This book is devoted to the diverse equestrian heritage of Vienna. Horses have been an indispensable means of transport in Vienna since the Middle Ages, both as a mount and as a status symbol, as a draft animal for wheeled vehicles and as a pack animal, and thanks to their use in tournaments and races, they have also delighted the Viennese at social events. The role of the horse reached its historic highpoint at the Vienna Congress in 1814/15, when thousands of horses were brought into the city for the various events in a very short space of time and had to be provided for a long period.
In order to promote horse breeding in Austria, Empress Maria Theresa signed the so-called "Prague Patent". The portraits of monarchs on horseback that were commissioned and the building of the Spanish Riding School are unique witnesses to the highly developed presence of horses at the imperial court in Vienna.
A fixed component of everyday life in Vienna, it is estimated that towards the end of the 19th century there were around 200,000 horses living in Vienna. These included the many horses owned by the tramway companies, the mounted Viennese police and the Viennese veterinarians with their famous horsemen. Harness racing at the Krieau racetrack and the horse-drawn carriages in the city centre continue to be an institution which is firmly anchored in the collective consciousness and a fixed feature of a visit to Vienna for tourists. This book aims to remind us of the important role and functions fulfilled by horses in Vienna and that without these animals, Vienna could never have become the city it is.