One of my favorite parts of our honeymoon trip to Slovenija was our trip to Lipica to see the world-famous white Lipizzaner stallions. We attended a show of their incredible discipline, strength, and training and I fell in love. They are such beautiful creatures, and what they can do does not seem even possible! We were really upset our video camera wasn’t working that day, which gave us a perfect excuse to go back and get some footage. We got there just in time to attend one of the thrice-weekly shows and I fell in love all over again. When they enter the ring they are so regal and beautiful you cannot help but be affected. I’ll let the video montage I made from clips Larry shot speak for themselves. Pay special attention to their footwork. Truly they are the dancing horses. Also pay special attention to the stallions towards the end who have their tails tied up and have two handlers walking with them. If you listen closely you can hear them click their back heels together when they jump in the air. Unbelievable!

Just so you have an appreciation of the height those stallions jump, I’ve captured a frame and am inserting it below. Wow!!!!

After the show we went on a tour of the stables where we were able to learn more about the history, breeding, and training of this famous breed. The first stud farm was established at Lipica by the Habsburgs in 1580 and horses have been bred there ever since. Lipica has about 400 horses at any given time. If you are an equestrian you may stay in the hotel next door and take them out for a ride or take riding lessons.

While on our way out of town, we stopped to visit with some of the mares who spend their days in the pasture grazing. We fed them some of the grass outside of the fence line that they couldn’t reach and made friends. What beauties.