History.....

The Lipizzaner Breed

Lipizzaners are classed as Baroque horses, as the breeding of them began in 1580, at the beginning of the Baroque period of European history, which lasted until1790. It is true that between the years of the height of the Baroque period,1680 to 1790 new blood was added to the original Lipizzaner which accentuated its shapeliness and movement.

The Lipizzaner is traditionally a horse of the Austro Hungarian Empire: It is still coveted and nurtured by Austria, immortalised by the much envied Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, where only Lipizzaners are used. The National Stud of Austria is at Piber, in the south-east of the country.
Lipizzaners are still bred, however, at the national studs of former posts of the previous Empire, the best known being in Slovenia, at the stud Lipiça which gave the breed it’s name; in Hungary at Szilvásvárad, Croatia at Djakovo, Romania at Beclean and Fagaras, and Slovakia at Topol’cianky. Also in Italy at Monterotondo, near Rome.

Despite the existence of these national studs, the Lipizzaner has been classified by the European Commission as a ‘rare and endangered’ breed.

The blood that goes to make up the modern Lipizzaner is made up of 52% Italian and Spanish Baroque horses, Fredricksborger 8%, Arabian 21%, Kladruby 4%, Lipizzan 10%, Thoroughbred 3%, Shagya Arabian 2%. (Ref Professor J Sölkner, Vienna, The Copernicus Project). For further information about this unique in depth study of the Lipizzaner horse, please email to us.

Most Lipizzaners are white (brown spotting is less desirable), but they are born dark. The shade of the dark varies considerably, and the time taken to become snow white varies greatly. Some are quite white by the time they reach two years of age, others are still ‘greying’ (becoming white) at twelve years. At birth, they often have white markings, like socks or stars – the skin under these markings is white and remains so for life. The rest of the body skin is dark. The eyes are dark.

 Registering Pure Bred Lipizzaners

 Currently all pure bred Lipizzaners that are recognised by the International Lipizzan Federation (LIF) must have DNA identification, which ensures parentage. There is now an International Lipizzaner Register that is overseen by Lipica Stud in Slovenia. All information that goes into the Register has been approved by the LIF, but is supplied by the Registrar of each individual country’s Stud Book. In Australasia, the only internationally recognised body is the Australian Lipizzaner Registry Inc (ALR).

 All pure bred foals bred in Australasia from registered stock are register-able with the ALR, but they must also successfully through Accreditation and Classification before they are formally accepted as breeding stock.  There are strict protocols as to breeding standards and naming.

	232 Favory Fecske II, from 112 Fec ske by 226 Favory Naussica. Photo at three weeks. Bred by G Hamilton.