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Thursday, June 16, 2016

The Lippizan Horses of the Spanish Court Riding School.


The story of the Lippizan Horses, used by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, is a complicated and varied one. Relocated many times due to a variety of wars, the mares finally ended up in the town of Piber (Styria, Austria ), while some of the stallions are being trained in the “Wiener Hofreitschule”
(Viennese Court Riding School )

Throughout various wars, beginning in 1797 ( the War of the First Coalition ) and several times thereafter, the horses were saved from extinction by relocating them away from war action.
The end of WW II saw the horses again endangered by the oncoming Russian Amy, who, it was feared, would butcher them for horse meat.
General George S Patton and Colonel Charles Reed of the United States army once again rescued the Lippizan horses by re-locating them to a safe area.

If you ever get to Vienna, please treat yourself to a performance of the “Spanische Hofreitschule”

You will never forget the experience. Trust me !


The arena with three viewing levels will impress you with its splendor.







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