Lipizzan Horses

The Lipizzan, or Lipizzaner is a breed of horse made famous by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria where the finest representatives demonstrate highly refined and spectacular classical dressage. Known as the haute ecole or "high school" movements of classical dressage, these horses are capable of the highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements known as the "airs above the ground."

The Lipizzan breed dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed with the support of the Habsburg nobility. Archduke Charles II of the Austro-Hungarian Empire established a stud farm in Lipizza (Lipica), using the best imported Spanish horses to cross with the native Karst horses. With the Spanish horses came Spanish trainers, and instructors. A riding school located in Vienna, Austria was developed for the Hapsburg royalty. The school was called the Spanish Riding School because of these Spanish origins, and the only breed used at this oldest of classical dressage institutions has been the Lipizzan Horse.

Through the 17th and 18th centuries the Lipizzan stud grew steadily by acquiring more Spanish stock as well as stallions of Spanish breeding from other European studs. In the 19th century, Arabians were added to the gene pool. Eventually six Lipizzan (stallions) established dominant sire lines: SIGLAVY, an Arab; NEAPOLITANO, of Spanish breeding from Italy; MAESTOSO, from Kladrub, another stud using Lipizzans; FAVORY, from Kladrub; PLUTO, of Spanish origin from Denmark; and CONVERSANO, another Neapolitan. Later, in Croatia and Hungary, the TULIPAN and INCITATO lines were developed.

Today Lipizzan horses are found beyond the borders of what was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With between 3,000 to 4,000 purebred Lipizzans in the world, the breed is considered rare. In fact, more Lipizzans at this point live in the U.S. than in any other country. Most Lipizzans measure between 14.2 and 15.2 hands, with occasional individuals either over or under. They are compact and muscular, with very powerful hindquarters, allowing them to do the difficult "High School" (Dressage) movements, including the "airs above the ground." They generally have a strong-featured head with a convex profile, set high on a well-muscled, arched neck. They have short cannons, their legs have good bone, and well-sloped shoulders. Lipizzans are naturally balanced, well-known for excellent trainability and intelligence. Lipizzan horses have 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.

Lipizzans are slow to mature, usually not being put under saddle until the age of four, and not considered fully mature until the age of seven. However, they also are long-lived horses, often performing well into their mid-20s, and living into their thirties. For example, the stallion Siglavy Mantua I was a featured solo performer with the Spanish Riding School at the age of 26 during its 2005 tour of the United States.

Aside from the rare bay or black horse, most Lipizzans are gray. They are born dark, and become lighter each year as the graying process takes place. They are usually completely white by the average age of seven, though the range varies from six to ten.

The traditional training methods for Lipizzans were developed at the Spanish Riding School and are based on the principles of classical dressage, a method of training refined during the Baroque period, developed partly for military purposes, partly for exhibitions at European royal households, with techniques specifically adapted to the temperament and conformation of horses of the time, the predecessors of breeds, like the Lipizzan, that we now refer to as "Baroque horses."