Lehrgang in Soltau

Start:	Jul 30, '11
Location:	Friesenhof Steinberg

The Secret of the Dressage-Letters

"Why are the dressage-letters placed the way they are?"

This question caught my curiosity many for many years. In this article I would like to share some of the findings of my research as well as stating my hypothesis as to why the letters might have found today's placing.

In his writings, Pluvinel (1652) states that the length of the tournament arena for horses with faster speed should be '100 Gang long and 30 Gang to slow down' (one "Gang" is the old version for one step). The width of the arena was not specified but the arena could also have had a square circumference. 

As found in the writings by Loehneysen (1609) the lenght of the arena was 200 shoe. The Roman City shoe "Palma Romana-12" was used as measure. This would give us an approximate length of 61 meters for the arena. If we hold that a horse's step is equal to the length of two human shoes, the length of the arena has almost remained the same over the past centuries (the Winter-Riding-School in Vienna is 58 x 18 meters). Yet in accordance with the type of tournament the length of the arena could be changed; the "Billia" had a lenght of 250 shoe.

The placement of the letters can be found in Loehneysen's "Della Cavalleria" (1609) yet not specific explanation was given.

The placement was as follows:

                A

F                                K

B                                E

M                                H

                  C

In centuries past the training of the horse was considered the only reason for Dressage and the letters were markers for specific exercises. Entering the arena by riding a half volte occurred at point "A" or, depending on the placement of the tournament arena at point "E" (Entrata).

The instruction say: "In this ring you should enter at point A if possible, at the first ring letter B ride two full circles on the right hand (right rein), at the third circle at the letter B turn left and continue on the left hand (left rein). In the pictorial instructions two rings (circles) were drawn at the letter B (figure of eight). 

One writing states that the "Judicierer" - the judge - has to be placed on the left side of the track (Correia). This could be the reason why the salut to the judge is executed in the center of the arena, later to be known as "X".

On February 5, 1662, under the management of Domenico Cheninis, better known as "la Vigna", a tournament called the "Head Race" was held on Burgplatz in Vienna. The accurate description of this race can be found under Cod. 10789H.S. in the collection of handwritings in the Nationalbibliothek (National Library) in Vienna. Different figureheads had to be charged, targeted and struck with the lance, the spear, the pistol and the epee. This Head Race was formed from a long standing tradition, developed from tournaments in the late 16th century.

Heads used besides the "Moor" and "Turk" heads were:

Centauro      (half human - half horse)

Tigra            (tiger)

Lione           (lion)

Dragone       (dragon)

Grifone        (bird of prey)

Crocodrilo    (crocodile)

Murione       (helmet)

Serpe          (snake)

Fochoa        (seal)

The addition of new heads called for new descriptions and letters.

The heads were allowed to have the same starting letter, for instance 'M' for Murione, Medusa or Moor head.

François Robichon de la Guérinière (1751) described the Head Race and the used figure heads in section 5, chapter 22 of his book "Reitkunst" (german, 1817, third edition) under the heading "Carussels".

Prompted by the wars against the Ottomans, these exercises were used by the Germans before the French.

In properly organized tournaments four heads made of paper-mâché were used. The first head had to be removed by the use of the lance. This head was either hung on something resembling a light post mounted to the wall or stuck on a post on the track. The second head was the flat head of Medusa, the third a Moor. The fourth was the one to be removed with the epee.

Strict rules had to be followed during the tournament such as: 

One was not allowed to be on the wrong lead, drop one's helmet or lose a stirrup. If one or more of these rules were broken the person lost the tournament even if all four heads were removed in the appropriate manner.

In conclusion I would like to raise the hypothesis that placement of today's dressage letters is based upon the tradition of head races and the closely related jousting from centuries ago.

Looking at modern dressage tests, depending on the level, we use as many as 17 letters as points of reference (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, R, S, V (U) and X).

