The Spanish Riding School in Vienna and Piaffe and Passage

Originally published in 1947, The Spanish Riding School in Vienna: Home of the Art of Riding in Jeopardy was written by General Decarpentry to pay homage to this unique institution. After World War II, the viability of the Spanish Riding School was in question. Published in both French and English to illustrate and document the great work and traditions of the Viennese School. This book is a time capsule containing the history of the great riders and traditions of the Spanish School, including masters from the beginning of the nineteenth century. We carefully reproduce the original 69 photographs and paintings.

Piaffer et Passage, first published in 1931 in French, was written to address the perceived weaknesses in international-level French riders and horses. Decarpentry gives unique insights from his personal experience, training his horse Professeur in these difficult movements. Xenophon Press has revisited the original French to help clarify vagueness that may have permeated previous English translations. Many unique French terms used by Decarpentry, like rassembler, have been restored and completely defined in English.

The pairing of these two rare texts reflects Xenophon Press’s mission of keeping classical equestrian literature accessible in English.