- Although the Lipizzaner is not built to be a fast horse, its powerful hindquarters do enable it to perform complex show movements. The “dancing Lipizzaners” of the famous Knie Circus are known and admired throughout the world. The precise, perfect movements of these horses are possible only after years of rigorous training. For the first few months, young stallions are trained on a lunging rein. In this early time, the young horses learn to obey commands and to trust their trainers. Next, the young stallions are ridden. At first, they simply learn to go forward. But mainly they are learning to understand and follow the riders’ directions. Then they can learn the walk, trot, and canter. Over time, the lessons become more and more complex. After a great deal of training, the horses become more flexible, and they are better able to balance themselves. The end result is graceful movement and absolute control of their muscles to make a stunning and seemingly effortless performance.
- The Lipizzaner is one of the most athletic and intelligent of all the horse breeds. It has short, powerful limbs with flat joints and strong bones. Lipizzaners stand 59-62 inches (150-157 centimeters or about 15 hands) tall. They weigh an imposing 1,000 – 1,300 pounds (450-585 kilograms). They have hard hooves as a result of the rocky, limestone country surrounding Lipica. Lipizzaners have a calm, placid temperament, making them very disciplined students.
- Lipizzaners are probably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horse in the world. They are descended from six lines of stallions named Pluto, Conversano, Neapolitano, Favory, Meastoso, and Siglavy, and eighteen families of mares.
- Besides the classically trained Lipizzaners, there are other types, as well. Some Lipizzaners are bred mainly as workhorses. These horses are ideally suited for agricultural work because they are heavier and smaller than the school horses. A bigger, free-moving Lipizzaner, perfect for pulling carriages, is bred in Hungary. The Lipizzaner is also appreciated as an outstanding recreational riding horse. The powerful haunches, strong backs, intelligence, and grace of all the Lipizzaners have made this a popular horse the world over.
- The days of the Lipizzaner as the parade horse of the royal courts were over long ago. Today, these horses are ideal for leisure riding. Good-natured and intelligent, they are a versatile recreational and sport horse. They are particularly successful in driving competitions. In Hungary, Lipizzaners are crossed with trotter to improve their chances of winning international horse races.
- The magnificent Lipizzaner stallions were originally bred for use in battle. Soldiers on the backs of the Lipizzaners maneuvered their stallions to perform incredible leaps and plunges that frightened the enemy foot soldiers into retreating. During modern times, Lipizzaner stallions still perform there spectacular leaps. But this time, the result is applause and admiration from horse lovers around the world.
- The breed originated in 1580 in the small town of Lipica (also know as Lipizza) near the city of Trieste, in Italy (once part of the Austrian Empire). In that year, 9 stallions and 24 mares were imported from the Iberian Peninsula at the order of Archduke Charles II of Austria. These horses were the initial stock for breeding parade-horses for the imperial court in Vienna. The royal family of Austria, the Hapsburgs, were the owners of the horses. No common person was allowed to own a Lipizzaner. However, nobels serving with the Hapsburg armies were giving Lipizzaners to ride. The Spanish Adalusians were crossed with the strong, stocky, native Italian horses, whose endurance and strength had been praised since Roman times. Another ancestor of the Lipizzaner was the Neapolitan, a cross between Andalusian and Arabian horses that was popular during the Baroque era because of its slow, high-stepping gait (the Spanish gait).
- The horses at Lipica often had to be evacuated to protect them from attack during times of war. In 1797, the herd was rescued from the approaching French army and set out on a forty-day march to Hungary. After six months, the horses were returned to Lipica. In 1805, they had to leave their home once again. Through ice and snow, the horses were moved to Slovenia, where they stayed for two years before their return in 1807. In 1809, they had to be evacuated again, this time to Hungary, where they remained until 1815. World War II almost put an end to the Lipizzaners. Many of the horses were rounded up and held by the German army. It was only thanks to the combined efforts of the director of the Spanish Riding School, their breeding manager, and United States Army General George Patton that the herd of about three hundred survived the threat of the approaching Russian front. The story of this incident is told in the Walt Disney movie, Miracle of the White Stallions.
- Every horse lover who has seen them is captivated by the Lipizzaners of the Spanish Riding School. Watching the Lipizzaner stallions perform with their riders dressed in brown tails is an unforgettable experience. The Lipizzaners are one of the worlds olders breeds of horses in the world. They have been bred specifically for the Spanish Riding School for over four hundred years. The school was founded in 1572 to instruct noblemen in classical horseback riding.
- Outside of Vienne, Lipizzaners are also bred in many of the countries that used to be part of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although the Lipizzaners originated from the Andalusian line, other ancestors include Arabian, Neapolitan and Kladruber horses.
