Treasury of Primary Directives for the Equestrian Art for the Imperial Riding School of Vienna by Johann Christoph von Regenthal
Two centuries apart, two rare masterpieces of the Imperial and Royal Spanish Riding School now appear together for the first time in English.
Johann Christoph von Regenthal (1670s–1730), Chief Rider of the Austrian Imperial Riding School under Emperors Joseph I and Charles VI, shaped an equestrian tradition that spread across Europe and endures to this day. His Directives for the Schooling of Riders and Horses (c. 1720) form the earliest concise statement of the Viennese method—a humane, disciplined system grounded in fifty years of practice at the heart of the Habsburg court.
Regenthal trained Emperor Francis I and the celebrated masters Baron d’Eisenberg (The Art of Riding a Horse in its Perfection, Xenophon Press 2015) and Sind, who carried his methods to France, England, and beyond. Rejecting harsh bits, oversized saddles, and punitive aids, he championed quiet communication, upright posture, and empathy toward the horse. His Directives outline the cornerstone exercises of classical dressage—shoulder-in, travers, renvers, levade, courbette, and canter pirouette—built upon supple groundwork with the cavesson and pillars before advancing to the airs above the ground.
More than a manual of technique, Regenthal’s work expresses a mindset: precision, subtlety, and respect for the horse’s natural abilities. He advocated thoughtful breeding and training standards, praised Spanish stallions yet promoted Austrian horses, and elevated horsemanship to an imperial art form.
In 1898, Field Marshal von Holbein-Holbeinsberg and Senior Rider Johann Meixner carried this legacy forward in their Directives for the Execution of the Methodical Process in the Training of Riders and Horses in the Imperial Spanish Riding School. Written in the age of universal conscription and modern cavalry, their text reaffirms the unbroken continuity of Vienna’s classical method—demonstrating that while language and purpose evolved, the essence of true horsemanship remained unchanged.
Together, these complementary works form an unbroken lineage linking the Baroque manège to modern dressage. Translated and edited by Xenophon Press, this dual edition opens a window into three centuries of living tradition: methodical yet artistic, rigorous yet compassionate, grounded in suppleness, tact, and respect for the horse.
Essential reading for riders, scholars, and all who cherish the classical art of equitation.
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After this work is in print, price will be $75
