FIRST FEMALE GRADUATE FROM THE SPANISH RIDING SHCOOL...AND FUTURE UNICORN RIDER!

Hannah Zeitlhofer shown here with one of the Spanish Riding School's stallions.

(photo courtesy of the Spanish Riding School.)

Women equestrians have always competed on an even playing field with men at all shows...including the Olympics. And we have done very well, I might add. But, until last month, there was one prestigious organization that had never included a woman rider in its ranks...The infamous Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Four years ago, they finally admitted the first female to train under their rigourous program.

She was admitted to become and "eleve" or apprentice rider. She was trained for hours a day on the lounge line then dismounted to clean stalls, tack and horses.

But now, things have changed for Hannah. In April, 2012, she made equestrian history when she and one other rider, Christopher Egger, were advanced to the level of "Assistant Rider" thus qualifying to perform with the Lipizzan stallions. Hannah is the first woman to reach this rank! Way to go, Hannah! All of us women equestrians both admire you and feel just a little bit jealous!

As you know, I love dressage and the Spanish Riding School has taken this art form to the highest level. I wrote a detailed post about the SRS on Feb. 22, 2012. You can read it for more information.

In the first book of my trilogy: Behind the Mist, Nick is trained to become the first unicorn rider. In the second book of the trilogy: Mists of Darkness, Bethany begins her training in an attempt to become the second. It was just released exclusively on Amazon's Kindles for three months before you can find it elsewhere. So, I am nominating Hannah to become a unicorn rider some day!
Congratulations, Hannah!

Information for this post was taken from Equus.

Send me the story of your noble and great horse to: mjevansbtm@gmail.com.

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Get your own copy of Behind the Mist wherever books are sold or get an autographed copy by ordering it on its website:

http://www.behindthemist.com/

Mists of Darkness-Book Two of the Mist Trilogy has just been released and is available as a three month exclusive on Amazon's Kindle.

THE LIPIZZAN STALLIONS OF VIENNA

I have a dream that someday...someday... I will be able to ride like the riders of the Spanish Riding School. That "someday" may not be until I'm in heaven but at least I have something to look forward to.

Today's blog is dedicated to the riders and stallions of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

In the third and final book of the Mist Trilogy, "The Rising Mist," (Not yet released) the Legion of the Unicorn is sent to earth to rescue ten of the Lipizzaner Stallions that are kidnapped from their stable in Vienna. I have always been fascinated by these stallions and went to visit their home when I was in Vienna.

Their story is a fascinating one and was captured in the Disney Movie,"The Miracle of the White Stallions." It truly was a miracle that they survived World War II (have I told you that I hate war?) Note: it wasn't just World War II that threatened them. For several hundred years they have had to be protected from man's wars by men themselves.

The story of the resue during World War II is an interesting one and actually took part in two places. During WW II, the high command of Nazi Germany, to which the citizens of Austria had voted overwhelmingly to support before the outbreak of the war, sent the Lipizzan breeding stock to Czechoslovaki including the breeding stock for the SRS that were stabled in Piber. This occured in 1942.

The Stallions in Vienna were moved to St. Martins in January of 1945 as bombing raids drew nearer to the city. At this time, the horses in Hostau Czechoslovakia were threatened by the advancing Soviet Army who might have slaughtered them to feed their hungry troops. In the spring of 1945, the head of the Spanish Riding School, Colonel Alois Podhajsky (definately a future unicorn rider) arranged to put on a performance for General George S. Patton. Both men were Olympic riders by the way. At the end of the performance, Podhajsky asked Patton to take the horses under his protection which Patton, to his immense credit, did.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Army Tank unit under the command of Colonel Charles Reed directed "Operation Cowboy" which saved the breeding stock in Czechoslovakia. They rode, herded and trucked 1,200 horses, including 375 Lipizzans, 35 miles across the border into Kotztinz, Germany where they would be safe.

If you want to learn more about the Lipizzan's of the Spanish Riding School, both the history and their training techniques, watch these two videos. They are beautifully done and you will learn a lot!

Take a break from training your own horse to read "Behind the Mist," The horse and Unicorn Lover's fantasy.

Available here: www.behindthemist.com

and wherever books are sold.