In the year 1580, Archduke Charles II established a horse breeding farm in Lipizza (Lipica). He selectively bred the most superior specimens from the Spanish horses, Barbs, Andalusians, Berbers and Karst - the local breed. This selective breeding produced the ancestors of today's Lipizzan breed.

Well reknowned for their high-stepping gait, the Lipizzan also possesses a combination of courage, strength, ability, temperament and intelligence, all wrapped up in a beautiful, noble package. The Lipizzan line was owned exclusively by the Habsburg monarchy, until the year 1916. During wartimes, the horses were moved to various locations for safety -- at the same time as the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon gained possession of the Lipizzans for a short time and introduced the Arab into their breeding.

The breeding stock was moved to Laxenburg (near Vienna) during World War I. After the War, while central Europe reorganized, the large Austrian-Hungarian empire divided into several smaller republics -- each inheriting some of the royal breeding stock of Lipizzans. Of the known 208 Lipizzans in existance, 109 were sent to Italy -- where the village of Lipizza and its surroundings had been awarded. Some of the foals remained in Kladrub, a then Czechoslovakian owned state, while the remaining breeding stock and the stallions of the Spanish Riding School was left to the republic of Austria.

The Lipizzan breed was again threatened by extinction in 1943, when the mares and foals from Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia were transferred to Hostau in Czechoslovakia by the German High Command. The then director of the Spanich Riding School saved the performance stallions - yet the horses were not returned to the school. In 1945, the American army, under the command of General Patton, guaranteed the survival of the breed when they retrieved the mares and returned them to Austrian soil.

The Lipizzan today, is used for competition dressage and driving, as well as the ultimate mount for classical horsemanship and pleasure riding. Lipizzans and Lipizzan-Arab crosses were used for the chariot races in the movie Ben Hur. Another Lipizzan stallion was used in a 1976 Paul Newman movie, as Buffalo Bill's horse. Some Lipizzans are used in circuses. Before 1981, Lipizzans were difficult to acquire. Today, Disneyland owns a number of Lipizzan mares; the Marine Corps uses them in their Color Guard; and, even former President Reagan has one in San Simeon, California.

Lipizzans are not very tall, the largest stands about 16 hands. They are late maturing, and long lived - often to 35 or more years of age. From birth, they display elegance and nobility; born black or bay, they slowly turn "white" by the time they are five to eight years of age. They are not fully grown in size until they are seven and do not reach full maturity until almost ten years of age -- as a yearling, they look shockingly small compared to a Thoroughbred of the same age. But their proud carriage, muscular bodies and elastic, powerful movements make them appear much larger than they really are.

Around eight months of age, Lipizzans go through an awkward "ugly duckling" stage, that lasts until they are 3-years-old, when the elegance they are known for and had from birth, finally returns and remains until they die.

Lipizzans are usually sound, with heavy bones - lameness is rare - and a joy to ride, partially from their broad backs and lively gait. They have a natural sense of rhythm and carry themselves with a natural balance; they are extremely quiet and steady under saddle. The stallions are docile and easy to handle - more so than mares, as they tend to be a little bossy in a motherly way.

For more information on this beautiful breed, contact :

The Lipizzan Billboard

Lipizzan Association of North America