I had the opportunity to go sometime around 2010 - at that point in time they had performances a few times/week (unfortunately not the day I was there) I think, but they also had an hour or two long training sessions when you could pay to watch them train (they brought horses in and out, wasn’t 2hrs for the same poor horse!). It was not narrated though, and the training was whatever they were working on. No promises of upper level movements. I would have loved something more like a clinic style.
I adored the training sessions. Having some sort of headset program with narration from the trainers would be great. As it is, the tourists come in, take their selfies (against all posted rules banning this–so effing RUDE), and leave after 20 mins when they get bored. It’s really a missed opportunity. I mean hell they could sell subscriptions and do it on zoom
One thing Gurtler did that I thought was lovely was the mares and foals in the park in the summer. It was a great PR move and absolutely magical to see.
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Schonbrunn makes money I’m sure.
Yes - at the time I had so very little knowledge about dressage (most riding for that matter) and I wish I could go back in time now with 15 more years of experience under my belt. As it was, it was fascinating to watch (and I forced my non-horsey friends who were with me to stay the entire time lol), but I think I would appreciate and understand what they were doing, even without narration, so much more today if I could go back.
[quote=“SusanO, post:33, topic:783381”]
None of the Spanish Riding School’s knowledge is in written form
[/quote
While the primary training and mentoring is done in person, there is certainly some in written form also. Have you read Alois Podhajski’s books?
Yes!
I’ve always wanted to visit the SRS, not for the performance (which I’m sure is lovely) but for the training sessions that were (are?) open to the public.
I believe these were free, or minimal fee charged.
Maybe charge(more) for these & add revenue?
ETA:
I see @Zonderpaard & @Mander mentioned this upthread
ETA#2:
When I visited the school in Jerez, part of the performance was several horses in the arena doing the Haute Ecole movements in hand.
1 between the pillars doing Piaffe for what must have been 10min took most of my attention 
But the (I assumed mostly non-horsy) crowd was more enthralled by 1 doing Levades.
Oooooh! Aaaah!! He stand UP!!!
I’d buy a subscription in a freaking heartbeat.
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So long as the video training sessions came with the caveat “Don’t try this at home!”. 
Having watched them work with students, there are so many quiet corrections made with both horse and rider that take an educated eye, and an accurate gentle teaching style throughout the lesson.
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45 years ago I was one of the peons in the gallery during the Morgenarbeit. One of the riders was schooling tempi changes…in overhearing the comments around me, some of the people were commenting on the horse “skipping.”
So yes, having a narrator describe what is going on during the morning training and having to pay for headset or pay thru an app would generate cash without overworking the horses.
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Yes and one reason it’s so lovely. I still remember a training session with one horse working on changes. He was struggling a bit, late behind a couple times. The rider just made transitions up down, cantered along a bit. Conferred with the head rider. Then back to canter to ask again. The prep she gave the horse was so subtle and calm. I could see her gently positioning him perfectly. And she got an excellent change with no stiffness anywhere. The smile on her face!
She made a nice transition to walk, slipped the reins, gave him some pats and just let him walk until the other horses were done Her timing and feel we’re impeccable. It was beautiful riding.
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In the early 00’s they came through Washington DC on tour and there was a “secret” clinic before one of the first performances, which iirc was like a narrated training session. I don’t know how my instructor at the time found out about it but it was a highlight of my life to have been there. (And i have also been to the srs in person). I should look through my old junk to see if i have notes…
I would pay for a subscription to see more, absolutely.
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So would I.
Maybe the “MBA’s” are targeting the wrong audience (touristas) and should instead be targeting serious horse people.
Maybe they need a marketing professional.
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A marketing person with a clue about the niche market. Not just a marketer, you know? This is a special case.
I was there for the big 250th celebration. It was so cool. Joint performance of the SRS and the Jerez school. Outdoors on Heldenplatz. It was just stunning.
It was also aired on TV and streamed–a very good TV production all about the history, interviews, Piber operation, I think even the barn cat had a cameo. 
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When I was in Jerez in October, you could also observe quite a few people schooling in their ginormous outdoor ring and little ring.
It was very cool.
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Same!
I almost did not want to go inside 
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And you can hang outside and drink sherry.
Although the 10m circles with the 4 in hand were worth seeing. Actually, I enjoyed the whole show. The Jerez show has a wider variety of ‘acts’.
One wonders if the other riding schools are doing well financially? And potentially comparing business models.
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Maybe they need a consultant with a wicked horse habit. My passport is ready!
Talk about a dream job. “I moved to Vienna and rescued the heritage of the Spanish Riding School”.
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Mine’s good to go too!
(And I know where to go to get my meldezettel)
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Imagine owning a huge stud, having a hierarchy of trainers while training to the highest levels and expecting to stay a float financially with the very limited services the SRS offers.
IMO, the SRS is shooting themselves in the foot.
Modernize or die, pretty much.
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