Spanish riding school Vienna

[Marshmallowfirepit]

Has anyone been to Spanish riding school in Vienna ? Am considering trip to Vienna and one DC is horse mad and would love to see it. But the performances are really expensive- it’s much cheaper to see a practice or have a tour instead. Has anyone done either of the more reasonably priced options ? Thank you !

Yes. I have done both. The cheaper one where you see the horses practising is quite interesting and it's good to see the tour. The performance I found slightly underwhelming for the price. My advice would be just to take the horse mad kid, if that's possible.

I saw them in Aberdeen last weekend and they were amazing. I would definitely try and see them do some sort of performance and it was beautiful to watch

We were there when performances were not available over the summer so I went to see a practice and really enjoyed it 😊

Have been and saw the performance. Stunning and so worth it. My DH enjoyed it but I think the value was wasted on him tbh. Like pp says, just take DD if you can.

The tour is definitely interesting too.

I think there is also a place in Slovenia - I haven't been but maybe worth checking out

The Slovenia one is the breeding centre for the Spanish Riding School, I think - would love to go there too.

saw the practice only and it was decent enough, i'm not a huge horse fan so it wasn't on my initial list, but i think it was included (or reduced price, can't recall) with the vienna pass

We went with our 2 DDs in October 2021. We saw a show and the riding and the horses' manoeuvers were impressive. A few days later, we also took a tour and that was excellent too. You really do go behind the scenes and see lots extra. Our guide was Viennese but spoke excellent English. DD2 is the horsey one but DD1 enjoyed it all too as did DH who spent summers on his GPs' farm so is familiar with horses.

If you and your DD have not read White Stallion of Lipizza by Marguerite Henry, I strongly suggest you do. I read this as a child so seeing them fufilled a long ago wish. Also, if you DD is horse-mad, she might like other M. Henry titles.

We went DH and adult child. Neither of them were interested beforehand but they both enjoyed the practice session which was what we did, because as you say it's very expensive.

I've seen the performance, it is amazing but TBH you have to like horses and be very excited by, for example, seeing a perfect collected trot.

Tried to interest non-horsey DH in it and he was glazed over with boredom within seconds.

I was warned practice can be hit and miss so you might see a load of complex formation riding or you might just see someone perfecting their walk.

The Slovenia one is the breeding centre for the Spanish Riding School, I think - would love to go there too.

Originally it was - it's Lipica, pronounced Lipitsa, where the Lipizzaner name comes from. But they don't send them now - maybe not since Slovenia was removed from the Austro Hungarian Empire after WWI. Lipica is a nice visit though if you're in Slovenia.

Vienna has its own breeding facility in Austria which you can also visit: Piber Stud Farm - visiting the home of the Lipizzaner (2024)

Another rec for DC to read is Eva Ibbotson's Star of Kazan.

I really enjoyed the practice and you can stay as long or as little as you like, soe asy for others to sneak out if they get bored.