I've been in touch with Andreas Hausberger, and he was kind enough to invite me to join this group and to pose questions related to research for a book I'm writing. I am so honored to be in communication with this distinguished, knowledgeable community, and I thank you in advance for any time you might be able to spare for my questions.
I am writing a children's book (for ages 10-14) about the experiences of a Lipizzaner stallion at Piber in the 1930s and at the SRS during World War II. It's told from the point of view of the horse, whom I've named Favory Mercurio. He's rather homely, a bit too tall, but shows promise for the Courbette. He's a philosophical horse, and I've had lots of fun writing about how he feels about his training, his handlers, and life in general. (I've characterized him as the Hans Castorp of horses.) I have done quite a bit of research about the school, Lipizzaners, Piber, the war, etc., have read several of Alois Podhajsky's books, and have had some questions answered by the Media Office of the SRS, but of course with a book like this, there are always more questions and more details to flesh out. Some things I'm going to have to make up--it is a novel after all--but where it's possible to be historically accurate, I'd like to be. And because some of the things that are important to my horse aren't necessarily of first importance to a human, it can be tricky finding all the answers.
So here are the first of my questions -- and I can't thank Mr. Hausberger enough for allowing me to post them here, and to thank you all for your thoughts and ideas. The book that I'm writing is the fourth in a series published by Macmillan, the Breyer Horse Portrait Collection. My first book, "A Horse of Her Own," was also published in Germany as "Ein Herz, Eine Seele" by Arena Verlag, and you may visit my website, www.anniewedekind.com, for more information about my work.
--How would one get from Piber to Vienna in the 1930s? Train--or truck and trailer (if transporting a horse)?
--I am trying to get a better sense of what daily life is like for a new stallion starting training at the SRS. I have read a lot about the training itself, but I need details about his living situation. Do the new stallions live in the same barns with the older stallions? Do they interact with the older stallions? Do they have "free time" in paddocks together? I know in the 1930s the horses were actually ridden out in the country as well -- were there other opportunities for the horses to relax and mingle, before they started spending part of the summers in the Lainz zoo? (I don't think that happened until the late 30s, early 40s.)
--In my story, Chief Rider Polak trains my horse in the beginning, and then he is assigned to a younger rider. I would love to see a good picture of Polak if anyone has one! From the not-very-clear picture I've seen, it looks like he had a big nose. True? I am characterizing him (based on Podhajsky's description) as a calm, brilliant, patient man. A true teacher. Is that fair? Anything else I should know about Chief Rider Polak? He's one of the heroes of my book, and helps bring out the best in my horse.
--Col. Podhajsky is another hero, but a more volatile character. Based on his books, I'm depicting him as a bit more flamboyant, a bit more dramatic, a bit more arrogant, but still a brilliant rider and leader and protector of the School and the horses. Would you say this is fair? Any remarks at all about his personality would be very helpful. I love his books, but he definitely had an ego, no?
--Does anyone know who the director of Piber was in the mid-1930s? Or anything else about him?
I think that is all for now, but if it's OK, I'd love to be able to pose more questions as I go back over my narrative and identify the gaps. I'm about halfway done with the book now.
With gratitude, and best wishes,
Annie Wedekind
Hi Annie!
AntwortenLöschenWhere are you located in the states? I am from Oregon and I am happily currently owned by eight Lipizzans.
I would recommend the book "The Noble Stallion" by Arthur Heinz Lehmann, published in 1952 for additional background information. If you are fluent in German you may want to read the non-translated version, "Hengst Maestoso Austria". Some of the flashback scenes are set in Piber and the SRS and may give you additional information.
The author has additional books in German, but as I not fluent I have not yet read them. Also, I hope that Marcia from this list will write you. She corresponded with Podhajsky. She also collects SRS memorabilia and may have some postcards or other items that can give you some insight to that era.
Looking forward to reading your book,
Warm Regards,
Lisa Simmons
Actually this brings up another question I would love to ask the group about courbette horses. What generally "makes" a courbette horse? There is a Piber-imported bay stallion near us who was identified by a former SRS rider as a courbette horse. He indicated that if ridden, you would train them slightly differently - that you must be sensitive to how their hind quarters are compressed. I am sure an entire book could be written on this topic, I am just curious if these principles are currently employed. I am also curious if their is a certain confirmation type that predisposes a Lipizzan to the courbette.
