The Lipizzaner breeding: national, intangible cultural heritage

With the Lipizzaner breeding in Piber, we not only ensure the continued existence of the Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish Riding School, but also contribute to the preservation of the oldest cultural horse breed in Europe. In 2016, the knowledge regarding this responsible task was finally declared a national, intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. 

Today's Lipizzaner breeding at the stud in Piber goes back to the six stallion lines and 17 classic mare families of the Lipizzaners that already existed in the 18th century.

At that time, the "Lipizzaners" were still motley: bay, chestnut, dun, isabelle, plate, tiger pinto or black - but not a single one was white at that time. The white colour, the mould colour, only became established towards the end of the 18th century / in the 19th century and has remained until today. This colour was preferred for breeding reasons of taste. In addition, the white hair of the Arabian has proven to be dominant hereditarily, so that today only in very rare cases the dark (mainly brown) coat is preserved. However, it is part of the tradition of the Spanish Riding School Vienna that there is always at least one brown Lipizzaner in the stables of the riding school. They are considered lucky charms.

Lipizzaners are characterised by a perfect, nobly formed physique, graceful movements, eagerness to learn, liveliness, good nature, courage, hardness and endurance. The well-shaped head of the Lipizzaner can sometimes have a ram nose. The neck is set a little higher and is carried nobly. The strong, muscular back ends in a very strong croup. The appearance corresponds to that of the baroque show and parade horse, although the frame is more like a rectangle. The well set tail is dense and of fine hair. The limbs dry and profiled, have clean hocks and beautifully formed hooves.

The characteristics of a Lipizzaner