Hannah Zeitlhofer

Hannah Zeitlhofer (born 1986/1987 (age 33–34)[1]) is the first woman to reach the rank of Reiter (Rider) at the Spanish Riding School (SRS) of Vienna, Austria. She was inducted in 2016.[2][3]

Hannah Zeitlhofer
Hannah Zeitlhofer
Born1986/1987 (age 33–34)[1]
NationalityAustrian
OccupationEquestrian
Known forFirst woman rider at the Spanish Riding School

Zeithofer began to ride as a child and was given her first horse when she was nine years old.[3] She studied Equestrian Science at the university level, and competed in dressage with a Haflinger named Joker.[4] She was granted admission to the SRS in 2008 at the age of 21 and was one of the first two female élèves, beginning or apprentice riders, ever admitted to the school.[5] Although Zeitlhofer did not express a view that she faced discrimination at the school, the school's chief rider noted that the young women had to win over a few malcontents.[5][4] Her admission to the SRS occurred about one year after the school hired its first woman director, Elisabeth Gürtler. There had never been a rule against admission of women, but in practice and by tradition, it had never previously occurred.[5] The overall program takes eight to twelve years to complete.[6] She became the first "Assistant Rider" ( in the school's history.[3]

According to the riding school, women now make up the majority of élèves,[7] though only about four new riders are admitted in any five-year period.[4] The second woman to follow Zeitlhofer is Assistant Rider Theresa Stefan,[2] who joined the school in 2011.[8]

References
  1. First woman rider at Spanish riding school, Deutsche Welle, September 15, 2016
  2. Fran Jurga (October 3, 2016), "Cracking the Lipizzaner ceiling: Hannah Zeitlhofer promoted to first woman Reiter at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna", Equus
  3. "Rider Hannah Zeitlhofer". Spanische Hofreitschule. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  4. Kraske, Marion (December 2, 2008), "Women at the Spanish Riding School: The End of a Viennese Legacy", Der Spiegel, retrieved 25 December 2016
  5. "After five centuries, women finally step inside the Spanish Riding School". The Independent. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  6. "Der Lange Weg zum Bereiter". Spanische Hofreitschule (in German). 3 August 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  7. Michael Franz, ed. (24 March 2014), Classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna, UNESCO – INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE, Nomination file no. 01106
  8. "Assistant Rider Theresa Stefan". Spanische Hofreitschule. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2016.


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