Pferdesport

Horse Breeding and Sports: Of particular importance for the Austrian dressage tradition has been the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, which was founded in 1572. The Austrian Campagnereiter-Gesellschaft was founded in 1872. In 2000 more than 1,073 associations with 39,834 members were devoted to equestrian sports in Austria. Tournaments are subject to the Austrian Tournament Regulations, which are published by FENA (Fédération Equestre Nationale d´Autriche). Horse breeding in Austria is controlled by the individual breeding associations. The most important equestrian sports events in Austria are the Vienna Stadthallenturnier (tournament in the Stadthalle) in show jumping and the trotting races in Krieau (Vienna) and in Baden bei Wien as well as the "gallop races" (racing under the saddle) in Freudenau (Vienna). Most significant Austrian successes: final winner of the world cup in show jumping was H. Simon in 1979, 1996 and 1997 and T. Frühmann in 1992; Olympic dressage champion of 1980 in Moscow Sissy Theurer; in 1992 the Austrian team with T. Frühmann, J. Münzner and H. Simon won the Olympic silver medal in show jumping in Barcelona; 1971 A. Übleis became world champion in trotting.

Literature: S. Gordon, Das große Buch von Pferd und Reiter, 1984; P. Nidetzky, Pferdesport in Österreich, 1991; U. Ehebauer, Reitsport - Entwicklung und Situation in Österreich, doctoral thesis, Vienna 1993.