Media Coverage

Flying Horses—The Amazing Lipizzaners of Austria
By Catherine D. Hughes
National Geographic Kids Magazine
October 27, 2005

The lights in the stadium dim. The music begins. The audience leans forward to take in the stately entrance of magnificent white stallions. Let the performance begin… » Read full article

When Spanish Riding School senior rider Herwig Radnetter met the Lipizzan stallion assigned to him, Radnetter was so disappointed in the horse that he thought his career at the famous Viennese institution would end abruptly. He was wrong... » Read full article

This is a story about Austrian nobility, Gen. George S. Patton and a string of remarkable horses. A story that began 433 years ago and will add a Columbus chapter this weekend, when the Lipizzan stallions prance into Nationwide Arena... » Read full article

Changes at The Spanish Riding School
Dressage Today
October, 2005

Director Werner Pohl discusses the Spanish Riding School's fresh outlook - post privatization.

» Read full article (PDF)

After The Fall
BECK/SMITH HOLLYWOOD EXCLUSIVE
August 18, 2005

Madonna's spill from a horse this week -- which cost her three cracked ribs, a broken collar bone and a broken hand, on her birthday, no less -- has prompted quick action from Gary Lashinsky, promoter of the November-starting U.S. tour by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna's famous Lipizzaner stallions. A formal invitation has gone out to the singer to attend a show and have a riding lesson with the School's Chief Rider, Hans Riegler, one of the world's best horsemen. "Perhaps she wasn't focused enough on one of her riding lessons and needs a top-notch refresher course," he says. He adds, "And as the saying goes, 'when you fall off a horse you got to get right back on.'" Ouch.

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_2726308.shtml

Horse Trainers Offer Madonna Free Riding Lesson
Wednesday August 17, 2005
Wireless Flash News Inc.

(Wireless Flash) -- After Madonna's fall from her horse yesterday (Aug. 16) which sent her to the hospital with cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken hand, a professional riding instructor is offering her free riding lessons. Gary Lashinsky, the producer of an upcoming U.S. tour of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna's Royal Lipizzaner Horses, is offering up the school's chief rider, Hans Riegler, to train the Material Girl. The U.S. tour starts Nov. 5 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of U.S. General George Patton's role in rescuing the Lipizzaners from extinction at the hands of the Nazis in Austria at the end of World War II. Lashinsky claims these are the "finest horses in the world" and are "better trained," and says working with the former war horses will "help [Madonna] with her own horses." He says it would be a rare opportunity for Madonna, one that few other people in the world will ever have.

Dressage Helps Romney Cope with Multiple Sclerosis
By Patricia Lasko

First Lady of Massachusetts, Ann Romney, gives an insightful look at how her will to ride dressage horses helped her cope with the debilitating disease Multiple Sclerosis.

A True Medicine
As a girl, Romney had ridden horses in Michigan where she grew up. One day, on television, she watched a performance of the Lipizzan stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, and became so inspired that she knew she must learn to ride like that someday

FULL STORY: http://equisearch.com/lifestyle/profiles/romney_070505/

BECK/SMITH HOLLYWOOD EXCLUSIVE
DailyNews.com

HOOFIN' IT: This year marks the 60th anniversary of World War II Gen. George S. Patton's Army rescue of some 150 Lipizzaner mares and foals being held in Hostau, Czechoslovakia - an act credited with preserving the 425-year-old breed.

With that in mind, you can expect the announcement momentarily that, for the first time in more than 15 years, the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and its troop of 30 dancing white Lipizzaner stallions are coming to America for an extensive fall tour. A few advance members will be in New York's Times Square Thursday, and will also appear that day on "Good Morning America," with Diane Sawyer set to "saddle up."

The full troupe will be coming from Vienna via two modified Boeing 747s, beginning their tour in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 5.

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With reports by Stephanie Dubois and Emily Feimster
http://u.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,211~23521~2858767,00.html

Industry Profile: Gary Lashinsky
By Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner

For more than 35 years, former concert promoter Gary Lashinsky has been the producer of the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions. Gary's career spans more than 45 years in the entertainment business. When he was just out of college, he fell in love with the mystique of Lipizzaner stallions. "We were part of a family entertainment business," he recalls. "In 1968 I thought about doing something with the horses, so we created our own show." Read More >>

http://www.celebrityaccess.com/news/profile.html?id=249