The Spanische Reitschule, AKA The Spanish Riding School (Vienna, Austria)

Two things by way of introduction. We weren't allowed to take these pictures. We didn't, however, know that... that is until the guard very sternly told us to put the camera away. Consequently, the pictures we got weren't the best, but its worth it...you'll see. Second, I'm not wild about horses. Jason is. I am not. (I know...a girl who doesn't go nuts over horses...its a bit weird.) Anyway, I am crazy about these horses. Which is a funny thing for me. But I insisted on the visit and oh my, was it worth it.

Here's the setting. This isn't the show that the horses are training for. In fact, this is only the morning workout. The riders are wearing the standard uniform, and these horses may be the younger ones just working on a few new skills or the older ones working on staying limber and remembering their routine. Either way, its a treat. But, back to the setting. The room looks palatial. Its so beautiful...looking up there is marble, crystal chandeliers, stunning paintings, and looking down is the softest loveliest dirt for the horses to train on. Oh yeah, and classical music is played throughout the work out. Its surreal at best.

The people watch from the balconies and the horses (there were three or four on the training area at a time) just go about the morning training. Okay, now for the horse part: they are Lipizzaner stallions. A Lipizzaner is a breed originally produced by crossing Spanish, Arab and Berber horses. And yes, its true, they are born black and slowly turn white. And although the white ones are stunning, I was thrilled to see some of the two and three year olds looking a splotchy grey.

Last unique bit, the horses run with their heads down. It makes them look very playful. In fact, I didn't realise this at all. I was just thinking there was something different about the horses, until Jason pointed it out to me. So cool! Oh, and one more thing. They are training to dance. That's the show. The horses glide and prance about, moving in all directions, in rhythm with the music. Simply incredible!