AntwortenLöschenWarm Regards,
Lisa
Lisa, I have a thread going on courbette and I'd really like to know the answers to your questions, too.
AntwortenLöschenHi Annie,
AntwortenLöschen"How would one get from Piber to Vienna in the 1930s? Train--or truck and trailer (if transporting a horse)?"
The most likely way would have been train. Modern roads like the A2 autobahn (which is the highway one would take today from Vienna to Graz before heading west to Piber) and our interstate highways weren’t built by the 1930’s. In fact, the Germans built the first super highway in the 1930’s. So, most long distance land travel would have been done on a train. In fact, train travel is still a good option in Europe.
"In my story, Chief Rider Polak trains my horse in the beginning, and then he is assigned to a younger rider."
If you’re trying to portray training at the School accurately, you might want to reconsider this point. I'm not certain of the practices of the 1930's. But today, the young stallions are started by younger riders; the eleves (trainees) and Assistant Riders. This is done because the younger riders are lighter but I think that there is another good reason: in case of an accident, the young riders (typically 16 – 25 years) would recover more quickly than a Chief Rider. A Chief Rider would usually be in his 40’s when he is promoted from Rider and an experienced Chief Rider might be 50 or 60 – not a good time in life to be taking spills that often come when starting young horses. After the initial period of at least a year, the horse is assigned for training. Most stallions would be trained by a Rider or Chief Rider but some are trained by an Assistant Rider (under supervision of a Rider or Chief Rider) because the Assistant Rider must train a horse to perform in the Quadrille to be promoted to Rider. However, the eleves and Assistant Riders are supervised by a Chief Rider when they are starting young stallions. So, an accurate compromise might be to have Polak supervise the early training of the horse in your story. Since you're telling the story from the horse's point of view, you could have him say that he is glad to have someone so calm and patient supervising the training. Maybe have the hores act up a bit, as all young stallions do, and have Polak explain to the young riders that they must remain calm and be patient with the horses. IOW, show Polak teaching the young riders to be calm and patient like he was himself and the horses appreciation of that teaching...
"Col. Podhajsky is another hero, but a more volatile character. Based on his books, I'm depicting him as a bit more flamboyant, a bit more dramatic, a bit more arrogant, but still a brilliant rider and leader and protector of the School and the horses. Would you say this is fair? Any remarks at all about his personality would be very helpful. I love his books, but he definitely had an ego, no?"
One of my old teachers was a European contemporary of Podhajsky’s and sometimes competed against him. According to my teacher, Podhajsky not only had an ego but also a quick temper. There was some kind of grudge between my teacher and Podhajsky. Nothing was ever said out loud about the cause of the grudge so I won’t speculate. But I think they both held it till the grave.
If you read German, you can find contemporary comments about Podhajsky’s riding in general and the 1936 Olympic Games in particular. For example, Gustav Rau (a German veterinarian and renowned equestrian critic of the day) wrote “Die Reitkunst der Welt an den Qlympischen Speilen 1936” (The Equitation of the World at the 1936 Olympic Games). In it, Rau discusses the riders and horses that took part in the 1936 Olympics. Rau was not complimentary about Podhajsky’s test which won Podhajsky the Bronze Medal. Rau was kinder to the other Austrian competitors who placed 12th and 16th.
Good luck with your story!
John
Dr. Alois Besel.
AntwortenLöschenHe was "Landstallmeister" for the Styria-region. He became stud director in Piber just after the collapse of the Habsburg empire, in 1919 or 1920. As far as I remember he died in 1947. He is burried in the Piber cemetery.
He was responsible for the fresh start of the Lipizzan breeding in the new republic of Austria. He succeeded to reconstruct a proper breeding population out of those horses which accrued to Austria after WW I.
Unfortunately his herd was taken away by the Germans in 1942, towards Hostau. He never saw them return, as he died in 1947.
Definitely by train. This can be found in the stud's administration too.
