The Lipizzan is the aristocrat, the royalty the light and the nimble dancer and the aerialist of the equestrian world.
His distant ancestors from the Orient bore Ghengis Khan out of the wastes of Asia to conquer much of the then-known world. The fleet Arabic strain in the Lipizzaners patrolled, guarded and raided treasure-laden caravans in the golden sands of the Sahara. Their masters were Bedouins, Tuaregs and riders from a dozen long-forgotten tribes.
It is believed that the forerunner of the Lipizzan was bred in Carthage, more than 2,000 years ago. The Carthaginian stock was bred to the Vilano, a sturdy Pyrenees horse, and with Arab and Barbary strains. The result became the fabled Andalusian of ancient Spain. In 1945 General George S Patton rescued the the last 250 surviving Lipizzaners to preserve these incredible animals and their lineage. We have posted this incredible true story in another blog you may wish to enjoy. Lipizzaner Rescue Their abilities are astounding. For centuries they have been trained for war and dressage. Today they perform around the world captivating audiences and spellbinding them with their agility and perfection. If you have never seen these magnificent animals here are a few photos and a video that you may enjoy. The linked article gives you the history of the Lipizzaner and describes in detail each of the stunning acrobatic techniques they have been trained to do. The History of the Lipizzaner.
This is a video taken during a show demonstrating some of their incredible maneuvers.
The "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions
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