The Lippizaner breed was named after the county of Lipica in Slovenia, twenty miles from Tieste. It is among the oldest breeds of horses in Europe. The breed originated in 1580 when Archduke Charles II orderer nine stallions ahd twenty-four mares shipped from Spain. The goal was to secure enough noble horses for the stables in Graz and Vienna. Horses imported later from Italy were used to strengthen the breed, which was meant primarly for pulling carriages and coaches.
Lippizaner foals are born dark, and gradually their hide becomes paler. This is one of the basic characteristics of Lippizaners, which, however, can also be brown or black. They have a long neck and hight tail. Breeders llike them for their toughness, modesty, lively personality and quickness to learn.
In Slovakia the breeding of Lippizaners became more widespread only after the First World War. The boom came after the founding of the Topoľčianky Stud Farm. The quality of the breed is so hight that it was designated as one of the best in the world.
Lippizaner breedeng has its provenance out of six main family lines, named after the stallions Maestoso, Favory, Conversano, Neapolitano, Pluto and Siglavy, as well as two other lines from the stallions Incitáto and Tulipán.