Combining all the information so far presented with the traditional description of the figure heads, the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, S, can be explained. The letter H was already used in Loehneysen's  "Delle Cavalleria", the use of the letter X as description for the center-point of the arena appears obvious. The letter K could be the new version of script for the letter C at the end of the 19th century. The letters P, R and V (U) are still in need to plausible explanation. 

by Dr. Diether Polheim

Luz da liberal, e nobre arte da cavallaria : offerecida ao Senhor D. Jo찾o, principe do Brazil : Andrade, Manoel Carlos de : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

http://www.archive.org/details/luzdaliberaleno00andr
Hello All,

This is a link to the book Luz da liberal e nobre arte da cavallaria.. by Manoel Carlos de Andrade. This is the copy of the original version of this book. The book has been reprinted in its original language, Portuguese, about 2 or 3 years ago , but it's already out of print. In our latin countries we are very slow to see our own treasures. The book, to my knowledge, has been translated to German recently.
With my best wishes to all in this Christmas and Holidays!!

Ecurie_Dressage_Alban_TISSOT

http://www.ecurie-albantissot.com/
A côté du Château de Ménerval, en Normandie, l'Ecurie de Dressage où Andreas Hausberger expliquera son art au cours d'un stage en juillet-août 2010.
Near the "Château de Ménerval" is the place where Andreas will give a clinic in summer 2010.

http://www.lipizzan-philip.com/

http://www.lipizzan-philip.com/
The most important private Lipizzaners Stud-farm in Europe, the "Elevage Philip" is a reference in traditional breeding.

Association Française du Lipizzan

http://www.lipizzan-francais.com/
L’association “ Les Amis Français du Lipizzan" avait été crée en 1965 par Mr Bellon. Depuis sa fille Joëlle BELLON a poursuivi son oeuvre au travers de l'Association Française du Lipizzan. Celle-ci regroupe des éleveurs, des propriétaires, des cavaliers et amateurs de Lipizzans. Elle s’est assignée pour buts de promouvoir le développement de la race lipizzanne en veillant à la conservation de sa pureté et à la qualité des chevaux

Lehrgang in Soltau

Start:	Aug 7, '10 10:00a
End:	Aug 8, '10 4:00p
Location:	"Friesenhof Steinberg"

Friesenhof Steinberg


Anmeldungen über Nicole Künzel
info@evipo.de
Tel. +49-1520-5410603
Beginn: 10 Uhr

Lehrgang in Pinneberg

Start:	May 22, '10 10:00a
End:	May 23, '10 4:00p
Location:	"Alter Eichenhof"

Alter Eichenhof

Anmeldungen und weitere Informationen bei
Brigitta Otto +49-163-8477992
brigitta.otto@hamburg.de
oder
Martina Reher +49-170-4878959

Spanische Hofreitschule Virtual Tour

 

Virtual tour of the Spanische Hofreitschule. If you have never been there, see what it is like. If you have been there, relive some memories.

