The Foundation of a Champion
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A famous Lipizzaner that was under Alois.
http://www.lipizzan.com/spr.html |
Alois Podhajsky was the Spanish Riding Instructor during World War II. His passion to preserve this treasure of Vienna and love of the Lipizzaner led to the removal and relocation of these amazing horses, and the preservation of the breed. Alois was born February 24, 1898 in Mostar Hercegovina a small town the Austria-Hungarian Empire turned into a city and it was a place that though little was the birth place of a very big rider and military leader. Being bred by a military family Alois had a passion for the combat at an early age, what he also felt passionate for was the Calvary, and the beautiful horses. He would leave when he could to go watch the drills and exercises.[1] He began riding at the official age of twelve where he had finally persisted enough to gain riding lessons. One lesson that Alois learned that he carried with him was the strength in your riding legs, riding without stirrups gives the rider the proper sense of balance and strengthens the legs to give the rider a proper seat. Though he would take this and also apply the rider to jump without stirrups, Alois made sure to maintain the passion for the rider.
In the spring of 1916 Alois became a part of the 4th Kaiser Ferdinand Dragoons. He was finally combining his passion for horses and the military. He was injured greatly by a neck wound that he slowly recovered from. This was a slow process where he had to be stationed inside, instead of on the back of a steed and became stir crazed as anyone who has a heart for riding would.[2]
After healing Alois began intense riding lessons that would begin his competition career. Alois’s sense for the equine and the ability to have made even the slowest horse into a champion is a reason he is still revered today in the equine world. He won his first International Horse Show in Vienna on a horse named Napoleon; this horse was sufficiently named and held the heart of true leader. [3] Napoleon would be the first of many champions that would be beneath Alois and Alois’s rides would become world and Olympic famous.
As Alois began his relationship with the Spanish Riding School and the Lipizzaner, he made notice of the relationship horses have with each other, the friendships or rivalry that was acknowledged was very present in the sensitive Lipizzaner. [4]
This breed was a majestic horse, and it truly knew it, they never saw the other breeds at competition but would eye their barn mates in competition, the way athletes will watch each other to understand the strength and weakness. [5]Alois brings these horses to life for the reader, and allows the intimate relationship with them to be open to the reader. His time as a rider then as the Director was very memorable for Alois, the death of the leading director took a positive effect on him, and gave him the reminder that riding was the passion that he breathed.
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| Hitler in Austria after making a union with the Nazi. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/austria.htm
[13]
The WPA Film Library: German Annexation of Austria, 1938. Films Media Group, 1938. Films On Demand. Web. 24 April 2013. < http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=1886&xtid=45788 >.
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The Beginning of the Terror
I have included a clip of the Annex of Austria above for a better understanding of Austria's reaction to Hitler and the German Reich becoming the leaders of Austria.
Adolf had spent most of his childhood in Austria and Vienna is where he began to show his beliefs in the superior people and country of Germany Germany
In 1938 German Nazis would annex Austria republic and adding Austria Austria
During the beginning of World War II the school was struggling with numbers of performing horses and support. Alois wanted to work with the Army and the Ministry of Food to reopen that relationship they once had. Sadly, at this time when he took the stallion to show, he did not perform properly and thus caused a stressful moment for Alois. Luckily, a Colonel von Langermann knew the reputation of this breed and school “I have seen the orderliness of the Spanish Riding School, the glossy coats of the horses, and the gleaming saddlery, and felt the great traditions and international fame of Austrian horse-manship were fully justified. That high reputation cannot be injured by the little irregularities we have seen here to-day.”[9] This would lead to Dr. Gustav Rau promoting Alois officially to Director of the Riding school in 1942. Though they would disagree often, Dr. Rau was working for the good of the school. This was the beginning of the attempt to work with the Germans who were also fascinated by this wondrous breed. When the horses were to be moved, it was behind Alois’ back he found out that the mares had been transferred to Hostau. His fears were to be correct when he made the trip and saw the conditions of Hostau. It was unsuitable for the Lipizzaner being too rich in feed and not the proper climate. He also found out that the good Doctor had decided on inbreeding (inbreeding in horse is what will lead to many disease that when untreated as it would have been in this time is deadly), to keep the linage pure. The Germans were very focused on all the citizens being of the pure race, this was a horrific idea to Alois. Alois would take his concerns to a public argument with Dr. Rau and attempt to preserve the breed properly. [10] This was only during the peaceful moments of the war, the war would heat up and make the breed, and school prepare for the worst and to the possibility of leaving.
