The beautiful Spanish Riding School.

© Dorte Tuladhar

By Fleur Calvert

While much has been written about the world-famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Equestrian Life thought it would be interesting to gain a real insider’s perspective.

Famed for its white Lipizzaners and its 450-year history, the incredible athleticism of its riders and horses, and of course, its daily shows, the Spanish Riding School in Austria is a popular pilgrimage destination for horse lovers the world over.

The stables at the Spanish Riding School.

© Dorte Tuladhar

These beautiful photos show Besim, a longtime groom at the school, interacting with his precious charges. While the photos speak for themselves, it is fascinating to hear about Besim’s day, which starts at 6am and involves caring for six or seven horses. Typically, like other grooming jobs, Besim is responsible for feeding, cleaning and saddling. He also takes the horses to their riders in the Winter Riding School and back to the stables, as well as to the horse walker. The riders ride the same three or four horses daily, and these horses become like their own.

Besim, one of the grooms at the Spanish Riding School.

© Dorte Tuladhar

So how did Besim find himself at the world’s most famous riding school? After growing up in Kosovo surrounded by horses, he found himself grooming in a private stable close to Vienna where he was approached by the school’s chief stablemaster Johannes Hamminger, who asked him to join the school as a groom. No arduous recruitment process for Besim! A major perk of the job, and one that Besim thoroughly enjoys, is travelling around the world, experiencing the different cultures in the various countries that the school visits when touring.

If you are in Vienna and are fortunate enough to visit the school, you will be able to see more than that day’s performance – you will have the opportunity to also view the training of the young riders and horses. It’s easy to forget that first and foremost, this famous establishment is a school. Be sure to book; there is a full house every day. You may also notice that there are very few black Lipizzaners, although it is believed that they give and symbolise luck. It is typically the chief rider who has the honour of riding the black Lipizzaner.

A rider demonstrating at the Spanish Riding School.

© Dorte Tuladhar

Enjoy these photos; a tribute to a groom who loves all his charges and is absolutely committed to ensuring they receive the best care.

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