horses simply didnt look happy, especially doing their weird leap things they're famous for. I remember seeing them live as a kid and even then I was uncomfortable.

That would be the capriole, I presume? Or maybe a courbette: many things that are done with horses look "weird" if you're not used to seeing them - racing doesn't look particularly pleasant for the horses to me, nor a lot of eventing - but I've seen a lot of the high school moves and done well they are inspiring.

 

[sbloom]

The airs above ground take a lot of effort so the horse's will seldom look happy through them, the rest though is tragic. My Mum and I broke down on the way to see them in Brum some years ago (15-20) and ultimately now I'm glad I never got to see them.

 

[Goldenstar]

Honestly it’s not new when I was a teenager I knew someone who had the privilege of training there they came back reeling from the fact every young horse was in draw reins .

 

[tristar]

its ironic that podhajsky`s book about training is a classic

yet they do not a lot for me visually.

 

[reynold]

I feel lucky that I saw them 40 odd years ago before the rot set it. I saw them again around 2005ish at Wembley and noticed the difference.

It's been something that has been on my bucket list to see in Vienna, but with these damaging changes I'd just settle for the Schoenburg (sp?) Palace, some lovely gateau in Vienna and a trip to Salzburg (Sound of Music fan).

I also have fond memories of the White Horses TV program when I was a kid.

It's so sad that historic classical work is dying like this. I hope that the same sort of thing is not now happening at Jerez and Cadre Noir

 

[fankino04]

When I was a kid I dreamed of going to Vienna to see them, some years ago, (can't remember how many now but it was when Carl hester was doing the pre demo bit) my OH surprised me with tickets to see them in London, he said it would have to do until we got to Vienna bless him, I was so disappointed I what I saw, although Carl's bit was great. Didn't have the heart to tell OH it wasn't very good

 

[Caol Ila]

I feel lucky that I saw them 40 odd years ago before the rot set it. I saw them again around 2005ish at Wembley and noticed the difference.

It's been something that has been on my bucket list to see in Vienna, but with these damaging changes I'd just settle for the Schoenburg (sp?) Palace, some lovely gateau in Vienna and a trip to Salzburg (Sound of Music fan).

I also have fond memories of the White Horses TV program when I was a kid.

It's so sad that historic classical work is dying like this. I hope that the same sort of thing is not now happening at Jerez and Cadre Noir

From what I can gather, looking at the internet, Jerez operates on quite a different funding model and structure than SRS. They also seem pretty open and transparent, doing courses and training for outside people. For 2000 euros, a complete punter like me could spend a week there riding their horses and taking lessons from their trainers. Expensive, but it would be sweet.

Also, from what I can gather, the Spanish - especially people from Andalucia - are very proud of their horses and riding traditions.

@Cortez will certainly be able to tell you real information. This is just what I can glean online. But it makes me vaguely optimistic that Jerez is continuing to train their horses with classical principles.

 

[shortstuff99]

From what I can gather, looking at the internet, Jerez operates on quite a different funding model and structure than SRS. They also seem pretty open and transparent, doing courses and training for outside people. For 2000 euros, a complete punter like me could spend a week there riding their horses and taking lessons from their trainers. Expensive, but it would be sweet.

Also, from what I can gather, the Spanish - especially people from Andalucia - are very proud of their horses and riding traditions.

@Cortez will certainly be able to tell you real information. This is just what I can glean online. But it makes me vaguely optimistic that Jerez is continuing to train their horses with classical principles.

Rafael Soto has just retired from being the head trainer there for a number of years. They are very proud of their horses is Spain and their riding traditions.

The Portuguese school of equestrian art is also excellent.

 

[Cortez]

It's so sad that historic classical work is dying like this. I hope that the same sort of thing is not now happening at Jerez and Cadre Noir

It's not, thankfully.

I have seen all of the great classical schools - SRS, Jerez, Saumur and the Portuguese school, as well as several others operating privately/ commercially such as the Cordoba and Versailles operations - multiple times, although it has been 40+ years since I was in Vienna. The best IMO has always been Jerez. I had the privilege of riding at the Jerez instructors course; there is nowhere better.

 

[shortstuff99]

If anyone reading this is interested the Portuguese school is performing at Hartpury the beginning of August and the Cordoba school is performing at the Iberian Show in Exeter beginning on September.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I hope that the same sort of thing is not now happening at Jerez and Cadre Noir

I had a visit to the Cadre Noir (strictly speaking, the IFCE) during the Equirando (2021, I think), and watched riders training rather than watching a display.

I'm very, very far from being knowledgeable about the "haute école", but the horses didn't look too me like they were being forced or coerced, both horses and riders looked strangely both relaxed and concentrated on what they were doing.

