Gottlieb Polak
Gottlieb Polák ( born January 13, 1883 in Kladrub, Czech Republic, † July 5, 1942 in Vienna, Austria ) was Chief Rider and riding master at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Polak played the violin and was considered extremely talented rider.
Life
Polak was born the son of a Hofgestütsbeamten the stud Kladrub and familiar even in early childhood with horses. Its begun studies at the Music Academy in Prague, he broke off after one year to enter in 1900 as an apprentice in the Kladrubers riding stables, where two years later in the Imperial Stables came to Vienna.
After completing his military service obligation with the Uhlan Regiment No. 11 in Pardubice 1904 to 1907, he was transferred in 1908 in the Campagne- riding stables in Vienna, where he rendered services also among others, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Even at this time fell on Polak's extraordinary equestrian talent. In 1916 he was appointed as " Reitskolar " in the Spanish Riding School in 1920 appointed heater, Upper heater 1927 and 1941, as the successor Wenceslas Zrusts, the First Chief Rider.
Polak's most famous students were Alois Podhajsky, Waldemar Seunig and Georg choice. He was a teacher of Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf (1930/1931) and got awarded the Swedish Vasa medal. Major Podhajsky trained at the Spanish Riding School, before he took part in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
From Seunig referred to as " riding genius," had Polak lessons musical accents when he said: ' Do you agree your horse is like a violin, then your riding to the silent music. " How to find extreme meticulousness and bright enthusiasm in Polak alike her ideal. Polak was master of many means to promote the " oiled switch position" of the joints, and knew from his experience as a tournament -jumper, the crucial role played by the rapid response capability of the rider's body not only in the terrain and insubordination, but also in the High School. Polak's time to aspiring school stallions jumped at the Spanish Riding School also over obstacles.
Waldemar Seunig äußertert in his book In the saddle is one I no time Polak:
" On Pluto Kerka, almost completed, as far as a school horse can be accomplished simply, this virtuoso in the grand style masters the keyboard of the transitions from piaffe to passage and from school for the strong trot, in which this passage King particularly shines and the full radiance of Polaks art and skill orchestrated. Another stallion Master piaffes so set and soft (the hind feet lifted from the floor, approach the Hüftlot ) that not a drop of the coat would be excepted from a glass on his cross networks. Energetic School jumps whose vehemence can cause a right mess in human Innards are practiced, and the hand work between the pillars and the vertical band is not too short. "
His outstanding horsemanship found by the presentation of the German Reitabzeichen in gold recognition. His influence on the Spanish Riding School became the riding master, for the first bearer of this newly created senior civil service degree, awarded by the appointment.
On May 10 1942 Rode riding master Polak his young Lipizzaner stallion Pluto Theodorosta in the imagination, and sank after the first few kicks unconscious from his horse. He died just two months later. According to the Communication Gazette of the Reich Inspector for riding and driving training ecuyer Gottlieb Polak was registered as a captain. He was buried at the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna. Detachments of the Army High Command, the Military District XVII of the Spanish Riding School and the commander Colonel Podhajsky and Chief Rider Lindenbauer lay wreaths at the coffin.
Swell
- Alois Podhajsky In: German rider folders. Berlin July 17, 1942