Lipizzaner Stallions History

The beauty and grace of Lipizzaner stallions has dazzled mankind for centuries. Accompanying these traits comes a rich heritage.

  1. Ancient History

    • It is believed that the ancient ancestors of the Lipizzaner horse were bred more than 2,000 years ago in Carthage. These Carthaginian horses were mingled with the Arabian and Barbary breeds.

    The Moors

    • The Moors brought the Barb horses to Spain where they were bred with Spanish horses. The famed Andalusian horse of ancient Spain was created.

    The Austrians

    • During the 1500s, when the Habsburgs ruled both Spain and Austria, a strong, swift horse was both fashionable and useful. Austrian nobility brought Spanish Andalusian horses back to breed for court. One stud was established at Lipizza, hence the origin of the breed's name.

    Breakup of the Austrian Empire

    • In 1918, the old Austrian empire fell, leaving the region of Lipizza in the hands of the Italians. The herd of Lipizzaner horses was split evenly between the Italians and the Austrians.

    World War II

    • During World War II, frequent bombings near Vienna endangered the lives of the Lipizzaners. United States Army commander Gen.George S. Patton, an avid horseman himself, agreed to save the herd and move it into Germany. The Stallions returned to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna in 1955.

    Today

    • Lipizzaner stallions are the heart of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and are trained in the highest school of dressage. Lipizzaner stallions from the famous riding school occasionally travel to other countries for exhibitions. There also are other traveling shows that exhibit this breed of horse in shows across the United States.