AntwortenLöschenAll stallions of the SRS were during the long history of the school always stabled in the "Stallburg", the quadrangle renaissance building beside the famous ridinghall, the "Winterreitschule". [I suppose you can't call this majestic building a "barn"... ;-) ]
AntwortenLöschenIn the 30-ies (i.e. before the Podhajsky-area) there were not that many stallions (and therefore not that many stable boxes) as nowadays. Approximately 30-40 stallions. Some stallions were even stalled in stands (which is a space-saving stable solution). Therefore not all stable corridors were in use, as in our times. Young stallions were just stabled in the same area as the older ones (just like now). Interaction through the bars, so they can all see-hear-smell eachother. There were/are no paddocks in the center of Vienna. The fresh air could be only picked up during the exercises in the open riding arena in the courtyard of the SRS: the "Sommerreitschule".
As far as I can remember by head, the use of the stables in Lainz was organized by Col.Podhajsky during WW II. (You could find this in his autobiography "Ein Leben für die Lipizzaner"). Before that there was no opportunity for the SRS-stallions to come out, "to relax and mingle"
AntwortenLöschenI did not find any clue that the stallions of the SRS came out their hidden surrounding of the Stallburg/Winterreitschule in the center of the old city in those earlier times. So I am very curious, where you found that information that the stallions were actually ridden out in the country as well !
He was not only a true artist in the saddle, he was also an excellent violinist. He was born in the (in those times still Imperial) stud of Kladrub (the other imperial stud, beside Lippiza)
AntwortenLöschenLike John explained above, Col.Podhajsky was not an easy person. A very disciplined military officer, who lead the SRS in a military way. High demanding for himself and his surrounding. At the end of his career/life quite stubborn...., which caused some trouble among the SRS-personnel in the beginning 60-ies.
AntwortenLöschenBut ok, without these qualifications he would not have been able to achieve what he achieved for the SRS and the Lipizzaner breed, I suppose... Ego...? Oh yes.
Indeed, not everybody was convinced that he was that brilliant rider, as his reputation made of him. Compared to all other (international) dressage riders of those times, he was definitely a good rider and teacher. But not a riding artist. Like Polak, or like Hazslinszky.
Chief Rider Wahl spoke highly of Chief Rider Polak. Wahl was so proud to have been a pupil of Polak. He described him as "one of the few artists" at the school. Wahl always said that Podhajsky wasn't the best rider at the Spanish Riding School as Polak was the best for Wahl.
AntwortenLöschenThank you all so much for these very helpful details and clarifications! I am relieved to read that my sense of Col. P (gathered from his books) was pretty accurate, and from these additional comments, I can edit what I have done thus far. And the information about Polak and the violin is priceless! Atjan, thank you so much for all of your comments.
AntwortenLöschenThe reason I had Polak training my horse in the beginning was due to this quote: “The young rider learns from the old school horse and the young stallion from the practiced rider.” (Die Spanische Hofreitschule, 1954) But I can easily change this, and appreciate all of John's suggestions.
Here is Podhajsky writing about the Lipizzaners being ridden in the countryside near Lainz, were they were first brought in July 1941: “During the months of the summer holiday the horses were alternately given training and taken out for rides, being left in the afternoons to enjoy the soft meadows undisturbed … The Lipizzaner were wonderful to ride round the countryside. Although not used to this kind of work they soon grew accustomed to it, trotting and galloping superbly up and down hill, clearing joyfully any obstacles like ditches, tree-trunks, or winding brooks and convincing their riders that the greatest earthly joy is without doubt to be found on a horse’s back. These rides in the wonderful, peaceful countryside, populated only by red deer and wild boars … convinced even the most skeptical how well suited the Lipizzaner were for general work. To us also our stay at the Zoo was like Paradise … the rides were immensely valuable as training.” (My Dancing White Horses, 1960)
Now doesn't that sound like fun? I have only gotten to ride a Lipizzaner once, last year in Kentucky. He was imported from Austria by friends of my family and used as a hunter -- riding all over the hills and fields of the countryside. They let me ride him (knowing I was going to write this book) when I was visiting KY about three months after I had my son. I'm an experienced hunter-jumper rider, but ... well, oh dear. The magnificent horse had not been exercised enough, I was terribly out of shape from my pregnancy, and he stepped on a wild turkey. You can picture the rest. I wasn't thrown, but that's the best I can say about the whole ride!
Lisa, I live in New York -- and just got "The Noble Stallion" from the library. It's absolutely hilarious! Thanks so much for the recommendation.
