Landmarks

Morning Exercise with Music

Name: Morning Exercise with Music
Start: 2026-10-21T10:00:00
End: 2026-10-21T11:00:00
Location: Spanish Riding School

4.4/5(378)

Peter N

Solo

Verified booking

Last week

Very confusing trying to find entrance to Spanish Riding School. Lots of fellow tourists asking eachother where to go!! NO signage or helpful guides, so not a good start. However once inside and seated the training morning to music was amazing, the horses beautiful excellent commentary..

Heike R

Solo

Verified booking

Sep 2026

Such a magnificent, elegant, and beautiful morning at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna... What a wonderful highlight of a wonderful trip to Vienna. Booking through Headout was extremely convenient and easy... I’d gladly do it again anytime. Heike R. Meissen

Barbara Z

Solo

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

A very beautiful experience. Very expressive movement of the horses, good organization, nice staff. The riding arena is beautiful and the accompanying music makes everything all the more elegant.

Hans G

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

It would have been nice if there had been some explanation of what was being practiced, and to be able to hear the trainers' instructions. As a layman accompanying my wife because she is interested in horses, it was a bit boring for me. It was hard to see any major differences or understand what really matters in the movements.

Stephanie W

Family

Verified booking

Aug 2026

We had standing room, but the view was still great. The horses and riders were a joy to watch. Our daughters, who are true horse connoisseurs and equestrian experts, were absolutely thrilled. It was definitely worth it!! Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take any photos; otherwise, I would have loved to share them here.

Jonathan H

Family

Verified booking

Aug 2026

It was awesome to go to this very special place and see the amazing horses in action real history in a beautiful place. It was a highlight of our trip to Vienna.

Watch the Lipizzaners at work during their daily morning exercise inside the Baroque Winter Riding School, accompanied by classical Viennese music for an authentic, unfiltered experience.

See real training as riders focus on loosening, gymnastic work, suppleness, and muscle development tailored to each horse’s age and training level.

Observe different phases of a Lipizzaner’s journey, from young, still-dark stallions learning the basics to fully trained white stars refining precision and balance.

Choose how you watch, with reserved seating or standing areas offering different perspectives on the arena and the quiet rhythm of classical horsemanship.

Fun fact: The famous jumps like levade, courbette, and capriole are rarely practiced during the morning exercise. The focus is on long-term health, balance, and muscle conditioning that allows the horses to perform safely for decades.

Morning training session

Classical Viennese music

Entry to Winter Riding Academy

Category 1 reserved seating (option based)

Category 2 reserved seating (option based)

Category 3 standing room right (option based)

Category 3 standing room left (option based)

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

378 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
195
143
29
5
6
Guests from Germany, United States, Switzerland and over 26 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Phillip G
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
We wanted to go see the practice of the riding school and we noted you had tickets available for the morning we could attend.
Hans G
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
It would have been nice if there had been some explanation of what was being practiced, and to be able to hear the trainers' instructions. As a layman accompanying my wife because she is interested in horses, it was a bit boring for me. It was hard to see any major differences or understand what really matters in the movements.
Peter N
Solo
Verified booking
Last week
Very confusing trying to find entrance to Spanish Riding School. Lots of fellow tourists asking eachother where to go!! NO signage or helpful guides, so not a good start. However once inside and seated the training morning to music was amazing, the horses beautiful excellent commentary..
Barbara Z
Solo
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
A very beautiful experience. Very expressive movement of the horses, good organization, nice staff. The riding arena is beautiful and the accompanying music makes everything all the more elegant.
Rachel A
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2026
It was a lovely way to spend an hour at the start of our visit to Vienna, so I thought. My husband however was deeply disappointed to see the horses go around in circles for an hour. One jump or little prance would have made the difference. The music was enjoyable, the building is stunning, but overall just a little disappointed. We appreciate this was morning exercise, but there were still about 250 people with a hope of seeing a glimpse of their brilliance.

A rare chance to see the Lipizzaner stallions’ daily training inside the Baroque Winter Riding School, offering an authentic look at how centuries-old classical horsemanship is still preserved.

Getting started

The Spanish Riding School is located at Michaelerplatz, within Vienna’s Hofburg Palace complex. Enter through the Visitor Centre and arrive at least 5 minutes early to exchange your voucher for a physical ticket.

About the Morning Training Sessions at the Spanish Riding School

The Morning Exercise is not a show, but a working training session that reflects the real rhythm of life at the Spanish Riding School. Inside the Winter Riding School, riders guide the Lipizzaner stallions through loosening exercises, gymnastic work, and controlled movements designed to maintain strength, balance, and long-term health. Exercises vary daily and are adapted to each horse’s condition, making every session slightly different. While the famous jumps like levades or caprioles are only occasionally shown, the real value lies in observing how these horses are prepared over years to perform them safely and gracefully. This experience is ideal if you’re curious about how classical dressage works behind the scenes and want a quieter, more educational encounter with the Lipizzaners in their historic home.

What to bring

Carry a valid photo ID that matches the name on your booking, as it may be checked at entry.

Show your voucher at the Spanish Riding School entrance to collect your physical ticket.

What’s not allowed

Pets are not allowed inside the venue.

Photography and video recording are prohibited during the visit.

There is no cloakroom on site, so please avoid bringing large bags or luggage.

Accessibility

As the building is protected as a historic monument, elevators are not available. Visitors using wheelchairs or with mobility concerns should submit an access request in advance.

The Royal Box and the first and second galleries can only be accessed by stairs and may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility.

Additional information

The session lasts for 1 hour and starts at 10am.

Children aged 3–5 can enter free of charge but must sit on an accompanying adult’s lap. Reduced tickets apply for children aged 6–18. Entry is not permitted for children under 3.

Programs may change depending on operational requirements.

Tickets can be collected from the venue starting one hour before the scheduled activity.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.