I realize how lucky I was to work with 2 riders from the Spanish riding school giving me the opportunity to go to the riding school every week to watch morning training session. Years later to own a Lipizzaner - memories never to be forgoten
Horses respond to kindness and patience. They love to please if you treat them with respect and calm. Dressage was my sport which I loved completely and I have been fortunate enough to have seen the Spanish Riding School perform in Vienna in the same arena as is shown in this film. The guests sit in the lower tier around the arena. It was a performance that I will remember for the rest of my life. The horses are calm and respectful of their trainers and it is wonderful to see this magnificent partnership in person. Film cannot possibly do it justice. I am a third generation horseman and have learned about the horse from an extremely young age. My grandparents were masters of the horse and were breeders and trainers for 60 years. I miss them and their incredible knowledge to this day.
It is also interesting to note that the classical ideal of invisible aids is maintained at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Quite a contrast to the often exagerated aids we see in so frequently in dressage competitions.
"...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Ph. 4-8 That would be this! Wonderful to see again and again.
I have been lucky enough in my lifetime to not only watch a performance in Vienna, but to also spend three mornings watching the non public practice sessions sitting in the royal box!
I saw very soft gentle riding, the riders have exceptionally soft hands & strong seats which requires years of training. these horses are trained in the Classical way which is incremental learning, not force to allow their muscles to strengthen gradually. there is no cruelty here!!!! I myself now ride my horse in a bitless bridle that puts pressure on the nose & jaw because she prefers it, i don't condemn others for using a bit, all horses are different & should be respected for their differences, what suits one, won't suit another!
Incidentally, these riders at The Spanish School are apprenticed by 15 at oldest. They live in a dorm over the barn, do all the grooming, stable work, clean tack and polish boots. And train on the horse. 8 to 10 years living in doing scut work and training. Schoolwork, but they eat sleep and breath devoted to this Art. They can use a bit properly.
These horses are treated really well. There is no cruelty or abuse. I have watched them in training when they were in London and the methods they use are awesome. No whips are used as a punishment, only as an extension of the arm. The training and positive re-inforcement comes from ...wait for it.HORSEY TREATS.The riders keep the treats in a bag worn under their coats. Even during a performance, the horses are discreetly treated.Tried this with my own horses and it works! Be proud to be Austrian
Colonel Podjaski wrote a book about that, they teach the young horses on the lunge for months to build strenght and balance. Its a slow form but you can see the results. We need to get patient with building up the horse and our riding skills. Ill recomment that book to all riders.
I hear that music and my heart swells. For centuries...from.the beginning of the school...to ww2 and the performance for Patton....to their return from 10 years in exile...and still....they have danced to this music!🌹
Magnificent white stallions with rider's smart classic uniforms-feel like going back to good old days of imperial power.Horses had played a great part in deciding the fate of many historic battles.Like dogs,stallions are intelligent animals & obedient too.Spanish school is doing a yeoman service to humanity by keeping this nearly forgotten art alive even today!Thanks to Marcogalonline for uploading.
Many Lippizzaners perform into their 30s. Clearly they aren't ruining their joints. They don't even carry their first saddle until they've spent 3-4 years freely running in the mountains to strengthen their bodies. Horses do jump, and kick, and change leads in the herd. The first video even showed horses in the herd doing something very much like the Levade. Also, these aren't "dog tricks," they're military maneuvers. Don't put things down just because you don't understand them.
Dressage literally means 'training', and is an approach to developing the natural abilities of each horse to its fullest extent. This is done through a gradual sequence of exercizes, with each horse progressing as its body and mind develops. Military mounts were taught dressage and riding in formation, though few could acheive the 'airs above the ground'. The most talented mounts were reserved for officers, of course. Being a good horseman used to be required of gentlemen, who were also the officers in times of war.
