The Lipizzan

Developed exclusively by the Hapsburg monarchy in the 16th century for its use during times of war and peace, the Lipizzans represent over 400 years of select breeding, founded upon the selection of superior horses gathered from all over the world. They not only possess beauty and nobility, but also a rare combination of courage, strength, talent, temperament and intelligence. This breed was forged from Royalty, it's bravery envied on the battlefield it lived a life as a Noble till the breed was threatened as it's country became divided then almost disappeared forever after the Nazi invasion only to rise again in full glory in arenas and palaces all over the world. It is a miracle that this breed has survived the ages carrying with it an ancient art that predates the birth of Christ by some 400 years in the awe inspiring Airs Above Ground, a spectacular leap derived from defensive horsemanship outlined by Xenophon the Greek for the use of mounted riders to inspire terror in enemy foot soldiers.

Among the different breeds, the Lipizzan has an exclusive position. This cultural breed is considered to be the most ancient in Europe harboring in their genes the same ancient blood as those horses found painted on cave walls in Spain. These Iberian horses are still found today and laid the blue prints to the Lipizzan's mind. You could compare it to that of something like a sheepdog's, always eager to work, anxious to learn and quick to remember training from years earlier seemingly without much prompting. Their degree of intelligence is high due to years of selecting only the best of the best of each generation. Many school horses of this breed , after years of being ridden by beginners still perform generously and correctly when asked. As a parade horse, the Lipizzan shown nobleness, expression and talent for dressage and carriage the Lipizzan's patience and grace for the sport outshines all others in the arena. Their docility is exemplary and strong stallions can share the company of children and obey them out of gentility. Clearly this is a horse for the ages with his versatility, moderate nature, well-balanced conformation and good character. The body is rectangular and the ideal height is between 14.2 to 15.2 hands at the withers. The traditional gray color is dominant. Occasionally a chestnut, bay or black will keep its color to maturity but this is very rare.

At the Spanish Riding School the Lipizzan stallions are trained in the Airs Above Ground. There are six different disciplines the Levade, Courbette and the Capriole are still performed today, while the Pesade, Croupade and Ballotade are still trained but no longer shown to the public. All of these are classical movements handed down through the centuries from Baroque training. Other classical paces include the Piaffe and the Passage which can be seen in dressage, driving and other disciplines. The Piaffe is a highly collected, cadenced, elevated diagonal movement giving the impression of being in place. At the Riding Spanish School the Piaffe is foundation for the Passage and all of the Airs Above Ground movements and is practiced between pillars. The classical Passage can be described as a cadenced trot with a longer period of suspension and the airborne legs higher than in a regular trot. However the classical Piaffe is rarely seen in modern competitions. It requires the horse to step further forward and bend it's haunches deeply so the wight shifts to the hindquarters.

The Spanish Riding School

Training isn't just long and hard for the horses but the riders as well. Boys are selected for the school at the age of 15. Girls are not allowed to admittance because the training tradition is that of war where women were forbidden. The school prefers boys with no prior riding experience so there are no vices that need to be corrected later on. Only 20% of the young riders will achieve the honor of being called a "Eleve". An Eleve is a first level rider and recognized by his blue uniform. The next level is Assistant Rider wearing a brown uniform, then an Assistant Rider must me chosen to become a "Rider". But the greatest honor is that of the highest level as Chief Rider or Oberbereiter. Riders are always in uniform while training or performing. The uniform remains unchanged for 200 years; a bi-corner black felt hat with gold trim, a high closed brown wool tunic with gold buttons, deerskin breeches with matching gloves and black leather boots that cover the knee for protection.

As in tradition, every year in late winter the riders go out into the woods to choose the perfect crop from white birch trees. Superstitions play a huge part in the harvesting of crop wood and most are kept secret to individuals or families. Some will only go to a certain part of the forest while others watch the moon for signs when to retrieve the dry birch. After they have been chosen they are hung in bunches of 10 to be straightened, then soaked in water before they are shaped and formed into the long sticks you see in the arenas that can last for years.

Love And War

The History

During the Renaissance period in Spain and Austria, shortly after a renewed appreciation for the art of Classical Riding, a lighter and faster war horse was needed to carry the (at that time) Modern Knight into battle. The "Modern Knight" was a quicker and more agile opponent in combat, compared to that of the slower and weighted armored knight. This new breed would need to be fearless during war, enduring enough to carry a man long distances and most importantly perform the required rigid training of the Classical Riding School.