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| ]http://www.lipizzan.org/photogallery.html# |
The End and New Beginning
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| http://www.lipizzan.org/photogallery.html |
They would attempt to survive in Austria, living in the Lainz zoo where they could be worked and not worked up by an audience. In one raid the bomb actually landed in the zoo. This would be the aid that Alois needed to get the permission to look for a safe place.[11] He would search for a good school to keep the horses at, but this was in vain. In 1945, before the end of the war the Lipizzaner, riders would leave the riding school in pursuit of a safer place. The school was in the red zone for air raids, and attacks with Germany losing all it’s control shortly before the end of the war.[12]German armies were revengeful and out to attempt to win the war. The many riders and horses of the Spanish Riding School held out hope that after the Allie forces entered Austria, they would be able to return to their home, but held a long term stay in St. Martin. An American General, General Patton had seen these horse preform and spoke of the wondrous dancing white horse to many Americans. The interest from the Americans peaked and the school held a performance for General Patton, this was accepted greatly throughout the American influenced countries and the popularity was rising again. Great Britain began to express interest in having the dancing white horses come visit their occupied areas of power. In 1945 Alois moved the school from St. Martin to Wels, where the Hungarians had held occupation, until this time. Alois began to see how his school and horses were a treasure that Austria alone could claim.[14] It would take three years till the Spanish Riding School would be able to have a world tour. The white horses were given a great welcome in all the towns and cities they visited, they were seen as miracle horses who had survived the great war. They were the glimmer of hope many people needed to see to feel that the terror was over and the world could rebuild.[15]Alois would perform for Queen Elizabeth and other dignitaries, this led Alois to long to not be a performing rider any longer, as his health took a toll from the constant schedule and demands that he made of his body. He would barely make it to Wels after becoming healthy, here he took up the instruction at full force. The horses would go to America in 1950 to not only show their stunning performance, but to also show that Austria was a unique and cultured country.[16]
The Spanish Riding School would visit European countries, Spain and the United States many more times, Alois not only saved these horses by the sheer will and compassion he showed for them, but he also made the riding school a top entertainment for families and dignitaries alike. Alois continued his work for many years, and would continue his passion for these amazing horses until his death. His books show the true love and strength that these horses held and how he was able to work to save this wonderful breed.
"... you must learn his thoughts from the noble horse you intend to ride, you must not demand anything unwise, anything foolish of him"- Goethe [17]
[1] Alois Podhajsky, My Dancing White Horses (. New York :Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1965),18.
[2] Ibid.,20.
[3] Ibid.,24.
[5] Ibid.,81.
[7] Ibid.,847.
[8] Thomas R. Grischany, “Austrians into German soldiers: the integrative impact of Wehrmacht service on Austrian soldiers during World War II” Austrian History Yearbook Vol. 38 (Annual 2007 (New York, Berghahn Books, Inc.) p.160.[9] Alois Podhajsky, My Dancing White Horses (. New York :Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1965),87.
[8] Thomas R. Grischany, “Austrians into German soldiers: the integrative impact of Wehrmacht service on Austrian soldiers during World War II” Austrian History Yearbook Vol. 38 (Annual 2007 (New York, Berghahn Books, Inc.) p.160.[9] Alois Podhajsky, My Dancing White Horses (. New York :Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1965),87.
[10] Ibid.,89.
[11] Ibid.,97.
[12]Alois Podhajsky “ The White Stallions of Vienna” ( Munchen , Germany 1963).,The Lipizzaner in Exile)
[13]The WPA Film Library: German Annexation of Austria, 1938. Films Media Group, 1938. Films On Demand. Web. 24 April 2013. < http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=1886&xtid=45788 >. (WWCC Hay Library, Rock Springs, WY)
[14] Alois Podhajsky, My Dancing White Horses (. New York :Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1965),145-162.
[15] Ibid.,170.
[16] Ibid.,180-207.
[17] Alois Podhajsky, The Spanish Riding School of Vienna.( Vienna: Briider Rosenbaum,1962),3.
