Romantik Hotels & Restaurants presented the award for European values and virtues to the Director of the Spanish Riding School Ernst Bachinger.

'Someone like Ernst Bachinger, who dedicated his life to the tradition of this institution, knows that education and training for people and animals are a basic foundation and that it can lead to success only through patience, justice and tolerance.' - Roland Zadra, President of Romantik Hotels & Restaurants

The reasons for the choice: Ernst Bachinger assumed responsibility in order to keep the tradition of the cultural asset 'Spanish Riding School' alive. He therefore lives the values which Romantik sums up in this award and embodies them in his own passionate and, at the same time, considerate manner. Like no other, it is his calling to convey the practiced tradition of the unrivalled institution of the Riding School to the young riders and guests from all over the world - among others, as a host to more than 270,000 visitors a year.

Ernst Bachinger on the award: 'I feel very honoured by the award. The values that it represents have shaped my life. With the call to the Spanish Riding School, a heart's desire came true for me. I hope to live up to this tremendous responsibility and to keep the values and traditions as well as the passion for High Equitation alive for the next generations and pass it on.'  Ernst Bachinger donated the monetary amount of EUR 5,000 associated with the award to scientific work related to the preservation of the Lipizzaner breed.

Ernst Bachinger was a horse trainer and ultimately ecuyer for almost 20 years at the Spanish Riding School and returned to the institute in 2006 as 'Director of the Riding School'. The Spanish Riding School of Vienna, one of the most significant cultural assets of Austria, is not only the oldest, but also the only riding institution worldwide where the High School of classical equitation has been practiced in its purest form for more than 430 years. The duties of Ernst Bachinger include the preservation of the tradition of the High School of classical equitation and assuring the quality in the training of the riders and horses as well as the approximation of the international world of dressage with the institution.