Morning Exercise in the Winter Riding School
Julius von Blaas
The Spanish Riding School Arena
Vienna, Austria
Someday I would love to see a performance of the famous Lipizzaner stallions in Austria. They sometimes travel the world, but the Tacoma Dome just wouldn't be the same. Their home arena is a spotless, sunlight flooded hall with a royal box and a portrait of Emperor Charles VI that the riders always salute when they enter.
Traditionally, Lipizzaners at the school have been trained only by men. In October 2008, two women, an
18-year-old from the United Kingdom and a 21-year-old from Austria,
passed the entrance exam and were accepted to train as riders at the
school - the first women to do so in 436 years. I don't know if I envy or feel sorry for them. Talk about a man's world. Almost as bad as the Vienna Philharmonic.
Hauling in to our winter arena
Fall City, Washington
Cindy calling out patterns to Jen riding Spanky
Around here, recreational riding is definitely a woman's world. The more ambitious friends are practicing patterns for upcoming Western Dressage shows. The lazy ones are trotting their horses around the track, chatting and watching others work. Guess what category Dolly and I fall into?
So go.
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