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European
Dressage News
Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg to Leave Spanish Riding
School
January 24, 2002
 Outstanding
equestrian magazine Horse and Hound covered the following
news on the possible departure of Arthus Kottas-Heldenberg
as chief trainer at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
The end of an era is predicted as news that First Chief
Rider Arthur Kottas may leave Spanish Riding School
of Vienna following modernisation proposals by the Austrian
government
The end of an era could be approaching for the Spanish
Riding School of Vienna. First Chief Rider Arthur Kottas
is considering his future at the 400-year-old centre
of classical equitation after a career there spanning
four decades. For the past 22 years he has held the
most senior role among the riders.
A period of change for the home of the famous white
Lipizzaner stallions began in 2001 when its owner, the
Austrian government, announced that it was to bring
in a private management company to look at ways of making
the school pay.
A number of modernisation policies were proposed, ranging
from increased public access to training sessions to
doubling the number of stallions. The proposals did
not find universal favour, and Kottas was one of several
dissenters who felt that upholding the traditions of
the school was paramount.
 "I
don't know how much longer I will be in my post," he
commented. "I am due to retire in 3½ years anyway, but
I may well leave before that. There is no major disagreement
and I am still considering the future.
Kottas is in demand worldwide as a teacher of classical
riding, and it is in this direction that his future
may lie.
"I feel that I would like to devote more time to helping
top riders improve their work and also to those who
do not compete but who love classical equitation for
its own sake," he said.
Source: Horse
and Hound
Related Links
Arthur
Kottas Saddle
The
Art of Classical Dressage: Kottas Video
Classical
Dressage: Arthur Kottas Heldenberg
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