Sandy Colling explores Europe's four classical riding schools: Vienna's Spanish Riding School, Saumur's Cadre Noir, Jerez's Royal Andalusian School, and Lisbon's Portuguese School. She witnessed all four perform together at the 2007 Première Mondiale in Paris and breaks down their signature breeds and haute école movements like the levade and capriole.
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Welcome to Equestrian Journeys! I'm Sandy Colling, your guide to the captivating world of European horse culture. In each episode, we'll talk about centuries-old traditions, rich history, and the vibrant modern horse scene. You'll hear great stories, get insider tips, and meet wonderful guests who share our passion. Whether you're planning your next adventure or exploring from home, Equestrian Journeys offers a unique perspective on equestrian and non-equestrian culture from all around Europe. Join me each week as we uncover hidden gems and stories from Europe's magnificent equestrian heritage. Today, I want to talk to you a little bit about the 4 big riding schools, the 4 classical riding schools of Europe. And in 2007, in November, I was actually in Bercy, Paris Bercy, and I saw the Première Mondiale. It was the first time and only time ever where the four classical schools came together. And where are the four classical schools? It's the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. It's the Cadre Noir in Saumur. The Equestrian School, D'Art Équestre, École Royale Andalouse d'Équestre from Spain. And this Portuguese dar equestre. And if this is something that interests you, the culture and tradition where European riding and European equestrian art and history and culture came from, hop on the priority list because it's going to be very limited. And I want you to be on that. The link will be in the show notes and also the link for an ebook that I wrote on the 4 classical schools. That goes a little more in depth than what I'm gonna be touching on today. It's free. The link will be in the show notes, so grab yours if this is something that interests you. So the 4 big riding schools are the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, which most people are familiar with, and it's been around since the 16th century. Home to the world-famous Lipizzaner, the school epitomizes grandeur of classical riding. The Lipizzaner, of course, they have their gray coat, although they're born black, are truly masters of the haute école movements, which are the levade, the courbette, the capriole, and others. And we often see them perform in the pillars. And on a side note, I forgot what the movie was called, something like Dancing White Horse or Dancing White Stallion, or it was a Disney movie from ages ago. Oh, I know. And it's based on a true story when General Patton helped save the Lipizzana from the school from fire during the Second World War. And it actually has real footage of the time. And Alois Podjaiski was at the school at the time, and General Patton was just in love with the Lipizzana. So if it's something that interests you, I have it on VHS. I don't even know where to find it, but it's a really, really great movie. And if you go to Vienna, if you visit Vienna, even if you're not an equestrian, the performances are so beautiful. You can tour the Spanish Riding School. You can watch a gala. You can also see the morning practice. It's really a beautiful thing to see. And I highly recommend it, like I said, even if you're not really an equestrian. I think it's a must-see, especially for any equestrian enthusiast who is in Vienna. And second is the Cadre Noir at Saumur. So it originates from military roots, which really dressage does, but it has played a pivotal role in French horsemanship since the 19th century. It is truly a pleasure to watch the écuyers, or the masters, ride and perform. Because they really preserve the technical and theoretical facets of classical dressage. The Cadre Noir is unique because it has a diverse use of horse breeds, not just Lipizzana, as for example the Spanish Riding School. It includes the Selle Français, Anglo-Arabs, and thoroughbreds. So a visit to Saumur really offers a deep dive into French equestrian techniques, which is a little different from German, but that's a whole different subject. And you can watch the famed reprise de ménage, where the horses also perform their intricate airs above the ground. The school's performances and guided tours provide a captivating insight into the historical significance and modern-day practices. And it's not to be mixed up with because it's been such on the forefront due to the Olympics, the classical school of dressage in Versailles. So Mure is a whole different entity in itself, also much further south of France. And the 3rd school is the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez. And again, it is well, well known for their beautiful movements of the PREs, the Pura Raza Española, But we all know them as pura res, who have such graceful movements and are beautiful to see. You can also watch how the Andalusian horses dance. It's a show that's quite well known. And of course, the school is all about preserving traditional Spanish riding, and that is evident in their daily training and performances. As the other schools, you can visit the surroundings. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. They include a palace, botanical gardens, as well as an equestrian art museum. It's truly a cultural treasure, and again, not just for equestrians. It's a must-see if you're in Jerez, and it reflects the rich heritage of Spanish horsemanship. And 4th, last but not least, is the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in Lisbon. It's a sanctuary for classical dressage and tradition. And it exclusively features Lusitanos. We all have become familiar with the beautiful Lusitanos, which are also used in bullfighting, not my favorite thing. The school traces back to the 18th century with roots in the royal stables of Belém. Belém, not sure how you pronounce it. But it also has beautiful public performances as well as some educational programs. Visitors can also witness, as with the other schools, the airs above the ground and learn about the cultural significance of these traditions that are truly rooted in the Portuguese equestrian heritage. Each one of these schools is not only an institution of equestrian excellence, but really reflects on broader cultural trends as well as historical narratives of Europe. And each school, although they have this similar foundations embody the unique heritage and values of their own country. And when you explore these schools, you'll get a profound understanding of how equestrian traditions have evolved alongside European history. So if you're planning a trip to any of these schools, all you need to know is that visitors can attend performances and guided tours. You can get tickets online. At all 4 schools, they're open to performances, to tours. They have coffee shops, guided tours, and they're proud to share their beautiful horses and the culture and tradition. So even if you're not an equestrian, you will love, love, love just the beauty of these animals and the nuances that each of the 4 schools has to offer. So if you're in one of these cities, Lisbon, Paris, Vienna, or Saumur, or even Versailles outside of Paris if you want to go see the other school, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend going to one or all of them. Who knows, maybe one day, but I haven't heard anything happening anytime soon. It would of course be great to see all 4 schools together like I was able to in 2007. But if not, it'll give you an excuse to travel to these great European cities. And like I said, if you like to learn about European equestrian and non-equestrian history, culture, and traditions, hop on my priority list because I have a special, special something coming for you in the near future. Seats will be very, very limited, and I'd love to share it with you. And of course, next June we're going to Ireland. And we'll be going to Germany as well in 2025, and most likely France. And this may be your opportunity to go visit Saumur. This wraps up another episode of Equestrian Journeys. Thank you so much for joining me today, and if you enjoyed our journey, please share it with a friend who loves horses or travel. Don't forget to subscribe to Equestrian Journeys on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. And for more content, travel tips, and beautiful images from our equestrian adventures, visit the website linked in the show notes. If you have any questions or suggestions for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you. So hop on that priority list and grab your free ebook. Look in the show notes, it's all there. So until next time, keep your passion for horses and travel alive.
