AFP
Lipizzaner breeders celebrate UNESCO listing
In the Slovenian town of Lipica, which is set amidst forests and hills, spectators take in the dazzling spectacle put on by the Lipizzaner horses. The cradle of the most distinctive horse breed in the world, which descends from long lines of crosses between Spanish horses, Arabs and Berbers, has reason to celebrate. The breeding of these horses, a tradition shared with seven other countries in the region, has recently been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. These great horses are known for their dressage skills, a series of difficult movements requiring strength and precision, in which the horse’s feet leave the ground. Lipizzans were specially bred by the Habsburg court from the 16th century and take their name from the small town located in the Slovenian Alps. Lipika is one of the oldest stud farms in the world, with over 400 blue blood horses. “This is the home of the Lipizzaners,” Slovenian Culture Minister Esta Vreko said ahead of the UNESCO ceremony last weekend. by the eight countries that submitted candidatures for recognition of their shared tradition: Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Horses and riders from all eight countries displayed their dressage and driving exhibitions. “They are phenomenal animals, the way they were trained and the skill level of the riders is incredible,” said Laura Highlander, 42, who came from the United States to see the horses. – “Ballet horse” – Dark at birth, Lipizzaners turn white around the age of four, which is also when their rigorous training begins and carefully selected horses are the most promising. They are usually quiet, sometimes shy. “They are friendly and it is up to us to recognize the quality of each horse,” Lipika’s head jockey Miro Dragic told AFP. Health permitting, these equine stars remain active well into their twenties. Only the best The horses will be trained into the elite.” To master the “haute école” of dressage, what some describe as equine ballet: they gallop, caper, and pirouette. It requires riders, dressed in elegant double-cornered hats and red Dressed in matching colored suits, they can hold their horses. “It happens with horses as with people, there are many external elements – including the weather – that can affect them,” stable boy Amadej Sejt told AFP. The price ranges from several hundreds of Euros. bk/kym/sag/ zm