http://www.moving-pictures.de/vtour/spanische_hofreitschule/index.php

Lipizzan Center South Africa

Lipizzaner Center South Africa

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, several noblemen bred Lipizzaner. This included Count Jankovich-Besan. As the Russians approached, he decided to move the horses from his native Hungary to his parents’ estate in Bavaria. Some of the horses were moved, pulling carts and wagons through miles of snow and others were moved by rail.
The railroad was a target for heavy bombing and a 300-mile journey took six agonising weeks. There was also the ever present danger that the troops would requisition the horses for food. Accordingly the horses were painted with paraffin and oil so that they would appear sick and unhealthy, unfit for human consumption.
After the war, however, conditions in Germany were still difficult and Count Jankovich decided to move the majority of his horses to England, where they arrived at Christmas in 1946 and were sent to Lord Digby’s estate in Dorset. In 1948 Count Jankovich moved to South Africa and the horses soon followed him to settle at Mooi River in Natal, again at Christmas.
Major George Iwanowski
The history of the Lipizzaner horses in South Africa is so closely linked to the life and times of one person. Major George Iwanowski, a polish immigrant, single-handedly launched the tradition of the performing white stallions in South Africa.
Iwanowski was born on his family estate, Lebiodka, in Eastern Poland. He graduated from the Warsaw Agricultural College and wrote his diploma papers on horse breeding to obtain a Master of Science degree. He spent two years as assistant director of the Polish National Stud Bogusławice, whereafter he completed cavalry school and joined the 1st Lancers Regiment.
Then the Second World War broke out and he had to fight for his country. After the war, Major Iwanowski was commissioned by the Polish army to take over the SS stud, Lauvenburg, in the Rhineland. He spent two years at the stud when politics again interfered. Poland had been “sold” to the Russians and would become a communist state, subservient to Moscow. In a desperate move to escape the nightmare that was sure to follow, Iwanowski packed his bags and moved to South Africa.
On his arrival in Johannesburg, he set out to meet horsey people who could be instrumental in helping him find employment. It worked and after an initial stint at a stud farm in the Karoo, he returned to Johannesburg where he and Josy Hicks formed a partnership and started Centaur Stables, which later became the first home of the Lipizzaner team.
The Major met Count Jankovich-Besan who invited him to his stud at Mooi River and offered him his first Lipizzaner stallion, Maestoso Erdem. Due to the natural trainability of the Lipizzaner, Erdem was soon performing some of the more difficult dressage movements and impressing at shows all over the country in both competition and displays.
It is interesting to note that Iwanowski was not only a dyed-in-the-wool dressage rider, but also jumped and competed in horse racing at the same time. Many steeplechase riders later become top dressage riders, but seldom, if ever, had one rider managed to win a dressage championship and a hurdle championship in the same year - something the Major managed!
Building the team
Following the success of the displays put on by Erdem, the Major began to build a performing Lipizzaner team. These were all stallions who belonged to other riders, pupils of the Major, but who performed together as a team. It was at about this time that the Major met Colonel Hans Handler, at the time the second in command at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, in Rhodesia, who gave him his first lessons in High School riding and ­accepted an invitation to visit his school in Johannesburg.
His input into putting together the still rather informal displays – both in organising and choreography, was invaluable. This gave the Major the idea of forming a permanent Lipizzaner team for public displays.
In 1962 tragedy struck when Erdem broke his leg. They managed to save the horse though, but his performing days were over. He was retired to stud, but sadly sired only two foals before dying of a mysterious illness. The Major did not appear on a Lipizzaner in public for almost two years.
Fate intervened. Count Jankovich-Besan’s stud was in financial trouble and the horses needed to be sold or find their way to the butcher. Angela Irvin and her husband Jack, the managing director of National Chemical Products, bought some of the horses and move them from the stud at Mooi River to the NCP farm at Waterkloof, also in Natal.
Major Iwanowski was set with the task of finding homes for the other horses. He proposed to the Irvins that all their young colts be sent to his school for training and that they form a team known as the NCP Lipizzaner team to publicise the company’s products, which included horse feed. This was the first step towards realising the Major’s dream of having his own team of dancing white stallions – an ambitious feat as not even in England had a Lipizzaner team been formed.
The training of the young stallions progressed. The public flocked to the performances in droves. The shows became more and more spectacular with the riders donning the formal attire and some of the elaborate period dress of past centuries. Side-saddle displays captured the elegance of days gone by and is unique to the SA ­Lipizzaner show, as in Vienna they only have male riders.
Apart from the Major, all the other riders were women. Some of the original riders in the team were Mietie von Hartesveldt, Margie Widman, Ann Sutton, Lynn Jarmen, Gill Meyer, Anne Webb, Ania Glintenkamp, Eva Sydow, Carol Kretszchmar, Maureen Quinn, Helen Dagliesh and Valerie Welsh.
