A white Lipizzaner stallion!!!!
Two weeks ago in Vienna my childhood dream came true and I got to meet these fantastic horses of the Spanish Riding School in person!
Click on the photo above and see horses in their box stalls (on a rainy Sunday).
These historical stables of the Lipizzaners are in one of Vienna's few Renaissance buildings, the Stallburg.
The guide said that it was badly damaged in World War II bombings but after the war the building, with its beautiful arcade courtyard, was restored according to the original plans.
Horses are exercised in this horse walker in the courtyard; 45 minutes a day they enjoy being outside in the fresh air.
It is the world's biggest oval horse walker.
See how it works in this nice video!
I'll show you more pictures of the Spanish Riding School in the coming days.
Meanwhile you might watch this beautiful documentary on YouTube .
All the information and more clips are at the SRS website.
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(Linking to Camera Critters.)
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absolute; beauty
ReplyDeleteI think I saw this place a long time ago...
ReplyDeleteThat is very special. It's never too late for those dreams to come true. Once saw a program on TV about these horses and it was so interesting. I'm glad you got to see them at last in person.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, Thank you! There is an article about Lipizzaner horses spending summers in Vermont. The last year was 2007. Here is more history from Vermont viewpoint. http://www.vtliving.com/lipizzanerstallions/
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ReplyDeleteTravelogue for the Universe, thanks for that link. Very interesting! I looked up Herrmann's and found that there is a Spanish American Riding Academy in Florida with Lipizzaner horses! Their website explains their other name, Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions:
"... it is a contemporary miracle of sorts that this precious bloodline is not extinct, having barely been saved by General George Patton from the Russian advance during World War II. The Lipizzans' celebrated escape was recounted in the Walt Disney movie, "Miracle of the White Stallions".
Assisting Patton in the clandestine mission to rescue the regal Lipizzans, Colonel Herrmann and his father, Colonel Ottomar Herrmann, Sr., smuggled the horses out from far behind enemy lines, riding at night and hiding by day. "We moved out into the night with nothing," recalled Herrmann, "only a handful of horses". The Lipizzans' they saved under the protection granted by Patton, were "more precious than jewels", he declared.
Colonel Herrmann, joined by two subsequent generations of Herrmanns, created an American renaissance of classical equitation's. His family maintains a 200 acre ranch in Florida to ensure the propagation of this extraordinary breed.
All Airs Above the Ground, originally outlined by Xenophon the Greek, derive from defensive horsemanship created for war and predated-dated the birth of Christ by some 400 years. These spectacular leaps and plunges were originally meant for use by mounted riders to inspire terror in the hearts of foot soldiers.
That this nearly lost art remains alive, is due in very large part, to the commitment of Colonel Herrmann, scion of the Herrmann family, and historically among the world's greatest trainers of this rare breed. In a lively and informative narrative throughout the presentation of his remarkable stallions, the history, evolution and contemporary application of this most sophisticated horse and rider training is recounted. It is repeatedly noted that extreme patience and, most particularly, love are the requisites to such highly schooled animals. Herrmann epitomized the master of classical European equitation."
--http://hlipizzans.com/history
I know he was not all white, but why did "Mr. Ed" came to my mind? :-)))
ReplyDeleteI know what you're talking Dina.
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish Riding School in Vienna is a tradition of fantastic horses.
Thank you for your visit.
Shalom from Polish.
They're amazing animals. I look forward to more, Dina!
ReplyDeleteThe horses are beautiful , I love the buildings and I am looking forward to learning more about the beautiful place you visited.
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