Austria is investigating Vienna’s Spanish Riding School following allegations of mistreatment of its Lipizzaner horses, based on a 2023 internal employee survey. The probe comes amid recent turmoil at the institution, including the dismissal of its managing director over expense irregularities. Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig has ordered an internal audit to look into the claims, while the school firmly denies any animal cruelty, emphasizing that horse welfare remains their top priority.

The Spanish Riding School, founded in 1565 and recognized by UNESCO, is renowned worldwide for its classical dressage performances featuring white Lipizzaner stallions. The school breeds its own horses, whose lineage dates back to the Habsburg monarchy and combines Spanish, Arabic, and Berber bloodlines. Following the controversy, the institution plans to appoint a new supervisory board as part of a broader management restructuring.