Going from strength to strength, the team’s efforts were rewarded when they were invited by Colonel Handler to visit the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. This proved to them that they were on the right track and that the Lipizzaners in South Africa were here to stay.
Major Iwanowski celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year (2007) and the SA Lipizzaners proudly put on a special performance in his honour, with many of the people and riders that were originally involved. As he now lives in Poland, he was unable to attend, but a video of this event was sent to him as a special tribute from the team in SA.
The Lipizzaners today
SA Horseman visited the South African Lipizzaner Centre, situated at the Lipizzaner Hall on the KEP (Kyalami Equestrian Park) showgrounds, owned by THS, in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg. The horses were being exercised and trained by their riders every morning and the school was a scene of activity.
One could distinguish the younger horses by their still dark coats and the snaffle bridles they were being ridden in from the older and much whiter horses in their traditional Viennese bridles with curb bits.
The Lipizzaners in South Africa are the only performing Lipizzaners outside Vienna, that are endorsed and recognised by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, as our performances uphold their high standards and are based on the traditional principles and training methods and have not heeded the popularity-pull to become “circus displays”.
We were told enthusiastically that a crop of new colts had arrived from the stud farm that had recently been moved to Clarence to the farm of Karel de Bruin, after having been moved around quite a bit in recent years. This consists of a herd of mares, out of which they aim to have an average of four colts per year. The stallions are of course all stabled at the Centre – all 30 of them! They don’t call it Boystown for nothing!
The training of the young colts will start by running them loose in the undercover school, where it will soon be obvious to the trainers which horse has been chosen by the group as the leader. This is important, as he will be the horse to focus on and give the initial voice commands to, the one whom the other horses will follow.
Not until they officially start their lounging work, will the horses be one-on-one with a human, but all work will be done in this way, in a group. This running of the young stallions is incorporated into the performance and gives the horses the chance to become used to the idea of performing in front of an audience from an early age.
The audience is asked to participate in this training of the youngsters by being absolutely quiet and at times being urged to clap gently and at other times more enthusiastically. To hear this about the training of these ­magnificent show horses, puts it just a little into perspective. They are trained to become the absolute masters at their art, the showmen that they are.
Of course, as approximately four new colts arrive every year, it is impossible for the Centre to keep them all. Some are inevitably sold on. It is, however, very rare for one of the older performing stallions to be sold, but it has happened in the past and will no doubt happen again when there is an overflow of stallions.
The horses live according to a very strict routine, with training for half an hour every day during the week, hacking out on Saturdays and the performance on Sundays. Mondays are for relaxing and going into the paddocks. The horses are also competed locally at shows to maintain credibility among the riding community and to uphold standards.
The standards for their performances and training too are very strict and are dictated by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, from where a representative visits the Centre once a year in order to keep these standards in place and to offer assistance when needed.
Fight for survival
The Lipizzaner shows are accepted as a feature of the SA equestrian landscape. However, few of us are aware of the struggle they have been fighting for survival. The Sunday morning performances alone cannot support the ­horses and they regularly travel the country to give displays and do corporate functions and events. With the changes in the country, sponsorships have become scarce as there are too many other pressing social needs that need support.
It became clear that in order to ensure their survival, the Lipizzaners would have to start giving, instead of taking – to run the Centre as a business, instead of a charity. Thus the South African Lipizzaners formed an alliance with the Reach For a Dream Foundation, enabling them to attract sponsorships for their continued survival, as well as to help many children in need.
Special performances and charity events in alliance with Reach for a Dream, will be put on and sponsorships and donations can be made. Companies can sponsor a specific horse for the amount of R5 000 per month, which will provide for the upkeep of the horse and a percentage will go to Reach for a Dream to help a sick child. The sponsor will get exposure from his generosity, which will serve as an advertisement for his business.
One company that has already come on board, is Theo’s Projects. They already sponsor a horse and have also approached the Lipizzaners with another offer – they are developing an equestrian estate outside ­Bronkhorstspruit, called Reverie Estate, which will offer an upmarket equestrian centre and competition facility, including indoor show arenas, show grounds, as well as polo fields, shops and an equestrian museum. There will be a lodge for guests, as well as privately owned half-hectare stands.
They have asked the Lipizzaners to endorse this new facility, to give their input, expertise and to lend it credibility and have in return offered the SA Lipizzaners 18 hectares of land at this facility. Through all of this, the SA Lipizzaners also aim to promote equestrian sports in this country as a whole.

