The Lipizzan, or Lipizzaner, is a breed of horse closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria where the finest representatives demonstrate the "high school" movements of classical dressage, including the highly advanced "airs above the ground." The Lipizzan breed dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed with the support of the Habsburg nobility. The breed takes its name from one of the earliest stud farms established, located near the Kras village of Lipica (spelled "Lipizza" in Italian), in modern-day Slovenia. Although most well known for their amazing ability in performing the “airs above the ground” and the true classical dressage by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, they were also the Royal carriage horses.
Lipizzans are genetically a type of grey. Born dark, black-brown, brown, or mouse-grey, Lipizzans gradually lighten until the white coat for which they are noted is produced somewhere between the ages of 6 and 10. The white hair coat has become dominant in the breed, and only now and then is a black or brown adult produced. As late as two hundred years ago, black, browns, chestnuts, duns, piebalds, and skewbalds were found in the adult herd. Noted for his sturdy body and proud carriage, the Lipizzan head is remarkable for its large appealing eyes and small alert ears. The body presents a picture of strength with a crested neck, powerful shoulders, muscular hind quarters, and strong legs with well-defined tendons and joints.
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. Their gaits are powerful and elastic, although different in style from the Warmblood breeds seen in many Dressage competitions. Lipizzans are naturally balanced, well-known for excellent trainability and intelligence.
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.
The ancestors of the Lipizzan can be traced to approximately A.D. 800. The predecessors of the Lipizzan included desert horses that were brought into Spain from North Africa and crossed on native Spanish horses, creating breeds such as the Andalusian and other Iberian horses.
Today, all Lipizzans recognized worldwide trace to six stallions. In order foaled, they are:
- Pluto: a gray Spanish stallion from the Royal Danish Stud, foaled in 1765
- Conversano: a black Neopolitan stallion, foaled in 1767
- Neapolitano: a bay Neopolitan stallion from Polesina, foaled in 1790
- Favory: a dun stallion from the Kladrub stud, foaled in 1779
- Siglavy: a gray Arabian stallion, foaled in 1810
- Maestoso: a gray (or possibly white) Kladruber stallion, a crossbred of Neapolitan sire and a Spanish dam, foaled at the Hungarian stud of Mezőhegyes in 1819
There are also 2 other stallion lines which are accepted as equal to the 6 classical lines by LIF (Lipizzan International Federation). These are:
- Tulipan (English Tulip): this line started in the Croatian stud farm of Terezovac of Count Janković. Horses of this line are of Neapolitan descent, crossed with other Lipizzaners during the 19th century and formed the Tulipan line around 1880.
- Incitato: the foundation sire of this Hungarian line was foaled in Mezőhegyes in 1802. The Incitato line is derived from Spanish and Italian sources.
These two lines are still found in Croatia, Hungary, and other eastern European countries as well as in North America.
In the late 20th century, the Lipizzan has 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. Owners and breeders are dedicated to the Lipizzan breed because they appreciate its rarity, cultural importance, romantic history, and its traits of intelligence, classic beauty, and harmonious, athletic way of moving.
