Horses : LIPIZZANER

Origin: Austrian empire. The area they were developed is now in the country Slovenia.

Australian Status:

International Status: Approximately 11,000.

Arrived in Australia: 1973 

Australian Population: 7 approved mares of breeding age, 3 mares over 20 and 3 additional mares not approved for breeding. 4 stallions and 15 geldings. These numbers are from the registered horses under the Lipizzaner Association of Australia, from the 2019 season. 

We are still waiting to include any Lipizzaners registered under the Australian Lipizzaner Registry.

History: Famous for being the horses of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. The breed is named after Lipica - pronounced Lipizza - near Trieste, where a Royal stud was set up in 1580 when the area was part of Austria. This area became Yugoslavia after WW2, and is now Slovenia. The major stud of the breed still operates on the original site at Lipica. Link to their wesbite at foot of page.

Founding breeds were Spanish horses of the Moorish era, hence heavily African, mingled in the 1560's with Arabian blood as it was in Europe then - certainly Arabians from Syria were there and others from the Levant. Lipizzans now DNA test 23 to 26% Arabian - reference at foot of page.

Breed traits: Height 14.2hh to 15.2hh. The breed are almost all grey, most going white as they age - usually by 6 to 10 years old the coat goes white. Rarely a black or brown horse is foaled. Sturdy build with good bone. Small alert ears. Crested neck. Strong shoulders and quarters. Famous for dressage and high school training which requires requires a strong build and steady temperament, and the ability to concentrate both body and mind. Known as a baroque breed for its classical strong good looks.

Uses: Dressage, hacking, eventing, driving.

Breed Organisation: There are two registries in Australia: a) Lipizzaner Association of Australasia http://www.lipizzaneraustralia.org/ established 1995. Affiliated with the Lipizzan International Federation, the international body http://Lipizzan International Federation
b) Australian Lipizzaner Registry  http://www.australianlipizzanerregistry.org.au/

Additional Notes:
Breed also also called Lipizzan.

Photos: Top; 257 Favory Pallavicina 'Merlin" Annwn park Lipizzaner Stud, Stuart Town, N.S.W., taken by Simmone Cser Kananj sent in for one of our photos competitions.
Bottom: Favory Lucca II Louie, Lipizzaner gelding by Simmone Cser Kalanj.

Scientific article, brief but good, explaining the Arabian influence.

The original and largest Lipizzaner stud, in Slovenia. Beautiful website.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Page by Janet Lane

(population updated 30/05/2020 by A.Y.)

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