So I'm putting my young stallions on a train to Vienna now. Might anyone have further remarks about the level of rider who will first be assigned to him?
Many, many thanks!
Annie
Yes, it's true that by 1941 the Lipizzaner were going to Lainzer Tiergarten. But the facilities they used there were actually built in 1941, about 2 years after Podhajsky became Director. In "My Dancing White Horses" (the English translation of Ein Leben fuer die Lipizzaner), Podhaksky writes "An additional project was the creation of summer quarters. The illness of the Lipizzaner virtually every year and the fact that they had not left the city since returning to the Stallburg over three months before, induced me to look for some kind of summer holiday quarters for the school - an undertaking that seemed almost hopeless in the middle of a war. ... And so I managed to discover a suitable place in the Lainz Zoo, and there, despite all opposition form the Gauleiter in Vienna, I set up summer quarters for the horses." Later on the same page, he says that the horses went to their summer quarters for the first time in July 1941. So, it would be an anachronism to put them in the Tiergarten in the mid 1930's.
AntwortenLöschenBTW, Lainzer Tiergarten isnt' a zoo in the ordinary sense of zoo. Like the Tiergarten in Berlin, it was a wild area. Now, it is more of a nature park; there are educational walks with signs describing trees, shrubs and other plants. There are also large fields that are fenced in where native animals live. But, mostly, Lainzer Tiergarten is a large park with woods and fields, hiking trails, and some wild animals. Not a zoo with exhibits of exotic animals from all over the world. For that kind of zoo in Vienna, you'd go to the Schoenbrunn Tiergarten. But, the fields and woods of that natural park are what made it such a good place for the Lpizzaner.
Re the Podhajksy quote: “The young rider learns from the old school horse and the young stallion from the practiced rider.”
Yes, that's true. But, he's referring to the more advanced training of a young stallion. Even in Podhajsky's day, the youngsters were started by the youngest riders. Here's a quote from Podhajsky's "Complete Training of Horse and Rider": "accordingly, it is necessary that the work of young horses always be carefully supervised. The best way is to take them in a group under the supervision of an experienced trainer. Young riders will be better suited for the first lessons of a horse than older ones. Apart from the fact that in all probablility they would be lighter, they are likely to make less demands on their mounts. Experienced riders might, from sheer boredom, try to demand more from a young horse than his muscular development is capable of. Moreover, the young rider would be given the opportunity to gain experience in breaking a horse."
It is after the breaking in and inital year or so of training that the young stallions are assigned to experienced riders for their Campaign School and High School training. The initial stage is referred to as Remount Training where the emphasis is on teaching the horse to go Calm Forward and Straight. Of course, as I said, some of the young stallions are assigned to Assitant Riders for their Campaign School and High School training but the Assitant Riders would be supervised and advised by their teacher who is an experienced trainer.
Hello again! I've just found a major gap in my portrayal of the young stallion's training. Would he have learned to wear a saddle and bridle at Piber, before going up the school, or at the school? Thank you again!
AntwortenLöschen"Would he have learned to wear a saddle and bridle at Piber, before going up the school, or at the school?"
AntwortenLöschenNormally, he would learn this at the school. However, I remember Podhajsky writing that, in previous times, young stallions had been lunged and taught to be driven with carriages at Piber before they were sent to Vienna. He said this didn't work very well so the practice had been stopped. Unfortunately, he doesn't mention any dates.
Also, a few years ago, 8 stallions were selected for Vienna but only 4 did their initial training in Vienna. The other 4 were started at Piber under the supervision of a Chief Rider. I don't know why this was tried but I haven't heard that it was still happening. So, maybe it hasn't been necessary (for example: for reasons of stable space in Vienna) or it wasn't successful.
That year was decided to bring in more stallions to Vienna, to postpone the final decisions of keeping/selling. However, there was no stable space enough in Vienna. So the best 4 went to Vienna, the other remained in Piber to be ridden. I do not know by head now, if some of those 4 remained indeed reached Vienna after all.
AntwortenLöschenThank you so much, John. I did already have him on a longe line at Piber, so I think I'll stick with that. And this next question might sound very small indeed, but my horse's introduction to Vienna is quite an important part of the book. Would he arrive at the Westbahnhof? And how would he then get to the Stallburg? I'd love him to get to take a walk through the streets of Vienna, but that might be ridiculous, even in 1935.