I wish there was such an equestrian culture in Italy: slow and patient training, lot of exercise for the rider, no costraining aids (here in Italy you would see many different bits, bridles and stuff, with the excuse that not all horses respond the same way to aids. Well, no! The fact is that you don't have the patience to wait until your horse respond!). I live where Caprilli founded the modern equitation, but it seems that people here have forgotten everything They only care about jumping higher and in the less time they can, there's no place for real equestrian studies, no time spent to understand these wonderful animals and build something with them (not ON them)!
They're not Hyperflexion is when the horse's head is down, nose to the chest. At it's extreme horse's in hyperflexion can have the front of their faces nearly parallel to the ground and the underside of their head almost pinned to the underside of their necks. These horses are trained with classical dressage, the exact opposite of hyperflexion. Head up, front of the face perpendicular to the ground (or nose slightly ahead of that imaginary line), poll the highest point, neck rounded.
As any experienced rider, the aids are, the hands, seat, & legs. A good rider communicates with their horse using these, & the movements are subtle. Balance is a necessity to good riding too These are taught in a legitimate riding school by a professional instructor. Proper riding is an art. Complete communication with your horse.
I'm sorry this is so much later, and sorry to be so dumb. I'm only an intermediate rider, and I'm wondering if you could explain a little bit about the curb rein and how it works. Any info would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you!
So beautiful...so graceful. So very nearly lost at the end of WWII...I'm so very happy that our American forces rescued these superb horses from death by the Russians. If we'd lost them, an infinitely precious thing would have been gone forever. Warms my heart to see these gorgeous horses perform!
I saw the movie about it, but I think that's just the usual US propaganda. Just like that fully staged rescue of the female soldier from the Iraqi hospital years ago. After she recovered she said the whole thing was extremely exaggerated. It was nothing like what the US Govt and media claimed it was. The idea that the US Navy Seals had to fight their way in and out out again with her was a total fabrication, meant to glorify the US. Just like the extreme claims about the US saving Europe in WW2, when the British Commonwealth had kept Hitler at bay for years, and the US were Johnny-come-latelies. They did fight a hell of a hard battle in the Pacific, but they did not save Europe.
All I saw were happy horses after the training sessions. These trainers are good leaders and the horses want to be with them. If you go want to go down the route of what they are being trained to do, we abuse every domestic horse in the world. The basic act of riding is not 'natural' for a horse. All working and ridden horses have to wear bridles, bits etc. There is no cruelty going on with these guys. Go see it for yourself in real life and then write your comments with credibility.
Yes, every single thing these horses do can be see being done by horses at liberty. Oh and watch the riders, their cues are so subtle, literally just changing the tension in the fingers on the reins like a whisper...
go and watch them working with the young horses; they, the young lips offer the movements naturally; that is how they discover which movements to ask for when; I have actually watched a 2 yr. old Appy filly do a levade to a Capriole all on her own while out in the pasture!
They are Lipizzans, but the ones doing shows in the US are not from the Spanish Riding School. It has been about 10 years since the Spanish Riding School of Vienna brought their horses here and performed.
I know I will never be able to ride like this, but I want is to actually go to Vienna and see this, and then take the train to Piber to visit the stud. It is the most beautiful thing I can imagine.
These horses are amazing and have a great personality! I have seen them live and have been to Piber(the breeding farm). These fantastic horses have been around since the 16th century and were bred for dressage. They preformed for the Habsburgs(the royal family) and they are too small for the Olympics.They are very famous and it would be pointless to put them in the Olympics. The Austrian government pays for them plus they get money from visitors, travel around the world, and other things.
The Lipizzanners were bred to do the movements such as the capriole (when it jumps and kicks). Most other horses would not execute such movements. They were bred like this, and the capriole's purpose was to escape footsoldiers in the war.
IF you treat a horse fairly and with affection, you have a loyal and giving friend. Treat them badly and they will repay you in kind, which is what you deserve. Horses know the score.
You've never lived with horses, have you? If you did, you'd know these movements are natural. To call the Lipizzanners' discipline "dog tricks" is so declasse.
As far as spanish horses in the olympics- one should remember the 2004 Olympic games- the Spanish team won Silver- and most rode Spanish horses; than we have 2010 WEG Fuego came in 5th in the GP musical Freestyle. Lipizzaner horses have been successful in International competition - and one should remember they and th Andalusian are the original Dressage horse.
