Last week we visited the winter training grounds of the Hermann Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City (the next county over from where we are). It was lovely to watch as they practiced performing in front of crowds. Originally bred as warhorses, the stallions are taught to work with people and each other. But they still perform some of the war-like maneuvers that their ancestors used in fighting.
The stallions train in Florida for five months out of the year and then they are on tour the rest of the year all over the United States and Canada. The mares and retired horses live at their Florida headquarters all year long.
Lipizzan horses were originally bred for the exclusive use of the Hapsburgs, the Royal Family of Austria. During World War II, the line was saved from probable extinction when they were smuggled from behind enemy lines. United States' General Patton was instrumental in providing safe haven for the horses. One of those smuggling out the horses was their trainer and breeder Colonel Herrmann. He and his son subsequently brought some of the horses to the United States. The lady in the pictures above is a granddaughter and the owner of the Hermann troop.
The silver-maned beauty was my favorite -- he's actually quite a young horse. Mature Lipizzan's manes look whiter.
Here is a link to the Hermann page for the History of these horses.
This post is linked to MOSAIC MONDAY and OUR WORLD TUESDAY. Thank you as always to the generous hosts for providing this sharing opportunity.
They are simply beautiful!
Posted by: Gayle | March 17, 2013 at 04:38 PM
I did not know Lipizzan Stallions were trained in Florida! How wonderful to have them so close so you can watch. They are beautiful animals and I always planned to see them if we ever get to travel to Austria. Now, maybe I can see them a little closer to home. I loved this post, great photos.
~Emily
The French Hutch
Posted by: Emily | March 17, 2013 at 04:50 PM
These are beautiful horses! Fortunately too, we stopped by a few ranches with horses for our birding this afternoon! I hope I can identify them.
Posted by: Ebie | March 17, 2013 at 05:10 PM
What stunning horses!
Posted by: SandyCarlson | March 17, 2013 at 06:41 PM
I didn't know they toured Canada, I'll have to watch for them here. I love the young one with the silver mane too.
Posted by: Lavender Cottage | March 17, 2013 at 06:48 PM
Gorgeous horses, and yes the one with the silver mane is my favourite too. You managed to get some fantastic shots of these horses.
Posted by: Karen | March 17, 2013 at 06:51 PM
i know they are tended to extremely well, but i worry about traveling horse shows and the stress it puts on the animals (just like a circus would on their animals).
they are gorgeous beasts.
Posted by: TexWisGirl | March 17, 2013 at 06:58 PM
Beautiful horses and mosaic.
Have great new week Sallie.
Posted by: Regina | March 17, 2013 at 09:10 PM
So beautiful. Thank you for telling us about their story!
Posted by: Clair Z. | March 17, 2013 at 09:35 PM
Fascinating stuff, and great photos too.
Thanks for educating me - education and knowledge are areas where I need a lot of help....
Have a good week
Posted by: Sleepshort | March 17, 2013 at 10:14 PM
Dearest Sallie,
Wow, what a beautiful Lipizzan horses♡♡♡ I've seen cows when little but not horses p;) It must be marvelous to see these gorgeous trained ones if I could.
Thankyou very much for sharing about the story, my new friend(*^_^*)
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: Yamda Miyako (orchid) | March 17, 2013 at 10:52 PM
They are superb animals and what a great story about them getting to USA.
Posted by: diane | March 18, 2013 at 12:14 AM
Beautiful and so interesting. The close-ups are super.I grew up in Liverpool and we looked out onto the Police Training College field where they trained their horses-for work and for dancing displays!
Posted by: HAZEL | March 18, 2013 at 12:35 AM
Wonderful White Horses.
There was a TV prog I watched as a kid that had horses like this in it.
Stewart M - Melbourne
PS: There is a new post on my wordy blog if you want to pass a minute or seven!
Posted by: Stewart M | March 18, 2013 at 01:05 AM
Sallie, it is nice that these horses train and live so close to you in Florida! They are beautiful horses. It must have been fun to watch them perform. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!
