The world famous Spanish Riding School Vienna is an institution truly reminiscent of the imperial Habsburg era. This unequalled equestrian show is performed by Lipizzaner stallions, a crossbreeding of Spanish, Arab and Berber horses. The horses were first imported from Spain (hence 'Spanish') by Maximilian II in 1562, and in 1580 a stud was established at Lipizza (hence 'Lipizzaner'), now in Slovenia.

A Lipizzaner performance is an absolute must for any hippophile (others may think it's a show with horses doing dog-tricks). These graceful stallions perform an equine ballet to a program of classical music while the audience cranes to see from pillared balconies while chandeliers shimmer above. The mature stallions are all snow-white (though they are born dark and turn white at age four) and the riders wear traditional garb, from their leather boots up to their bicorn hats.