Spanish Riding School Set For Yorkshire Welcome!

As Vienna's Spanish Riding School prepares to make its first ever trip to the North of England and Sheffield's Motor Point Arena, the Yorkshire Times' Arts man, Phil Hopkins, has been in Austria to meet the School's Managing Director and discover, for himself, what's in store for equestrian lovers across the UK.

As head of what is probably the most prestigious riding school in the world, Mrs Elisabeth Gürtler is a lady on a mission.

Not only did she successfully get Vienna's Spanish Riding School (SRS) to break with a 400+ year old tradition and allow women apprentices into the Imperial Palace - Winter home to the internationally famous attraction - but she has also been key to lobbying national politicians for a 1.5 million Euro subsidy to prop up this most famous of equestrian institutions.

And, later this year, the people of Yorkshire and beyond, can be assured of a rare treat when the SRS brings its show to Sheffield's Motor Point Arena on October 31st, November 1st & 2nd before heading south for a three date stay at the SSE Arena Wembley on November 14th, 15th and 16th. It will be the first time they have been so far north of the capital.

But before the SRS's caravan of horses, tack and riders as well as a retinue of officials, PR types and stable hands, leave behind the glamour of Vienna to bathe in their Yorkshire welcome, Mrs Gürtler is sure to have had more than a few sleepless nights, not necessarily because of the School's pending international tour.

With an annual turnover of between 10 and 11 million Euros (approx £8 - £9m), most would think that the School would, to coin a phrase, be in clover; not so. That's how much it takes annually to operate this state owned institution providing, in Mrs Gürtler's words, "that everything goes to plan." If it doesn't then more than the stable boys (and girls) will be up to their ears in horse doo doo!

Cap in Hand

This immaculately groomed Managing Director - no pun intended! - may head up one of the world's most famous riding institutions (it is run as a public company 100% owned by the Federal Republic of Austria), but she is indignant and, many would agree, rightly so. Her paymasters won't give her a bean and the Austrian sponsorship laws are compromising her ability to grow her own!

The Spanish Riding School continues to preserve more than 400 years of breeding history of Europe's oldest domesticated horse breed in living tradition, the Lipizzaner.



But, according to Mrs Gürtler, the Austrian government refuses to put its hand in its pocket to safeguard the future of the SRS which, in recent years, has sailed a little too close to the financial precipice for comfort.

"We need money," she chirps. "There are a lot of cultural institutions (in Austria) including the likes of the Salzburg Festival, as well as theatres, who get (government) support but we get NO support," she emphasised.

But doesn't the sponsorship deal with Land Rover get them through the worst of financial hardship? Apparently not and, in this case, it is the 'human' element that most probably suffers, certainly not the excessively pampered horses under her charge.

"Sponsorship could be a major benefit to us but, at this time, the legal situation for sponsors has worsened," she said. "They cannot sponsor us without heavy regulation and auditing, and even have to prove that people they invite (to performances) are not part of their own staff, otherwise it has tax implications." In addition, she said, there were a raft of complicated 'corruption' checks.

Result? Big sponsors, namely the larger financial institutions who actually have the cash, are loathe to jump through so many bureaucratic hoops, give sponsoring the SRS a miss and, in doing so, leave the Spanish Riding School to go cap in hand, to a government which has little sympathy at a time of European austerity.

A Unique Experience

However, politics aside the SRS is an amazing institution, almost as much part of Austrian life as the government itself.

With some 110 stallions on site, along with 70-75 mares, 40-45 foals and a string of riders and support staff, it isn't difficult to see why costs are racked up; you just need to look to the horses for a few clues.

Originally, in 1580, the Habsburg Archduke Charles II founded the imperial stud farm in the Karst in the vicinity of the small town of Lipica (modern day Slovenia). In the following centuries horses of Spanish and Italian bloodlines were used by the Habsburgs to breed a horse which is ideally suited to the baroque imperial appearance.



The best stallions were selected for the Imperial Court in Vienna. Refined in years of training, they became an indispensable part of life at the Imperial Court and, from 1580 to the end of the monarchy, the Imperial Stud Karst in Lipica was the Austrian Imperial family's private stud.

Then in 1920 the part of the valuable original heard that had remained in Austria, was moved to Piber where it remains to this day. Even now the direct descendants of the old imperial herd are bred according to the classic principles of the Baroque Lipizzaner. Six classical stallion bloodlines and classical mare families can be traced back hundreds of years in an unbroken line of breeding.

And the horses are pampered, groomed and looked after better than most inner city dwellers, living a charmed life of breeding, eating, grooming, performance and retiring with grateful thanks from one of the most revered equestrian 'clubs' in the world.

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the only institution in the world which has practised and continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école; that means they're pretty nifty with performing nags!

And next month (October) it is the first time ever that the SRS can be seen in the North of England.

Fresh from their success at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, World class dressage sensation Carl Hester, 10 times Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson, and double London 2012 Paralympic and European Gold Medallist Natasha Baker will be open the SRS performances with a masterclass to showcase some of the dressage moves included in the modern day sport.

TV presenter and British Dressage Ambassador Nicki Chapman will host the performances and audiences can expect to be mesmerised by the balance and harmony achieved by these beautiful White Lipizzaner stallions and their regal riders, decked out in wonderfully archaic uniforms. All of their famous in-hand work and movements above-the-ground such as the Capriole, Levade and Courbette will be performed.

Nicki Chapman said: "The Spanish Riding School of Vienna very rarely performs outside of Austria but when they do they thrill crowds with their astonishing combination of grace and athleticism. I'm lucky enough to have been involved in the last two UK tours and it's an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

"The Spanish Riding School of Vienna has performed all over the world and given several private performances to the Queen and other members of the Royal family but UK tours are rare and exceptional. This is an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity to witness these most celebrated, world renowned horses performing in the UK."

Tour Dates

Sheffield's Motor Point Arena
Friday 31st October - 7.30pm
Saturday 1st November - 7.30pm
Sunday 2nd November - 3pm

Wembley Arena
Friday 14th November - 7.30pm
Saturday 15th November - 7.30pm
Sunday 16th November - 3pm

The Yorkshire Times has hooked up with the Spanish Riding School's promoters to also give the lucky winners two backstage tour passes and an opportunity to meet the Olympic riders!