- During the Baroque era (the seventeenth and first half of the eighteenth centuries), Spanish horses were considered to be the best thoroughbred riding and carriage horses. Ownership of these horses was a status symbol in all the royal courts of Europe. The Spanish horses, also known as Andalusians, were a cross between the heavy, native horses of Spain and the horses belonging to the Berbers of Arabia. The Berbers came to Spain in the eight century, when Spain was conquered by the Moors. When it eventually became too expensive to import horses for the royal stables directly from Spain, many European courts began to establish their own breeding areas.
- The goal of Icelandic Pony breeders is to produce a robust, peaceful horse with a smooth gait. Performance is more important than appearance.
- The strongest feature of the Icelandic Pony is its gait. A true Icelandic Pony can walk, trot, canter and gallop. In addition, it has two other gaits – the tilt and the pace. The tilt can be compared to the walk. During the walk, the Icelandic Pony always has two or three hooves on the ground. In the tilt, only one or two hooves are on the ground at a time. During the pace, legs on either side of the horse work together. Because this gait is difficult for the horses to keep up, races are limited in length.
- Icelandic Ponies are not comfortable in warm, closed stables. They are used to having freedom. They feel best in the open air and in a herd, which is what they have been used to for hundreds of years. Ideally, the horses should have access to shelter, but not be confined to one. They will usually only make use of a shlter when it is raining heavily, when the sun is too hot, or when they are bothered by flies. Their coats are so thick that snow and cold do not bother them.
- Before the 1850’s, Icelandic Ponies were found only in Iceland. They began to be exported in 1850. At that time, the small tough Icelandic Ponies were used to pull heavy coal wagon in the depths of the coal mines in England. By 1950, Icelandic Ponies were being exported to Germany. In 1970, an international association called the European Federation of Friends of the Icelandic Pony was formed. This organization now lists over 25,000 Icelandic Ponies living in areas of the world beyond Iceland.
- Today, Icelandic Ponies have a huge following throughout Europe. Their calm, but tough, personalities make them excellent riding horses. They can easily cover 25-30 miles (40-50 kilometers) a day without problems. They enjoy going on outings in large groups and rarely fight among themselves along the way. Icelandic Ponies are also good competitors in sports activities.
- In A.D. 874, a group of Viking farmers left their homeland of Norway. They set sail toward the uninhabited island of Iceland, where they planned to make their new home. They left Norway because they did not want to be under the strict rule of King Harald Fairhair. The ships carried men, women, children, cattle and horses. The horses were the stocky, Germanic type. The settlers also brought another breed of horse to Iceland from the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. These horses were Celtic in origina. They were lighter and more refined that the Germanic horses. These two groups of horses produced offspring that are now know as Icelandic Ponies. They have been bred for over a thousand years in Iceland. About sixty thousand Icelandic Ponies live in Iceland today.
- Iceland is not a tropical paradise for these small horses. The climate is bitterly cold, and the land is barren. To survive, Icelandic Ponies have had to overcome an extremely hostile environment that includes cold temperatures, wind, rain, heavy snow and ice storms. This harsh environment, however, is the reason Icelandic Ponies have developed their extraordinary hardiness and undemanding nature. Because of their strength, Icelandic Ponies can be used for every type of heavy work. Yet, they are also important in the world of sports. They are fierce competitors in racing and dressage.
- The characteristics of Icelandic ponies vary according to the region of Iceland in which they live. In northern Icelan, near Skagafjördur, the horses have slender limbs, are very docile, and have a smooth gait. Icelandic Ponies in southern Iceland ner Hornafjördur are larger and tougher. They lack the smooth gait that makes a good riding horse.
- Written records dating back to the Middle Ages describe small, tough mountain horses living in the Southern Alps, part of a European mountain range. These horses were used to pull wagons and carry heavy loads on their backs to isolated villages and farms of the mountain communites. They could easily climb steep, narrow mountain paths withtheir small, sure hooves. Haflingers are the result of crossbreeding these native horses with Arabian thoroughbreds. The Arabian horses were brought to the area, which is now Austria, as a result of the Crusades and wars against the Turks.
- The birth of the official Haflinger breed was declared in 1874. In 1904, the first Haflinger breeders’ association was formed. The purpose of this organization is to improve the breed. Over time, a horse with a greater variety of uses has develped. Today, Haflingers are used for riding, pulling wagons, and in farming. Although, in recent times, there has been a decrease in the number of horses thoughout Europe, the Hafliner continues to win fans worldwine. There are now over 100,000 Haflingers in existence.
- Today, the main Haflinger breeding area in Austria is in the norther Tyrol. Breeding programs have taken place there since 1900. The ideal height of the Haflinger is 54-58 inches (137-147 centimeters or 13.5 – 14.5 hands) for mares; 56-59 inches (142-150 cm or between 14 – 15 hands) for stallions. The Haflinger is bred to be a square, stocky horse. It’s legs are well muscled.
- Through crossbreeding with Arabian thoroughbreds, Haflingers were transformed from packhorses into lighter horses more suitable for riding. Since 1976, however, this particular form of crossbreeding has fallen out of favor.
