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Introduction.

Few breeds are as well known by both horse enthusiasts and the general public as the Lipizzan – no small feat considering there are just a few thousand registered Lipizzans worldwide. But the breed’s thoroughly documented history, the story of the rescue of the prime breeding stock during World War II (made famous by the Disney movie The Miracle of the White Stallions), and of course the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna have all combined to make the Lipizzan one of the most highly recognized breeds anywhere in the world.

History.

The oldest of the European breeds, the history of the Lipizzan can be traced over 400 years. Under the leadership of the Hapsburg Monarchy, Austria was a significant European power in the 1500’s, with an empire that stretched well across the continent. As a result, Austria relied heavily on horses for military and farming purposes, and for ceremonial use by the Hapsburg Court. To further the breeding of suitable horses in Austria, Maximillian II founded a court stud farm at Kladrub in 1562, using primarily Spanish horses as foundation stock. His brother, Archduke Charles II, then purchased an estate in Lipizza in 1580 and established a second imperial farm; it is this farm that is credited with the foundation of the Lipizzan breed. During that period Spanish horse breeding was believed to be far ahead of most European countries, many of whom purchased stallions from Spain to improve their native herds. Archduke Charles was among those who held this opinion, and therefore stocked the Lipizza stud with Spanish stallions as his brother had at Kladrub.

In the late 1700’s the horses were evacuated from Lipizza three times during the Napoleonic Wars, fleeing to Hungary each time. During these moves horses were sometimes given or sold to other stud farms, resulting in Lipizzans directly descended from Lipizza being bred in all the Hapsburg Monarchy states, including Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania.

During World War I the farm at Lipizza was evacuated yet again. This time the breeding stock went to Laxenburg, near Vienna, while the foals were sent to the imperial stud farm at Kladrub. After the war and the collapse of the Hapsburg Monarchy, the Austrian empire was divided into a number of smaller states, each of which inherited the possessions of the former monarchy. Much debate occurred over the fate of the Lipizzan horses before an agreement was finally reached to divide the horses between three countries. Italy, which received the village of Lipizza and the surrounding area, also received the main part of the herd. Kladrub became a Czechoslovakian possession and the 1913-1915 foals remained there. The republic of Austria received the remainder of the breeding stock and the stallions of the Spanish Riding School. The Austrian breeding stock was relocated to a state-owned stud in the village of Piber, in an area that closely mirrored the climate and terrain of the herd’s old home in Lipizza.

The survival of the Lipizzan was threatened yet again during World War II, when the German High Council sent the mares and foals from Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia to Hostau in Czechoslovakia. It was only through the heroic efforts Alois Podhajsky, director of the Spanish Riding School, and the U.S. Army under the direction of General Patton, that these horses and the stallions of the Spanish Riding School were saved and eventually returned to their homes in Piber and Vienna.

No discussion of the Lipizzan breed is complete without mention of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, long home to the famed Lipizzan stallions. Founded in 1572, it is the oldest institution of its kind in the world, named for the Spanish horses imported in the 1500’s that helped found the Lipizzan breed. Its primary purpose remains unchanged – to perpetuate the art of classical horsemanship. The School has used the Lipizzan exclusively throughout its history, recognizing the breed’s unique ability to perform all the movements of dressage including the famed airs above the ground – the levade, courbette and capriole.

Foundation.

The Spanish stallions purchased by Maximillian II and Archduke Charles for the Austrian stud farms were of Andalusian, Barb and Berber descent. These stallions were crossed with the native Karst mares, known for their hardiness and athleticism. The Kladrub farm produced primarily heavy carriage horses, while riding horses and light carriage horses generally came from the Lipizza establishment. Breeding stock was exchanged between the two imperial farms, and in addition horses of Spanish descent from Spain, Germany and Denmark, as well as representatives of the old Neapolitan breed, were introduced in succeeding generations. In the 1800’s seven Arabian stallions were introduced to help further develop and strengthen the breed.

Of the stallions used during the 18th and 19th centuries, six established sire lines are still followed today. Favory, a dun, and Maestoso, a gray, came from the Kladrub farm. Pluto, a gray, came from Denmark. Siglavy, a gray, was the only one of the seven Arabian stallions that founded a distinct line. Conversano, a black, and Neapolitano, a bay or brown, make up the remainder of the group. Two other stallion lines, Tulipan and Incinato, were used at other farms within the Austrian empire, and these lines are still found today in several eastern European countries and in North America.

Type.

In the second half of the 20th century and continuing into this new millennium the Lipizzan has proven itself to be a formidable competitor in many equine endeavors, especially dressage and carriage driving. Today’s Lipizzan can also be found participating in numerous other activities including pleasure riding with their lucky owners – owners who no doubt appreciate the rarity and remarkable history of this noble breed.

Colors.

Although non-white individuals are rare today, with just an occasional black or bay, as recently as 200 years ago Lipizzans could be found in a variety of colors including black, brown, bay, chestnut, dun and even piebald and skewbald. However, the royal family preferred white horses therefore gray was actively selected in the breeding program. Born black, brown or mouse gray, Lipizzans typically turn white between six and ten years of age.