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What is a Lipizzan? Maybe you’ve seen the Disney movie, Miracle of the White Stallions, or maybe you’ve seen the touring Royal Lipizzan Stallions. These elegant white horses were the favorites of the Austrian Hungarian Empire and were carefully selected for cavalry and performance over the last four hundred years.
Back in the 1500s, the Austrian Emperor brought selected horses from Spain to his breeding farm in Lipizza. For centuries, accomplished horsemen carefully perfected the breed to produce a strong, handsome, comfortable, trainable, and athletic horse. Desired by noblemen throughout Europe, Spanish horses were considered the ideal riding horse. In battle, they were calm, obedient, and could be taught specialized “airs above the ground” which made them a formidable weapon.
World War I was the last war in which horse cavalry was used. After the collapse of the Austrian Empire, many of the horses were eaten or lost, but the Austrians struggled to preserve their breed. At the end of World War II, their stallions were on the American side of the line dividing East and West, but the mares and foals were on the Russian side. Afraid that the starving Russians would destroy the animals for food, the Austrians convinced General Patton to order a raid into enemy territory and save the last remaining Lipizzans.
As a reward, the U.S.A. was allowed to import some of these rare horses. Tempel Farms was established near Chicago. A smaller number went to private farms. During the 1950s, the Austrians became worried by Russian advances and created a special breeding reserve called Rafflyn Farms on the Pacific Coast. Although much of that stock was destroyed in a terrible flood, these bloodlines are prized in the U.S.
Lipizzans are still rare, with fewer than 4,000 registered throughout the world, but they are growing in popularity. Americans are discovering what the European noblemen knew more than a century back, Lipizzans are superior riding horses. Whether you want to show dressage or rope a cow or have a trustworthy friend for the trail, these athletic and trainable animals will give you everything you ask for and more.
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 | Harmony Lipizzans is a small breeding farm located outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. We are dedicated to producing quality purebred Lipizzan horses. Our foals are imprinted at birth, handled daily, and fully halter trained before they leave. Then they go out into the show ring and win! Check the FOR SALE page to see our 2007 filly. She is definitely a winner!
Harmony Lipizzans
12725 Tanglewood Drive
Knoxville, TN 37922
865-966-2426
email: karasalle@earthlink.net |
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