Vienna

Horse Riding

Gain interesting insights into the routines of the riders and their young Lipizzaners as you visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. See how the traditions, which have been practiced at the school for the last 457 years, remain almost unchanged to this day. Observe the future stars of the Spanish Riding School at their first training sessions in the imperial ambiance of the baroque winter riding school. Listen to commentary and classical Viennese music that accompanies the session. See the training for the basic walk, trot, and canter, the foundations for every equestrian rider and horse. These are the main exercises for these young Lipizzaner talents. The young stallions are particularly interesting as the exercises are explained in detail demonstrating the commitment and hard work required to achieve the perfection that each rider and horse strives for.

Enjoy the Ballet of the White Stallions at the unique, baroque Winter Riding School at Hofburg Palace, built under Charles VI. These performances are the result of years of training for the rider and their Lipizzans. The Spanish riding school is the only institution in the world which has practiced classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole for more than 450 years. From the young, boisterous stallions to the fully trained School Stallions, they enchant the audience with their performance of breathtaking excercises such as caprioles, Levade and many more. The physique and grace of Lipizzans are ideally suited to the High School of Classical Horsemanship. They are Europe's oldest horse breed. The exercise and preservation of the High School of Classical Horsemanship are some of the core tasks carried out by the Spanish Riding School which is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A particularly atmospheric lighting concept was developed by renowned multimedia artist André Heller for the performances in the most beautiful riding arena in the world. This atmosphere and the accompanying classical Viennese music make the wonderful presentation by the rider and their Lipizzans even more enjoyable. The 1.5-hour Gala Performance includes live moderation, the Standard Performance is 70 minutes long, and the Tribute to Vienna performance lasts for 2 hours.

Vienna’s Spanish Riding School has been in continuous operation for more than 450 years. It continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole. On an exclusive 55-minute behind-the-scenes tour, visit the Winter Riding School, a gem of Baroque architecture, the Summer Riding School which houses the world’s largest oval horse walker and the stables in the Stallburg. The Stallburg is Vienna’s most significant Renaissance building, and features an arcade courtyard and the historical stables of the Lipizzaner stallions. Learn about the history of the equestrian tradition and about the Lipizzaner stallions, who are the stars of the establishment.

Enjoy typical Austrian delicacies as you discover famous Viennese cuisine, during a ride through the beautiful city by horse-drawn carriage. Listen as your coachman and butler regale you with exciting stories of Vienna's history and sights. The carriage is comfortable and weatherproof, and offers four spaces with a table for you to sit at on your journey.  Relax on the drive with a clean, emission-free, and quiet mode of transportation. As you travel, pass by the most important sights of Vienna's old town such as Hofburg, the Spanish Horse Riding School, Burgtheater, Albertina, and the Opera, just to name a few. Enjoy a slower pace of life as you see and taste Austria with this enchanting experience.

Enjoy a wonderful performance by the Riders of the Spanish Riding School and the carriage driving riders from the Lipizzaner Stud Piber in the wonderful baroque ambiance of the Winter Riding Hall, accompanied by classical Viennese music. The Lipizzaners are considered the oldest horse breed in Europe, known worldwide for their elegant equestrian performances. While the High School of Classical Horsemanship, often referred to as the "Ballet of the white stallions" remains the essential part of this new program an additional attraction awaits you. After three High School performances executed by the famous school stallions from Vienna and their riders, enjoy one of the most outstanding skills of the Lipizzaners and watch their perfection, beauty, and harmony carriage horses. This will be shown as a special highlight at the end of the show. The use of the white and elegant Lipizzaners as exquisite carriage horses, although rarely seen today, derives from the adoration of these horses within the court of the Habsburgs over centuries. The "Lipizzaner Classic" gives you a fantastic insight into the overall ability of these white stars, starting with the three program parts of Classical Horsemanship and ending with an exclusive demonstration of carriage driving from the Lipizzaner Stud in Piber, 50 km outside Vienna.

Visit the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner Special, the new, shorter show created with the aim of inspiring visitors and introducing them to the world of dressage. See the three most fascinating exercises from the riding school's repertoire and listen to insightful commentary provided during the short intervals between riding displays. Choose between standing tickets and gallery tickets.

Meet your driver in front of the breathtaking Schönbrunn Palace. Enjoy a 30-minute ride by horse-drawn carriage to soak up the atmosphere of the well preserved baroque garden. See the different constructions from the Imperial period, such as the Palm house, which features plants from all around the world, the stunning Neptune and Obelisk fountains, the Orangerie and many more. During the ride your "Fiaker" (driver) will tell you about the history of Vienna. Listen to the stories he has to tell you about Schönbrunn, its inhabitants and visitors, as well as about the long tradition of horse-drawn carriages in Vienna. You will be sure not to miss anything from these extensive gardens, as you will see almost every corner from a comfortable seat on your carriage. Just lean back and admire the scenery.