Classical Riding School of Topoľčianky

The Classical Riding School has already got a 16-year old tradition. It mainly has a representative function, not only at home but also abroad. It is well known in whole Europe. The performance of Quadrille and the movements above the ground are in demand by different occasions such as anniversaries, opening ceremonies or gala programmes of the equestrian exhibitions. It is the promotion of one of the many activities of the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky as well as the promotion of the Lipizzan breed and its versatile use. At the moment, the Classical Riding School of Topoľčianky consists of 24 breeding stallions of different age and level of schooling. There are nine riders who work with them.

From the history…

The establishment of the Classical Riding School of Topoľčianky is closely related to the Classical Riding School in Lipica. Its performances were the inspiration and motivation to establish the school in Topoľčianky. The paradox is that the Classical Riding School in Lipica was established by a Slovak Emil Šulgan. He was born in 1903 in Nitra and belonged among the most important hipological experts of his time. He worked for the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky for 14 years, during 1948-1951 as the director. He was an excellent rider and trainer. He rose up such riders as Dominik Pružinský, František Hrúzik, Jozef Čajda and many others. In the sixties he moved to Lipica in Slovenia where he established the famous Classical Riding School. The Slovenian riders and their performances with Lipizzan stallions took part in many international events. In 2001, by the occasion of 80^th anniversary of The Topoľčianky Stud establishment they showed their riding art in Topoľčianky. Two years later, the Classical Riding School of Topoľčianky was established. It doesn’t copy the school in Lipica nor in Vienna. It creates its own path. While the horses in Vienna are specialized on the work under the saddle and on the long reins, the horses in Topoľčianky are more universal since they also do the driving. Many of the horses also compete in sport dressage with excellent results. Two Lipizzan stallions have already gained a gold medal at the Slovak Championship in Dressage – Conversano VI-47 with Kristína Flaková in 2017 and Peter Vančo with Conversano XIII-47 in 2019. During its existence, the Classical Riding School in Topoľčianky took part in many international events. Among those most important ones surely belonged the agricultural trade show “Grüne Woche” in Berlin, or the participation at mega quadrille in Mannheim in 2007. Certainly worth mentioning is opening ceremony at “Pferd Wels” in 2014 which is regarded as one of the biggest equestrian trade show in Europe.