The horses are lunged exclusively after about age 2 or 2-1/2. They are not ridden until their fourth year or so; at six, if they show aptitude, they move on to the haute ecole, and most stallions who advance to the real precision riding are 8-12. So, it's a slow process, but then Lipizzaners mature slowly. And, as someone comments below, all the paces are natural to the horses: watch foals in the paddocks performing passage and piaffe, all on their merry own.
de beste filpje ooii ik hou van paarden en tuurlijk ook van deze paarden en ik ga dit jaar naar de show kijken in nederland en ik verheug me erop I LOVE YOU
@@Brigidz There probably are now, and may be even in this old film. In the uniform it is impossible to tell tall, thin, clean shaven men from tall, thin women.
seeing as the horses can do all those exercises perfectly well with just one bit and rein WHY do they force TWO bits and reins on the poor horses? One, simple, jointed snaffle would be quite enough. Best of all I would like to see them do all this without any bit at all.
Actually, these movements were learnt for battle, to disable the un-mounted soldiers. Also, I have grown up with race-horses, competition - level mares and stallions and a number of dressage horses, including Lippazanners. We [me and my dressage *stallion* Emlynn] have won at high-level shows, so we know a "little something" about dressage too.
Well, there is also the argument that horses would not naturally carry things on their backs either. Unfortunately, in the world we live in we ask things of horses they wouldn't sustain on their own. It is our responsibility as riders and horsemen to do everything within our power to keep them happy and healthy in their jobs. Every horse sport asks something of a horse they may do naturally for a brief periods, but not sustained. Think about it: polo, w. pleasure, dressage, reining, eventing...
Most of those things are abusive. The very worst abuse happens in racing, rodeo, including reining, and Big Lick. I would never condone a single instance of any of them. But there's a lot of abuse in the other so called disciplines too, including dressage. I do love to ride, and I believe horses are happier when they have a purpose and are treated with love, but I also am coming to think that we should VERY MUCH tone down some of the demands on them, and eliminate racing, every aspect of rodeo, and Big Lick. Those 3 things should be illegal, and owners, trainers, and riders who participate should be locked up.
Bitless bridles work by putting pressure on the pol. Used incorrectly they can cause as much injury as any other device used for riding or driving a horse. Bitless are not suitable for every horse.You need to know exactly what you are talking about. if we were to stop riding/driving horses so they wouldn't have to wear the nasty bits, bridles which you say are so cruel, do we shoot them all because they are no longer useful? That's what they did to the Shire and Clydesdale now a rare breed in UK
Dave Desmond um no, not all of them work like that. There's so many different kinds and most work off of nose pressure, not poll. And wow what a straw man argument lol "it's YOUR fault that _we_ shot the horses when we couldn't use them anymore instead of the multitude of other options we had" Look I'm definitely not against working animals but is that really your argument???
Antoine Hartley: No, only the bosal places pressure on the poll. All other bitless bridles work by placing pressure on the nose and chin--much like a halter and chain will do. We could certainly not ride or drive horses, but then we would have less justification for breeding them. Most horses today exist because we expect them to perform some service. No service, no reason to breed. Draft horses are uncommon today because they have been replaced by trucks and tractors. I love draft horses--they are truly gentle giants. But they are no longer needed--very few cultures today use horses for agriculture (Amish, for example, and some impoverished Asian and African cultures). Mostly only breed enthusiasts keep their legacy alive--admirable, but you cannot argue that we shoot them because they aren't useful. Belgians are considered very useful in some parts of Europe--for food.
@@kalikalad8954 Google Dr Cook bit less bridles.They have a double crow piece which then cross crosses under the horses jaw and runs thru a ring on a snug noseband. It definitely puts pressure on the poll when you pull on the reins.
Riding bareback speeds the process up immensely! Everyone should learn early on to ride without stirrups. You can develope a great seat very fast that way, and I'm sure it's a big part of their training.