Photo by www.BobTarr.com

   The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner as it is called in Europe was developed in Austria by the
Hapsburg emperor Maximilli II  and his brother Archduke Charles II in both Lupizza
(now called Lupica) in modern day Slovenia and Kladrub in Austria, in the mid 1500's.
Spanish horses were imported and crossed with the local Karst stock and succeeding
generations were then crossed with the old Neapolitan breed as well as horses of Spanish
descent from Europe. The stud at Kludrub became known for heavy carriage horses while
the stud at Lupizza became known for light carriage and riding horses. Aside from a rare bay
or black all Lipizzans are grey. As with all grey horses they are born dark and gradually
lighten each year as they mature. Most Lipizzans stand from 14.3 to 15.3 hands and weigh
1200 to 1500 pounds. They are heavily boned, compact athletic animals that are slow to
mature and long lived. It is said that leg problems are all but unheard of in the Lipizzan.