Spanish Riding School

The name Appaloosa likely derives from the Palouse River region of Idaho and Washington, where the Nez Perce kept their herds.

The Lipizzan, famous for its performances at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, originated in the sixteenth century from a cross of Spanish, Arabian, and Barb horses with local breeds from the Karst region of Slovenia.

Lipizzan horses are born dark, usually black or bay, and gradually lighten to white over a period of six to ten years.

A small number remain dark throughout their lives.

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, founded in fifteen seventy-two, is the oldest institution in the world devoted to the classical art of riding.

Its performances feature highly trained Lipizzan stallions performing movements that were originally developed for mounted combat.

One of the most spectacular movements performed at the Spanish Riding School is the capriole, in which the horse leaps into the air and kicks out with its hind legs at the height of the jump.

This maneuver was originally designed to scatter enemy soldiers.

The time now with Johnny Hillbreath and also Monica as a trainer is amazing.

And we have had Andreas Hausberger from the Spanish Riding School with us as a trainer for 14 years now, an incredibly good friend of the family and a highly valued instructor.

And now for the past three years, also a totally great trainer, Morten Thompson.

So those are the most formative instructors for me so far.