AntwortenLöschenAnother: Are the two marble basins in the back of the horses' stalls for water, I assume? Or does one of them serve another purpose?
Please let me know if I overstay my welcome here. I don't want to try your patience with all of my questions! And thanks again for all of your insights. I will be sure to give grateful acknowledgments in the book to everyone who has been so kind.
The young stallions arrived at "Südbahnhof", then the grooms walked them to the School.
AntwortenLöschenYou are right, each stall has two marble basins, that's because when the stable was built all stallions were tied up and had a "Stand". Later, when they decided to keep the stallions in stalls, the made a stall out of two stands, but they left the marble basins. One of them is in use (feed) the other not.
Annie you don't overstay your welcome! :-)
Andreas,
AntwortenLöschenSpeaking of feed, what do the stallions get daily and how much? Hay, too. What kind, how much and how often?
If you try to find SüdBahnhof Wien on a map (or a website such as Mapquest.com), you’ll find it in the southern part of the city (of course!) between SüdTiroler Platz and Schloss Belvedere. From SüdBahnhof, the walk to the Stallburg (on Reitschule Gasse between Habsburger Gasse and Brauner Strasse or Michaeler Platz and Josefs Platz) would be about 1.5 miles (2.4 KM); a little more or a little less depending on which streets were used. For horses being led, that might take 25 minutes or so. So, it would not be a long walk at all.
AntwortenLöschenThanks to you all, Favory Mercurio has made it from the Sudbahnhof to the Stallburg, and it's my favorite scene yet, imagining a young horse from the country experiencing the enthralling beauty of Vienna. Mille grazie!
AntwortenLöschenAnd now ... names. Are the school stallions ever given nicknames, or are their full (lovely) names always used? You can imagine that the double names are taking up quite a bit of room as I'm introducing each new horse, and I'm looking for a less wieldy solution. Would it be too undignified to give them nicknames? If nicknames have been given to the stallions, could you share some with me?
I've already nicknamed Favory Mercurio's half-brother "Ned." Please don't laugh! ;)
And thanks as always...
I understand that at one point there was a stallion at the SRS with one blue eye. He was called "Fishy". That might be fun to include!
AntwortenLöschenThe Riders usually refer to the stallions by their dam’s name or some nickname. For example, First Chief Rider Kottas had Maestoso Bellamirawho was called Bellamira and Maestoso Basowizza was called either Basowizza or Baso. The first of their two names is the name of their sire line going back to one of the 6 foundation stallions. Sometimes, there are brothers at the School. For example, Herr Oberbereiter Hausberger has Conversano Dagmar and Favory Dagmar. They are half brothers out of the same mare but sired by different stallions. He refers to them as C. Dagmar and F. Dagmar.
AntwortenLöschenNever heard that name.
AntwortenLöschenVery few stallions get a nickname. Some do, though they do get them from the groom or the rider. I call my stallions ba there second name. Example: Maestoso Basowizza I call "Basowizza" sometimes "Basi", Siglavy Narenta I call "Narenta" sometimes "Narenti", my two Dagmars (Conversano Dagmar and Favory Dagmar I) I call C. Dagmar and F. Dagmar, sometimes just "Dagi".
AntwortenLöschenFavory Dubovina = Dubovina
Neapolitano Aga = Aga or Agi
Neapolitano Dahes = Dahes
Maestoso Bellamira = Bellamira or Belli
N
I believe the time frame was the 50s, maybe 60s.
AntwortenLöschenI am a history teacher and I must say I am THRILLED to see a children's author doing such meticulous research! I think that is not always the case and it is MUCH appreciated! I can't wait to read the book.
AntwortenLöschenI have a picture somewhere of Mr.Rochowansky, riding a Lipizzaner stallion with a fish eye... Might be the same?
AntwortenLöschenBreyer Announces 2011 Mid-Year Releases
AntwortenLöschen"The latest in the Breyer Horse Collection from Macmillan Publishing is straight from the imagination of acclaimed author Annie Wedekind. Mercury’s Flight is the story of a Lipizzaner stallion – the white stallions that were famously rescued by U.S. Gen. George Patton in WWII - and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna."
Congratulations, Annie!!
Romy
Look forward to read it!
AntwortenLöschen