Posted by: Eileen | March 18, 2013 at 02:04 AM
Wow! Beautiful photography of gorgeous horses ~ Enjoy ^_^
Posted by: Carol and artmusedog ^_^ | March 18, 2013 at 06:08 AM
Gorgeous horses! I'm going to send this link to my friend. She loves horses. Fascinating history of these and beautiful photos.
Posted by: Gail | March 18, 2013 at 06:52 AM
Splendid and proud horses and a beautiful story ! Your photos are wonderful. Thanks, Sallie !
Posted by: Annie | March 18, 2013 at 08:46 AM
My daughter loves these horses. When she was a child, we went to the shows every time they were in town.
Posted by: Karen | March 18, 2013 at 08:55 AM
They are such gorgeous horses. We took a drive yesterday and were pleased to see how many baby horses there were in the pastures. It's a wonderful part of living in Florida...enjoying the horses! Have a great week!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | March 18, 2013 at 09:59 AM
They are so beautiful. You took some wonderful shots of them.
Posted by: Carver | March 18, 2013 at 01:20 PM
Terrific shots of the beautiful Lipizzan horses!
Posted by: Randi | March 18, 2013 at 01:36 PM
They are beautiful!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | March 18, 2013 at 01:55 PM
They are gorgeous horses! I got to see them when we were in Austria and, being a horse-lover, I couldn't get enough! You did get some terrific captures, Sallie!! Hope you have a lovely week! Enjoy!!
Posted by: sylviakirk | March 18, 2013 at 02:02 PM
how nice to see. When I was a teen I was totally in love with these horses. Read everything I could find about them. And bought books if i could find any. :) Thanks for sharing. Glad you liked my snow. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep Photo | March 18, 2013 at 02:19 PM
Lovely horses and excellent shots of them. That sounds like a fun day out.
Posted by: Al | March 18, 2013 at 02:24 PM
I know almost nothing about horses, except they're so beautiful and graceful.
Posted by: Photo Cache | March 18, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Thanks for the info on these beautiful and regal looking horses. They really are amazing to see in person. Fantastic photos also!
Posted by: pat | March 18, 2013 at 04:03 PM
What a handsome guy!
Posted by: EG CameraGirl , Canada | March 18, 2013 at 05:43 PM
Aren't these magnificent horses? Your pictures are quite wonderful, especially those close-ups with the horses' manes flowing. Love this.
Posted by: Penny | March 18, 2013 at 07:41 PM
Tose are magnificent horses! Glad you got to see them!
Posted by: Kusum | March 18, 2013 at 10:50 PM
They are such magnificent beasts! I have watched them being trained in ballroom in Vienna as well the troupe that toured the world.
Sallie, my eldest granddaughter has been a joy to me for a quarter of a century and I have surpassed three quarters. The days and years fly by like wind driven leaves, I have no idea where the time has gone, yet inside, I don't feel a day over twenty five myself.
Posted by: Arija | March 19, 2013 at 01:20 AM
They are beautiful creatures. Looked like a really enjoyable day out.
Posted by: Fun60 | March 19, 2013 at 01:24 AM
What handsome horses!
Posted by: ladyfi | March 19, 2013 at 03:47 AM
I saw them on tour one year. So impressive!
Posted by: Suzanne | March 19, 2013 at 07:29 AM
Superb photos of these wonderful creatures!
Posted by: Kathy | March 19, 2013 at 02:31 PM
Wow! it is a great joy to look at those stallions.
Posted by: Rajesh | March 20, 2013 at 03:12 AM
Looks like a fun event to attend, and those horses are beautiful!
Posted by: Beyond Zephyr | March 20, 2013 at 04:43 AM
Hi Sallie!
Nice photos of the horses, lot of movements there!
I don't know so much about horses. I think I'm a bit scared because they are so huge and I am only 1.60 meter! :)
Greetings Pia
Posted by: Pia, Sweden | March 20, 2013 at 07:17 AM
Beautiful horse, nice photographs. I am greeting
Posted by: ZielonaMila | March 20, 2013 at 07:48 AM