Iowa Lipizzan Association, Inc.

Breed History

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The Lipizzan breed is very unique and one learns more and more about them everyday from first hand experience.  Their intelligence, gentleness, and athleticism are something to behold.  They are captivating. The breed nearly died out during World War II when General George Patton led a daring rescue to save the remaining breeding stock for the Spanish Riding School.  They were in danger of being eaten by the advancing Russian troops and other hungry people.  This event was later made into a movie called The Miracle of the White Stallions by Disney.  Today there are about 3,000 purebred Lipizzans in the world, of this number, 700 are in the United States.

Historically, the breed traces its origins to Emperor Maximillian II and his brother, Archduke Charles II. Emperor Maximillian II founded the Spanish Riding School in 1542 as a place for young noblemen to learn to ride.  The Spanish Riding School continues today and is the only institute that maintains and practices the Renaissance tradition of classical riding.  A brother of Maximillian II, Archduke Charles II, founded a stud farm in Lipizza (Lipica).  He bred the best Spanish horses in the world there.

Neapolitano Juwela as a weanling. Owner:  Gene Wehrheim

The Lipizzan is the result of Andalusians, Barbs, Berkes, and local Karst horses.  The Karst horse had the most influence on the breed.  The Karst was white in color, small, slow to mature, extremely tough, and had a high-stepping gait.  Hundreds of years of dedication, tradition, and purity have helped create the Lipizzan we know today. The Lipizzan is the only mount of the Spanish Riding School.

Like most grey horses, the Lipizzan is born a solid or dark color and gradually turn white.  They are a slow maturing horse and do not turn completely white until they are about eight-years old. Today the Lipizzan is being reintroduced to the competitive dressage arena and is being ridden by more and more dressage masters.  They are also being bred with Arabians and are eligible for registration as Half-Arabians and Partbred Lipizzans.  Thoroughbreds and warmbloods are crossed for both sport horses and dressage horses.

The United States Lipizzan Registry has a complete history of the breed with links to other related sites.

The United States Lipizzan Registry also has a complete description of the Lipizzan breed standard.

Sarafonda Owner: Catherine Rauschert

Neapolitano Juwela Owner:  Gene Wehrheim