In the late 1700's the horses were moved three times during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon gained possession of the horses for a while and bred his Arab stallion, Vesir to the Lipizzan mares. Seven Arab stallions were used to develop the breed during the period from 1807 to 1856. Their names were; Siglavy, Tadmor, Gazlan, Saydan, Samson, Hadudi, and Ben Azet. From 1792 to 1815, the Kladruby horse helped to develop two of the Lipizzan lines with the stallions Maesto and Favory. By 1880 there were 341 Lipizzan horses at the Lipizza stud farm in Italy. Of all the sires used in the 18th and 19th century, only six founded the original stallion lines of the Lipizzan breed. Those horses were; Siglavy (gray, an Arabian born in 1810), Neapolitano (brown bay born in 1790), Maestoso (gray, crossbred by a Neapolitan sire and out of a Spanish mare born in 1767), Favory (dun), Pluto (gray of Spanish blood from a Danish stud born in 1765) ,and Conversano (black). Later, in Croatia and Hungary, the Tulipan and Incitato lines were developed.

Until 1916, the Lipizzan stud farm always remained the private possession of the Habsburg monarchy. Up to this time, the expansion of the breed had been affected over the centuries by military conflicts. Whenever warfare threatened the Lipizza stud, the horses were moved away. During these moves, individual horses would occasionally be given or sold to other stud farms. From these horses came other small Lipizzan studs, usually within the boundaries of the Austrian empire.

During World War I, the breeding stock was relocated to Laxenburg near Vienna. The foals were placed in the other imperial stud farm known as Kladrub. After World War I, central Europe was reorganized. The large Austrian-Hungarian empire was divided into several new republics, and every new state inherited the possessions of the former monarchy. The breeding stock of the imperial stud farm of Lipizza itself was divided among three different countries. At the time, only 208 Lipizzans were known to be left in existence. The main part of the remaining horses went to Italy. A total of 109 horses to which the village of Lipizza and its surroundings had been awarded. The foals remained at the Kladrub, which was then owned by the Czechoslovakian state. In 1919 the republic of Austria became the owner of the rest of the breeding stock and the stallions of the Spanish Riding School. Following World War I, in addition to Italy, Czechoslovakia and Austria, other new states which continued the breeding of the Lipizzan horse were Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia.

In 1943, the Lipizzan breed was again threatened with extinction when the mares and foals from Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia were transferred to Hostau in Czechoslovakia by the German High Command. Through the heroic efforts of the Spanish Riding School's director, Alois Podhajsky, the school was saved yet the performance stallions were not returned to the school until 1955. In 1945 the perpetuation of the breed was guaranteed by the American Army under the command of General Patton, which retrieved the mares and returned them to Austrian soil. Assisting Patton in the Clandestine mission to rescue the regal Lipizzans, Colonel Herrmann and his father Colonel Ottomar Herrmann Sr., smuggled the horses out from behind enemy lines by riding at night and hiding by day.

"We moved out into the night with nothing," recalled Herrmann, "only a handful of horses," Herrmann declared that the Lipizzans they saved under the protection of Patton were, "more precious than jewels."

Colonel Herrmann, joined by two subsequent generations of Herrmanns have created an American renaissance of classical equitations. His family maintains a 200 acre ranch in Florida to ensure the propagation of this extraordinary breed.

Today Lipizzans are found beyond the borders of what was once the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. With less than 4,500 purebred Lipizzans left in the world, the breed is considered unquestionably rare, and the number of foals born each year is correspondingly small. Extreme care is taken by those involved in the production of Lipizzan horses to insure that the purity of the breed is preserved. Much effort has been expanded to develop educational programs to foster voluntary adherence to the traditional breed goals and objectives.

In the late 20th century, the Lipizzan has proven to be a successful competitor at all levels of competition dressage and driving, as well as continuing to be the ultimate mount for classical horsemanship. The breed has also proven to be suitable for other equestrian disciplines including pleasure riding. Owners and breeders are dedicated to the Lipizzan breed because they appreciate its rarity, cultural imoprtance, romantic history and it's traits of intelligence, classic beauty, and harmonious, athletic way of moving.

To watch the Lipizzans of the Spanish Riding School please visit these links below.

For Quicktime...

Spanish Riding School Movie 1 http://www.uslr.org/riding_school_QTvideo.html

Spanish Riding School Movie 2 http://www.uslr.org/riding_school_QTvideo_1.html

For Flash

Spanish Riding School Movie 1 http://www.uslr.org/riding_school_FLvideo_1.html

Spanish Riding School Movie 2 http://www.uslr.org/riding_school_FLvideo.html