 

[Northern Hare]

It's not, thankfully.

I have seen all of the great classical schools - SRS, Jerez, Saumur and the Portuguese school, as well as several others operating privately/ commercially such as the Cordoba and Versailles operations - multiple times, although it has been 40+ years since I was in Vienna. The best IMO has always been Jerez. I had the privilege of riding at the Jerez instructors course; there is nowhere better.

We were in Jerez a fortnight ago and had tickets to go to their daytime display. It's the third time we've been, the last time was Feb '20, just before Covid. The display then and previously had been just amazing, lots of quadrille work with incredible horsemanship, plus their high school movements display, driving, and the display with the Spanish cowboys with their long pikes (apologies for the incorrect terminology).

Sadly, this time the display was a little disappointing, with a lot less content, although the high school movements display and the quadrille was still excellent, with a lot of familiar faces in the senior riders. I still did enjoy it, it's an amazing place, but anyone not really interested in horses may have found it a little boring - not at all the case previously.

Next time, I'll go for the morning session where you can watch the horses and riders training in the indoor school, it's wonderful to watch the superb horsemanship and quiet and relaxed horses.

 

[reynold]

The Spanish Riding School: calls for change amid management concerns

A petition has been created calling for management changes at the Spanish Riding School Vienna following the departure of a chief rider

www.horseandhound.co.uk

Article today on H&H website in case anyone didn't see it

 

[Dust Bunny]

It really is kind of devastating. I had a picture book when I was a child that had tons of image of horses at the SRS; they and the riders were my absolute inspiration - even when I was zooming round on a hairy and entirely feral Welsh A pony. I dreamt about the SRS and read everything I could find about it. The level of commitment to training for such lengthy periods in such a progressive manner was an inspiration to my younger self in relation to every aspect of horse care. I know things are different now but I am really saddened by the latest news.

I visited the SRS a week ago, watched a training session and did a tour of the grounds. The riders are as committed as ever and are given 3 - 4 horses for which they are responsible. This means training, looking after (of course with the assistance of grooms), presenting in shows, etc. The riders accompany the horses everywhere - even when they go to Piber for their summer rest of 2 months. They receive the horse as a young stallion and stay with him throughout his/their career. The horses are also ridden out - of course not in Vienna. The horses are beautifully stabled in very large boxes which are mucked out hourly and are exercised on a daily basis. The training session ran for an hour - half an hour with 4 riders and 2 eleves (apprentices) on the white stallions, during which time one stallion came in on the long rein, was warmed up, did one capriole, got his reward, waled a few rounds and left. After the half hour the young grey stallions came in - 5 of them went through their repertoire and it was interesting to see the difference! During the session photographing and filming was not permitted - which I feel was right. We sat in the second row of the Emperor's box and had a wonderful view. My feeling is, and having spoken to the guide, that the horses are not overworked. There are 40 horses at the school which have to be exercised and this is open to the public to watch (paid tickets of course - cheapest being 16 euros for a standing place, most expensive 27 euros). The events are not daily, but once or twice a week, and occasionally 3 times a week. The problem at the moment is finding suitable people for the top chief rider positions - due to retirement and firing, the difficulty of keeping to tradition has been lost. Bad management over the last years has led to problems. My thinking is that one has to go with the times. Of course it is a shame that the traditional aspect of the rider constellation has changed, but the tradition of the Lipizzans / Lipizzaners has not, and the enthusiasm and forward-thinking of the riders and management will keep this going. I left with a positive state of mind - even having previously read up on the details of what has been going on over the last decade. The issue with the last chief rider having resigned is obviously going to stay inside information, but I believe there was some antagonism with management there. All in all, a wonderful experience which I can highly recommend.

 

[Dust Bunny]

I think it began the year they decided that it would be a money spinner to transport a load of unweaned foals with their mothers and run them round a 10,000 seater arena as mass entertainment.

I thought that was completely unethical and have had little interest in them since I saw it. It was part of a horse circus show, not serious classical equitation.
.

The foals and their mothers aren't transported around. Their home is in Piper approximately 60km from the school. Of the circa. 40 foals that are born each year, only 4 make it to the SRS. The others are sold backed and unbacked at prices that range accordingly. An unbacked Lippizan starts at around €6000. The arena doesn't seat 10,000 either. I recommend you pay the school a visit! It's worth it and brings in money for the benefit of the horses. One of the problems is that the SRS falls in the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture. Were it to fall under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, it would receive more government funding. It has been under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture since its begin.

 

[ester]

ermm I don't think ycbm meant the SRS arena. . .

 

[Dust Bunny]

Oops! Then I take it back!