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Breeding aim

The Lipizzaner is a Slovene indigenous breed which has developed from the establishment of the Lipica Stud Farm in 1580 in the stud farm based on the foundations of comprehensive tests in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and in the last century also in individual state stud farms of traditional breeding countries – Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. The breed is extended all over Slovenia and in numerous countries of Europe, America, Africa and Australia.

A Lipizzaner is a coherent, elegant breeding horse with medium height, of classical type, regular and strong walks which is appropriate for performing classical dressage elements and also for all forms of horse riding activities with a saddle and in team. There are no differences among the male representatives of individual lines and female representatives of individual families as to their appearance which would enable us to ascertain the line or family. The classification in a line depends on or is defined with the line classification of the father, whereas the classification in a family depends on the classification of the mother in the family.

Basic characteristics of Lipizzaner are:

Appearance
Height: stallions 155 cm – 158 cm (exceptionally 150 - 165 cm)
mares 153 cm – 158 cm (exceptionally 148 - 162 cm)
Colours: raven grey, brown grey, raven-like, dark tones of brown; not many white spots – depigmented spots.
Body structure
Head: medium size, breeding, thin, moderate convex profile, large eyes, dark, lively look, medium-size ears, elegant, large nostrils.
Neck: medium length, high-positioned, bent and well muscled.
Body: long, wide and deep,
- withers moderately expressed, well-formed,
- breast wide and deep, ribs well arched,
- shoulder of medium length, sufficiently gentle,
- back of medium length, flexible, with short, wide and well muscled loins,
-croup wide, long, straight, well muscled.
Legs: correct, strong but thin structure, with well-formed joints; pasterns of medium length. Hooves of medium size, regularly shaped.
Movement: Walks are high, energetic, even, flexible, light, and very strong.
Special characteristics: A Lipizzaner has a lively temperament and a friendly character distinguished for willingness to learn, work and cooperate. The breed is characterised by good fertility, late maturity, strong constitution, long life and good use of feed.