Lipizzan Center South Africa

The longest manes ever. Amazing !!!

It's always a dream to have long manes with certain horses.
We try to maintain them on the right way, to get them as long as possible.
Some put all kind of oil inside the manes to make them grow.
The most of the horses are having braids all the time, to protect the hair from braking and dirt. There is also a story if you wash the manes with your boiled potato water, they will grow faster.

In Spain, they shave all the mane and tail hair off when they are 5 months old.
They say, when all the baby hair is removed,  the new hair can grow, because the baby hair slows down the growing process of the new hair. And after that, it's having the space to grow long, in a great amount of manes. Ok,if you think about it, it could be true, but also between the Andalusian horses are horses with barely no manes.

Believe me, the first time when they shaved the manes and tail from the foals,I was, OW MY GOD!!! What are they doing! I really thought they had brain damage or we're crazy!But after seeing the result :-) I shave my foals also when they are 5 months. It looks really weird, no manes and tail hair. But I got to tell you, it grows different than foals without shaving!


But I think, all kind of horses, have their own genetic way. to have long manes or short.
Some horses they will have 3 peaces of hair on their forehead for the rest of their life, even if you keep looking at it, to believe it will grow! And I have seen horses with manes, that grows every day!

I love long manes! I always say to a horse with extremely long manes, wow, look at his wig :-)

  
But it always interest me, how they grow that long? Or the maintaining of the manes.


There is a legend of wild horses in Oregon with exceptionally long manes and tails. Eventually, some of these horses were captured and bred as circus horses. The wild population died out long ago and the captive bred horse lineage also seems to be been lost. Back in the 1880s though, these horses were a popular side show and circus attraction that made a lot of money for their owners. The most famous of the long haired horses was “Linus”

“In the early history of Oregon traditions of a herd of magnificent wild horses that roamed at will over her mountains and valleys were told the settlers, and, like many other tales of like character, seemed beyond belief. It was said this herd was led by an enormous chestnut stallion, whose mane and tail were so abundant and of such length as to almost envelop the entire animal in a wealth of flowing hair. For years this" Wild King of Oregon Wonder Horses" roamed over the country, ever alert to stampede his followers and flee with almost the rapidity of the wind at the approach of a human being. So subtile was this wild leader of his race that it was only at rare intervals that the best hunters were able to even secure at a distance a glimpse of these marvelous equines. Frequent hunts were inaugurated by those who had heard of the surpassing beauty of these horses for the purpose of capturing them to be placed in subjection and used for improving the breeding of the settlers' horses; but, though all the advantage that the intelligent hunter could command was brought to bear, added to which were large rewards for the capture of the magnificent leader, or some representative member of the herd, for years the intuitive cunning of this remarkably intelligent horse rendered his capture, or that of his followers, impossible, though for some unaccountable reason there was no apparent increase in the herd, which was later accounted for, as this wild king would brook no rival, and killed every male born to his equine harem.

Surrounded by his bevy of beautiful mares, who, like him, possessed in a marked degree the hirsute adornments that caused the settlers to seek their capture, this" uncrowned king" of the Pacific Slope continued to evade civilization until his demise, leaving sixteen beautiful mares to mourn their lifelong protector, but with apparently no means of perpetuating the race. Many, in fact most, of these mares were aged, for they, too, had followed the footsteps of their leader and fought among themselves for supremacy to such an extent that only such rivals as were imbued by nature with extraordinary powers of endurance were enabled to rear their female young; and possibly none would have survived but for the probable interference of the "wild old king," who saw in this bitter war of extermination the loss of opportunity to surround himself with the choicest of equine beauty, and so in a few instances must have insisted on allowing some "to live. At all events, of the sixteen mares but one was ever captured that was possible to breed, and she possessed extraordinary powers for perpetuating the peculiarities of her race, for, as shown in the second, third and fourth descent, all the leading characteristics of this marvelous mare are not only found, but in each instance strengthened and increased by careful breeding, so that now the "Oregon Wonder Horses" have become in captivity what they were in their wild state, a distinct and beautiful breed, exhibiting to a high degree the intelligence that enabled them to retain their liberty for so many years while pursued and eagerly hunted by the most famed scouts, cowboys and hunters the great West could command.

The capture of "Oregon Queen," the youngest surviving mare of the wild herd, was hailed with pleasure by those interested in improving the breeding of horses, both in Oregon and the entire Pacific Coast (for their fame was widespread), and when it became known that the "Queen" was to bear a foal by the old leader of the herd, offers of fabulously large amounts were made in advance of its birth for the offspring; but all were refused by Messrs. Rutherford, who had, by early purchase from the captors, secured the much-coveted prize.

