Madonna has been here eight times; Abba gave six sold-out concerts in this arena and Tina Turner even sang in front of these stands 25 times. But the sweet smell of sawdust as you enter Wembley Arena makes it clear that a different kind of performance is on offer this weekend.
The stands were still empty when a vigorous march began on Thursday afternoon, with the black curtain at the end of the arena parting to let the stars in: eight Lipizzaners from the Spanish Riding School float into the hall in step. Their riders sit so lightly and yet firmly in the saddle that they seem to merge with the animals. Without any visible sign, the group divides, comes together again, keeps the rhythm, the step.
Alfred Hudler stands at the edge of the arena, nodding every now and then, not taking his eyes off the eight riders. The managing director of the Spanish Riding School wants to make sure that everything is ready for the premiere on Friday evening. For the first time in eight years, the white stallions from Vienna will offer their routines to an English audience again.
Then a special guest will also follow the show: Princess Anne has attended several shows in Vienna, once even received a riding lesson on a Lipizzaner and happily accepted the invitation. She is not the only Lipizzaner fan from the English royal family. Queen Camilla was also a guest during her 2017 European tour. And the former Queen Elizabeth was so enthusiastic about the 459-year-old equestrian tradition that on her only official tour of Austria in 1969, she visited not only the riding school in Vienna, but also the Lipizzaner stud farm in Piber.
Luxurious transportation
For the English tour, the 28 horses left Vienna in special transporters on Sunday. “The transporters,” explains Alfred Hudler, “are air-sprung, air-conditioned and equipped with surveillance cameras so that we can keep an eye on them throughout the journey.” With a ten-hour stopover in Germany, we went to Calais and from there took the ferry the English Channel.
The stallions reached their temporary home on Tuesday. Since then, stable master Andreas Haipl has, above all, ensured that they can relax during breaks. The more spirited stallions were quartered in a box in the quieter part. Treats in the form of carrots, apples and the odd piece of sugar are available.
Conversano Samira receives a carrot from his rider Helmut Oberhauser. Samira is one of three horses with which he will present lessons, and yet he is particularly in focus. “It’s his first time on tour,” says Oberhauser. “So far he only knows the audience in the Vienna riding hall.” So Oberhauser is a bit excited. And the head of the riding school also feels tense. But then, Alfred Hudler knows from his time as a handball player: “A little adrenaline helps you get to your best shape.”