HORSIN' AROUND
EQUINE ROYALTY IN ALL ITS GLORY HERRMANN’S ROYAL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS OF FLORIDA IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC he magnificent Lipizzan horse breed was developed in the 16th century with the support of Hapsburg nobles. According to the Lipizzan Association of North America, the Hapsburgs “controlled Spain and Austria when the art of classical riding was revived in Europe. There was a need for light, fast horses for use in the military and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.” An early stud farm was in Lipizza (now Lipica), which is located in modern-day Slovenia. Lipizzans were bred to be beautiful, sturdy and intelligent. They are well-known for
their spectacular “airs above the ground” classical dressage movements, as well as their friendly personalities, and often live to be 40 years old. The Lipizzan Association of North America notes that during World War II, the breed was threatened with extinction. It owes its survival in part to U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton. Two Austrians, Col. Ottomar Herrmann Sr. and his son, Col. Ottomar Herrmann Jr., were key in assisting Patton with rescuing the horses from enemy lines. Those horses were ridden by night and hidden by day, with their ultimate destination being the United States. Upon
PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO SEE OUR HORSES.” —Gabriella Herrmann
Lipizzans were bred to be beautiful, sturdy and intelligent. They have friendly personalities and often live to be 40 years old.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HERRMANN’S ROYAL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS
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Written by: Ava Isabel Grace