- At the beginning of the twentieth century, Haflingers were limited to the Tyrol. Since 1945, this small, strong breed has become more widely known. The horses are know popular in Europe, the United States, Australia, Africa and Asia. Haflingers are regarded as particularly important in Asia, where their genes are improving the native packhorse breed.
- Haflingers are hard-working, adaptable, strong, and long lived. Because of their healthy mountain upbringing, these horses are often able to work until they are forty years old.
- Arabian horses from the region of Egypt date back to 2000 B.C. This line was protected and promoted by Abbas Pasha, the Viceroy of Egypt from 1848-1850. The offspring of his horses are some of the best of the Arabian breed in existence today.
- Arabians are no longer bred as the hardy, high-performance horses once needed by the military. But Arabians used in today’s sporting activities do require special breeding to prevent them from becomeing too heavy and cumbersome. This allows the horses to move with fast, seemingly effortless strides. The gallop is their natural pace. The Arabians also have the strength and endurance to keep a fast pace for long periods of time. Arabians are bred throughout the world, and almost every modern breed has Arabian ancestors. The international breeding of Arabian thoroughbreds is an attempt to preserve a tradition that is in danger of dying out in its very own homeland. After all, in the deserts of central Arabia, there are no longer roving Bedouin tribes mounted on pure, swift horses. Many of today’s Bedouins drive cars and make a living selling oil.
- The founder of the religion called Islam, the prophet Muhammed, contributed to the breeding of Arabian horses starting in the early A.D. 600’s. Muhammed wanted to spread the word of Islam throughout the world. He also wanted to establish a worldwide Arabian empire. He knew this could only be achieved with a powerful army mounted on purebred horses. Muhammed, therefore, ordered the breeding of noble and pure horses. He promised the reward of life in paradise after death to every person who raised and donated such a horse for the cause. He said, “However many grains of barley you give your horse, this will be the number of sins which you will be forgiven all at once.” The Muslim army made its way through Egypt, North Africa, across the Mediterranean, and into Spain and France, conquering all in its path. But the Muslims were eventually defeated. They returned to their homelands, leaving many of their magnificent horses behind. This stock was the beginning of the Arabian influence on the native horses of Europe. In Spain, Arabian stallions were crossed with the native mares. The result of this crossbreeding was the Andalusian horse. The Andalusian was introduced into many European countries for breeding to refine the existing stock of heavy, bulky horses.
- In the many wars that took place in Europe during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, Arabian horses proved to be superior over native breeds. Two great promoters of the Arabian were Louis XV and Napoleon. Following his Russian defeat, Napoleon and his officers were only able to flee back to France thanks to the stamina of their Arabian horses. All the other types of horses fell victim to the cold and the stresses of war. European rulers realized that hte way to improve native breeds was to crossbreed with the Arabian. They acquired Arabian stallions to crossbreed with the native mares. At that time, little thought was given to the idea of pure Arabian breeding. Only a few wealthy buyers, such as King Wilhelm I, took part in the breeding of pure Arabian stock.
- In the second century A.D., the nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Arabian desert began breeding these horses. The Bedouins desired a horse that was beautiful, yet tough enough to survive the desert. They carefully bred the Arabian horse for centuries, making sure the line was kept pure. Although the horse breeding practices of the Bedouins played and important role in the development of the breed, today’s Arabians are quite different from the ancient Arabian horse. The Arabian of today developed throughout later centures. The features of the modern Arabian horse were shaped by harsh desert conditions, including a sparse food supply, extreme temperatures, and terrible sand storms. Only the strongest horses could survive the hostile conditions. The weak and vulnerable horses died out. The desert toughened the Arabian survivors, giving them greater strength and stamina than the ancient horses.
- Arabian horses are one of the finest racehorse breeds in the world. They are graceful, trim and hardy. They move quickly and lightly on their feet, and they can run for long distances with great endurance.
- Arabian horses are known for their beauty, stamina, and strength. These features have earned them the admiration and adoration of horse lovers everywhere. Arabians are the oldest purebred horses in the world, and no other horse has had such a great influence on so many other breeds. Over the course of centuries, the Arabian has been used to develop Andalusians, Lipizzaners, English thoroughbreds, and Trakehners, and has been used to improve blood of almost every breed. The offspring produced from such crossbreeding are usually larger than the Arabian horse itself.
- The Arabian horse is an ancient breed that originated in the Middle East. The ancestors of today’s Arabians were the wild horses of the highlands in central Asia. As long ago as 2000 B.C., horses from this region lived on the fertile plain between the Nile and Euphrates rivers. But some historians believe this breed has inhabited the Arabian peninsula since 5000 B.C. One prehistoric rock drawing dating back more than 8,000 years shows a horse with Arabian features.
- The ruler of Israel from 972-922 B.C., King Solomon, captured Arabian horses from Egypt and the Arabian deserts. His stable housed more than forty thousand Arabians.