Lipizzaners are world famous as the "dancing white horses" of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, the renowned academy of classical riding that was founded in the seventeenth century.
This beautiful and distinguished breed was created from a shipment of thirty-three purebred Andalusian horses sent from Spain to the Imperial Austrian Stud at Lipizza in 1580. The proud, high-stepping horses were powerful, intelligent, and willing. These qualities made them perfect for the high-stepping work that was fashionable in Europe at the time.
During the Napoleonic Wars, three hundred horses were evacuated three times to escape the advancing French. In World War II, the Piber Stud was taken over by the Germans. Most of the mares were moved. A dramatic rescue in 1945 by a British army unit saved the breed from being scattered and lost.
Lipizzan foals are born dark, almost black, and grow whiter with age. They become fully white or gray by 4 to 8 years of age. When a Lipizzan is about eight month old, it begins to go through an "ugly duckling" stage. They begin to look like a molting mule and are barely recognized as a member of their breed. This stage usually lasts until they are three years old, and that is when the elegance he possessed at birth reemerges. From here on, it continues to manifest itself, even through old age, until he dies.
Mature Lipizzan horses have a large, aristocratic head that can sometimes have a slightly Arabian look, but, at other times, shows a convex profile like many Andalusians. The eyes are big and dark, and the jaw is very pronounced. A muscular, arched neck is set onto strong shoulders. The body is compact and powerful. The legs are strong, and relatively short, set well underneath, which is perfect for work in the ring. The bones are very strong, and lameness is rare. They are strong, intelligent, athletic, willing, proud, long-lived, and quiet.
Lipizzans are not fully grown until around age seven, and are not fully mature until around age ten. At one year old they look surprisingly small compared to a thoroughbred of the same age.
Today, Lipizzaners perform at world-class dressage events, and give exhibitions and demonstrations all around the world. They are also used for pulling carriages and still do work on some farms in eastern Europe.
