Lipizzaner Stallions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMKEPqyLptc&feature=related
http://www.hlipizzans.com/
The Lipizzan, or Lipizzaner (Slovene Lipicanec), is a breed of horse closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria where the finest representatives demonstrate the haute ecole or "high school" movements of classical dressage, including the highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements known as the "airs above the ground." The Lipizzan breed dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed with the support of the Habsburg nobility. The breed takes its name from one of the earliest stud farms established, located near the Kras village of Lipica (spelled "Lipizza" in Italian), in modern-day Slovenia.
The history of Herrmanns' Royal Lipizzan Stallions
| Founded in the 16th century for the exclusive use of the Hapsburg Royal family of Austria, the Royal Lipizzans are unquestionably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horses in the world. The pride of the Hapsburg Empire, the Lipizzan breed was first established by Archduke Charles at Lipizza (now part of Yugoslavia). |
| Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time. Indeed, 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 and designed to crush infantry troops during close combat. |
| 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. Training a master Lipizzan takes more than a decade. The horses are not ridden until they reach 4 years' of age. The horses' white coats alone take years to develop. Lipizzans are born brown or black and lighten to shades of gray and white as they mature. |
"From out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great (white) horse, Silver. Return with us now, to those thrilling days of yesteryear."
Absolutely fascinating creatures. I could watch them until I no longer am able.
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The story on the herrmanns is not true and is a lie!
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I can't vouch for the veracity of the story that I got off the internet. I will say that I was quite surprised to not be able to find a lot more about the Herrmanns (I found nothing else actually) on the internet if they were indeed involved in such a heroic act. Thanks for your viewpoint although I would be curious as to how you know it is a lie?
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