Ancient Oberbereiter

Some pictures of ancient "Oberbereiter" (Chief riders) of the 'Spanische Hofreitschule' - Spanish Ridingschool, in Vienna.

Time area: 1900-1940

Questions about the SRS from an American author

Dear Horses and Dressage community,

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

Workshop Working in Hand very successful

The workshop "Working in hand" with Oberbereiter Andreas Hausberger in Aubenhausen (GER), November 14, 2009 was very successful.

See:  website Aubenhausen

A 3-hours workshop "Working in Hand" with Oberbereiter Andreas Hausberger took place in the Aubenhausen-estate of the Werndl Family, near Munich.
About 100 interested people participated in this first event, organised in this way, and were thrilled.

A video impression

Original text:

Der Workshop "Die Arbeit an der Hand" war ein riesen Erfolg

Am Samstag den 14.11.2009 fand in Aubenhausen der ca. 3 stündige Workshop "Die Arbeit an der Hand" mit dem Oberbereiter der Wiener Hofreitschule Andreas Hausberger statt. Knapp 100 Interessierte nahmen an dem ersten Workshop dieser Art in Aubenhausen teil und waren begeistert. Egal ob Profi, Amateur oder Freizeitreiter, für jeden waren die Ausführungen von Andreas Hausberger aufschlussreich und interessant.

Chief Rider Hubert Eichinger

Chief Rider Eichinger died at 7. June 2009 

I had the pleasure to work with him during my time as Eleve.

It's a great loss for the the dressage community and the Spanish Riding School.

The great Conversano Isabella on Long Rein !!!

Official uniforms of a Oberbereiter in imperial times

Something serious now:

Please find two official uniforms of a Oberbereiter of the Spanish Ridingschool in ancient, imperial times, which they were supposed to wear outside the school in the 19th century (up till 1918)

Left the brown so-called campagne-uniform (daily common uniform)
(Not in use anymore)


And secondly the red gala-uniform, which inspired the costume makers of the Walt Disney-movie.  (Still the official uniform if a Oberbereiter in case he should represent the school under Gala-circumstances outside the school!)

Both these uniforms belonged to the famous Oberbereiter and leader of the SHS, Johann Meixner (died in 1916). They are now in the collection of the "Montur-depot", part of the Wagenburg-museum beside Schönbrunn palace.

Link for more: KHM


Question from me to Andreas:  are those red uniforms really still available for you, if you would like to visit -let's say- the Opernball ?

Favory Dubowina