In the early spring of 1870 "Oregon Queen" became the dam of "Oregon Beauty," the first of the Wonder Horses born in captivity. This filly was treated with the utmost care, and soon developed into a marvel of beauty (hence her name); and when five years old, and after the birth of her first colt (Linus), was placed on exhibition, and proved one of the greatest drawing cards for fairs and museums ever known, until her death at Coney Island, where she was killed by lightning in the summer of 1887. Happily Linus, her son, who not only resembled his dam, but possessed even a greater development of tail and mane, was able to succeed her as one of the most attractive exhibition animals ever placed before the public
Linus II showing his double mane and long tail

Linus was sold in 1890 to Messrs. Eaton Brothers, of Boston, for $30,000, and proved a splendid paying exhibition property for several years, so much so that $60,000 was refused for him by his owners, who retained possession of him until his death in 1894.

In the meantime, by careful and judicious breeding extending over a period of twenty-five years from the capture of the first mare, the Messrs. Rutherford have succeeded in establishing this breed of "Wonder Horses" on a secure foundation; and, though guarding with utmost jealousy all the progeny, they carefully continued their line of breeding until they possess to-day absolute control of a distinct breed of horses, the like of which has never been seen in all the world, nor will it ever be reproduced, since the wild origin is now extinct.

The" Wonder Horses" of Oregon are remarkable for the great growth of hair in mane and tail, which for length and thickness is not equaled in the world; and since these horses have been bred in captivity this growth of beautiful silken hair has increased with each generation, as will be seen from a comparison of the photographs contained herein. The wonderful endurance and intelligence of this breed of equines is at once apparent to anyone familiar with horses; and now that all trace of the wild nature has bowed to the gentle care and treatment meted out to these animals, they exhibit the utmost gentleness and court the attention of those who come near them. Another remarkable characteristic of this truly wonderful breed of horses is their color, all of them being rich chestnuts, which goes far to prove them a distinct breed, able, by reason of their thoroughbred origin, to perpetuate their blood from generation to generation.' No doubt the "Oregon Wonder Horses" are the truest descendants of the first horses brought to America by Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico. Probably some' escaped at that early period and established this breed hundreds of years ago remaining wild and uncaptured.

Linus II. is pronounced by eminent horsemen as the most perfect type of equine beauty in the world, and his proud bearing adds much to his natural grandeur, for he carries himself as a worthy successor of his wild old ancestor, the King of Oregon Wonder Horses, in whose place he now stands as leader of his race.”

It's amazing I think, at the age of 8 years old to have such manes on each side and a  forelock like that, and than we will not speak about the tail ;-) :-)

The chestnuts on the pictures are the stallions Linus I and Linus II

Dressurfestival Aubenhausen

Start:	Jun 26, '09
End:	Jun 28, '09
Location:	Familie Werndl - Reitanlage Aubenhausen

Seit mehr als einem Jahrzehnt ist das Aubenhausen Dressurfestival ein Höhepunkt im Dressursport. Das prominente Starterfeld, das besondere Ambiente, der professionelle Service und das attraktive Rahmenprogramm machen dieses Dressurturnier jedes Jahr zu einem Publikumsmagneten.

Das Aubenhausen Dressurfestival bietet wieder eine große Bandbreite an Dressur-Prüfungen mit vielen bekannten Namen und Gesichtern aus dem Reitsport. Erleben Sie den Dressursport von seiner schönsten Seite und seien Sie gespannt auf ein Wochenende voller Eleganz, Natur, netten Menschen und guter Gespräche.

http://www.aubenhausen.de

The great Conversano Isabella on Long Rein !!!

"Von der Koppel bis zur Capriole"

First time in history the Spanish Riding School has a second team performing in Vienna while the other team is on tour!

The performances in Vienna are called "Von der Koppel bis zur Capriole"!

The Netherlands !!!

I had wonderful two days in The Netherlands!

Great riders and horses!

Enjoy beautiful Vienna !!!

New Generation !

Majestic White Horses - IMAX movie

wonderful Conversano Isabella on the Long Rein

Gala Performance 2009

Start:	Oct 8, '09 8:00p
Location:	Spanish Riding School - Vienna

with Gala-dinner in the court of the Stallburg

Robert Taylor and Spanish Riding School