| Alois Podhajsky |
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Alois Podhajsky (born February 24 , 1898 in Mostar - died May 23 , 1973 in Vienna ) was entrusted as the director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna , Austria , in the year 1939. “I was fully conscious that I was undertaking the hardest task of my life. The great difficulty in directing an institute if this kind consists in maintaining the standard at the same high level and preserving the tradition, which plays such an important part at the Spanish Horse Riding School, without making concessions,” said Podhajsky when asked about the school . Podhajsky was widely considered an excellent choice to head the Spanish Riding school. He is not only credited with saving the Lipizzaners, but also for his advocacy of Classical Dressage . “We must live for the school. Offer our lives to it! Then, perhaps, little by little, the light will grow from the tiny candle we keep lit here, and the great art—of the haute école—will not be snuffed out.” The sport of Dressage has ancient roots, with basic principles first described by the Greek general Xenophon over 2400 years ago. “The ancient Greeks were the first to practice dressage in preparation for war. It was a culture that believed nothing could be obtained correctly or harmoniously without the strict adherence to the laws of universe. This is what truly defines classical dressage – the horse should submit himself happily and proudly to the will of the rider, without and disturbances in his natural way of going.” While Equestrianism was not as strongly developed as an art form in Europe during the Roman Empire or in the Middle Ages , by the Renaissance, it began to come back in full swing. “In 1580, the Imperial Austrian Stud began importing bloodstock from Spain that became the foundation of the Lipizzan horse. From this stock, the Spanish Riding School was developed and finalized by Charles VI in 1735.” This was the beginning of an institution that trained horses and riders up to the present days, including Alois Podhajsky. “In the closing days of World War II , as the guns of the Red army were thundering at the gates of Vienna, Colonel Podhajsky confronted a desperate situation.” Soviet Army was pushing towards Fascist occupied land. With all the bombings, Podhajsky was worried for the safety of his stallions and the school that he had been charged with. “He had managed unobtrusively to smuggle many of his stallions out of the city to a refuge at St. Martin in Innkreis in Upper Austria .” Alois had the stallions safe, but all his Lipizzaner mares were in Czechoslovakia . With the Soviet army moving in and Nazis defending their positions, he feared for their safety also. While at St. Martin, an American officer recognized Podhajsky from the 1936 Olympic Games and told General George Patton of his whereabouts. “Patton and Podhajsky had been old friends; both competed together in equestrian events at the Olympic Games.” When Patton arrived, Podhajsky arranged a special performance for him. “At its conclusion, the Colonel mounted his favorite stallion, rode alone to the General’s box, saluted with a wave of his gold-cockaded hat, and formally requested Patton to place the school under American military protection. Patton…consulted with Patterson and agreed.” General Patton also agreed to help Podhajsky rescue the mares from Czechoslovakia. After the war, the Lipizzaners finally returned home to Vienna in the fall of 1955. One reason the Lipizzaners behaved so well for Podhajsky and his riders during the war was the kindness with which they were treated. When in the stable with his horses, Podhajsky always had sugar and much love to offer. “They like the talk. They are important then, and they know it.” When schooling the horses, he also showed compassion for the animal. “If success is to be obtained, the highest standard of understanding must be reached between the two living creatures concerned. This is as true for the commanding partner, the rider, as it is for the executing one, the horse.” Thus Poshajsky described and attempted to live the ideals of a classical dressage rider and trainer. SEE ALSO
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