Lipizzan

From ArticleWorld

A Lipizzan horse is often related to its performances with the oldest riding academy in the world, the Spanish Riding School. It is also called a Lipizzaner.

History

Lipizzans are founded from Spanish horses. The High School riding was popular in Europe in the 16th Century with Archduke Charles II from Austria importing nine stallions and 24 mares from Spain in 1580. These animals (which were mostly Andalusians) were used to establish a stud in Lipizza, Austria with the intent of breeding mounts for High School Dressage. It continued to import horses from Spain and Neapolitans from Italy. Lipizzaners today can be traced back to six stallions: Pluto, Conversano, Neapolitano, Favory, Maestoso and Siglavy. These six stallions were important in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

In 1735 the Spanish Riding School was established by Charles VI and began recording the bloodlines of Lipizzaners. He built a winter riding arena in Vienna. Lipizzaners had to be rescued by U.S. troops during World War II, led by George S. Patton. At this time, only 250 horses were still alive. After World War II, Piber was the main stud for horses and breeding was very selective. The Spanish Riding School celebrated the 60th anniversary of Patton’s rescue with a rare tour in the United States.

The Airs

Lipizzaners are most well known for their performances of Classical Dressage and primarily their airs above ground that are often demonstrated by Spanish Riding School tours. These airs include:

• Levade, a 45-degree haunch over the ground.
• Courbette, which requires the horse to balance on its hind legs and jump in a hop-like movement.
• Capriole, where the horse leaps up and tucks his forelegs under his chest, then kicks out with his hind legs as he reaches the height of his leap.
• Croupade, which is similar to the capriole but keeps both the forelegs and the hindlegs under the body throughout the leap.