Since 1580, Lipizzaners have been bred by the Hapsburgs, the royal family of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to be used in the royal carriages and as riding horses in the royal courts, including the Imperial Riding School in the Hofburg in Vienna. The pure Lipizzaner is a rare breed, due partly, at least, to its turbulent history. There are approximately 3,500 in total in the world today, of which the majority are in the state studs of the countries that originally formed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These baroque horses are especially famous for their exceptional schneeweiss color—snow white or silver white—and for their amazing ability to perform all the athletic movements of the "Airs above the Ground" and the classical dressage to music unique to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Packed with information about the breed's history and stunning photos, this new guide is a fitting homage to the world-famous Lipizzaner.
