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.