The Spanish Riding School in Vienna was founded in 1565 to teach the art of haute école (classical horsemanship). We do sometimes change the traditional choreography, but the signature exercises – the pirouettes, the hops – go back hundreds of years. The main task is to be as perfect as possible with each horse. That’s a lifetime’s practice.
If you work with animals, you must be disciplined. You can’t be moody, because the horses will pick up on that. When you close your front door, you have to leave your personal things behind and focus on what you have to do. Our day starts at 7am. We always wear the traditional uniform – tailcoat and breeches, bicorne hat, white gloves and black riding boots – throughout the day, whether in Vienna or on tour. It’s like a second skin to me now.
We don’t really warm up – it’s the horses that do the exercise and have to warm up. The rider’s task is to be still and take all the movement from the horse. We ride the famous Lipizzaner stallions: every rider works with about six or seven different horses, and rides each of them during the day. Each horse is quite different – we have a portfolio of different ages, so you have to adapt to each one. Some you need to encourage to be a bit more forward; others start very quickly, so you help them to calm down and loosen up. You click with some horses immediately; with others, it takes time to connect.
There have always been horses in my life; I was nine when I started riding, then I joined the company at 15. I am 55 now, and have been at the school for 39 years. The full training takes 12 years, including stable work, and is very demanding. After 39 years, I’m getting better at it! You can continue to do classical dressage as long as you stay fit. You need knowledge and experience, because when you work with horses, you constantly make mistakes. I enjoy riding more every year as I get older: I’m more patient, and don’t take things personally.
On performance days, we run the young horses in the morning. During the 90 minutes before a show, you get dressed, shine your shoes and get into the right state of mind to perform. Working with young students is also part of the job, including helping them get used to the idea of performing in public. There’s a lot of pressure, it’s not easy. Audience expectation is very high, but that’s a positive thing – the show should feel special. You feel nervous, yes, but also very attentive and awake.
Is dressage a sport or an art? It’s both. It is the sport of riding – but some performances feel closer to art. When there are eight or even 20 riders performing together, we all have to share the same rhythm: then it becomes art. When you and the horse understand each other perfectly, it gives you the shivers.
Riding is very therapeutic. It strengthens your back and your core muscles. We do condition training, to ensure we stay balanced – you should sit on a horse in pure balance, and if people end up with back problems, that’s mostly due to a lack of training. I only feel bad on a day when I don’t ride.
- The Spanish Riding School of Vienna’s 450th anniversary tour takes place in London and Birmingham in 2016
