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HISTORY OF THE LIPIZZAN The Lipizzan (or the Lipizzaner as it may sometimes be called) traces its history back to the early 1650s when the finest Arab blood was introduced and fused with the local athletic Spanish horses during the Moorish occupation of Spain. Maximillan II brought the Spanish horses to Austria about 1562 and founded the court stud at Kladrub. His brother, Archduke Charles established a similar stud with Spanish stock in 1580 at Lipizza, near the Adriatic Sea. Both studs flourished; the Kladrub stud became known for its heavy-carriage horses, while the Lipizza stud produced riding horses and light-carriage horses. However, the two studs were closely linked and on occasion, exchanged breeding stock. The Kladrub stud produced Maestoso and Favory, two of the foundation sires of today's Lipizzan. To strengthen the original Spanish-Arab strain, several stallions were purchased during the 18th and 19th centuries for use at Lipizza and Kladrub. During the 1700s, these horses, although of Spanish and Italian origin, included sires from Denmark and Holstein, but were of pure Spanish descent. By the 1800s, there were no longer any original Spanish horses to be had, and Arabs were chosen to replenish the Lipizzan line. Of the seven Arabian stallions used, only Siglavy founded a separate dynasty. Of all the sires used during the 18th and 19th century, only six of these horses were accepted to found the family lines of the Lipizzan as known today: 1. CONVERSANO - black, a Neapolitan (b. 1767). Conversanos have Arab blood, strong heads, short backs, broad hocks and dignified movements. 2. FAVORY - dun, a Bohemian origin (b. 1779), transferred from Kladrub. The Arab influence is noticeable in the Favorys by their lighter build, but the soft curve of their nose still calls to mind their Spanish ancestry. 3. MAESTOSO - white, a crossbred of a Neapolitan sire and a Spanish dam (b. 1819), transferred from Kladrub. Maestosos are powerful horses with long backs, extremely muscular cruppers and heavy heads. 4. NEAPOLITANO - bay (brown), from another Neapolitan sire (b. 1790), Neapolitanos retain their original tall, more rangy appearance and they have graceful movements and high action. 5. PLUTO - gray, Danish stud (b.1765). Plutos, like their ancestors from Spain and Denmark, are sturdy horses with a rectangular build, ram-like heads and a high-set neck. 6. SIGLAVY - gray, Arabian (b. 1810). The Siglavys typify the Arab Lipizzan with aristocratic heads, high withers and short backs. Gray is the dominant color of the Lipizzan today. Since white horses were preferred by the royal family, the color was stressed in breeding. As late as two hundred years ago, there were a great number of blacks, browns, chestnuts, duns and even piebalds and skewbalds. Today non-white Lipizzans are a rarity and only now and then is a black or bay found. Of the estimated 3,500 Lipizzans in the world today, less than 10% are black. The Lipizzan is noted for his sturdy body, brilliant action and proud carriage as well as intelligent and docile disposition. Born dark, black-brown or mouse-gray, most Lipizzans turn white somewhere between the ages of 6 and 10. Only in rare cases does the horse stay the original dark color. Not a tall horse, averaging between 14.3 to 15.3 hands, the Lipizzan presents a very powerful picture. The first thing noticed in the head are the large, appealing eyes. The body, set off by a powerful neck, presents an image of strength with well-rounded quarters, heavy shoulders and short, strong legs showcasing well-defined tendons and joints. The tail is carried high, and, like the mane, is strong and long. |
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