"Die Zustände für die Pferde des staatlichen Lipizzanergestütes in Vujiak sind katastrophal", erzählt Dr. Max Dobretsberger vom Gestüt Piber der Spanischen Hofreitschule bedrückt. Es läge an bürokratischen Hürden und politischen Versäumnissen, dass die wertvollen Tiere in Vujiak weder genügend Futter bekommen noch Einstreu im Stall haben, hat man ihm erklärt. Auch für die medizinische Versorgung ist kein Geld da, an Entwurmungen oder Impfungen ist nicht zu denken.
Dabei wäre das Problem leicht zu lösen, wie der Pferdeliebhaber erklärt: "Prinzipiell könnte es durch die Nutzung der eigenen landwirtschaftlichen Flächen gelöst werden. Da es aber an Maschinen und kompetenten Personal fehlt, wurde die Landwirtschaft und somit die Eigenproduktion von Futter schwer vernachlässigt beziehungsweise gar nicht betrieben." Zu diesem Zeitpunkt gibt es für die rund 130 Tiere auf dem Gestüt nur noch 40 Rundballen Heu. Damit werden sie den Winter nicht überstehen.
Die LIF (Lipizzan international Federation) wurde sofort aktiv und versucht bis Jänner zumindest Futtermittel - inklusive Kraftfutter für tragende Stuten und Fohlen - und die dringend benötigte Einstreu für die Pferde zu finanzieren. Zusätzlich initiierte die Zuchtorganisation nun eine Spendenaktion. Diese Maßnahmen sind aber nur eine kurzfristige Notlösung des gröbsten Problems, so der Gestütsleiter: "Es müssen auf jeden Fall nachhaltige Veränderungen auf den Plan treten. Denn abgesehen vom Leid der Tiere sind sie auch von höchstem Interesse für die Lipizzaner-Zucht."
In Vujiak findet man sehr typvolle Pferde der klassischen Linien, die auf die Gestüte Elz, Stancic und Lipik zurückgehen. Damit stellen sie einen weltweit genetischen Schatz dar, dessen sich das landwirtschaftliche Ministerium in Banja Luka nicht bewusst ist. Im Moment werden die Tiere vor allem von einer handvoll Liebhaber betreut. "Diese Leute muss man unbedingt unterstützten. Denn die Pferde brauchen wirklich Hilfe, nicht nur um diesen Winter zu überleben", so Max Dobretsberger.
LETTER FROM SERGEANT VITO SPADAFINO, TROOP A, 42ND SQUADRON, 2ND CAVALRY REGIMENT
I have one amusing anecdote to tell you. One day Unit Commander Colonel Reed came to visit to see how things were going along. He and I walked down to see the Lipizzaner mares. While we observed them, I turned to the Colonel and said, “They look like they are pregnant.” Colonel Reed looks at me and says, “Sergeant, where do you come from?” I replied, “The Bronx, sir.” Well the Colonel says, “Where I come from we say they are in foal,” as he smiled. After a while my buddies got me on a horse to teach me to ride. I learned pretty fast and the grooms picked out a nice even gaited one and every once in a while I would go out riding after dinner with one of the platoon members. Strangely enough that was the last time I was on a horse. Soon I was ready to return to the USA to be discharged into civilian life.
After some dangerous negotiations with the commander of the unit,Captain Sperl, on the 26th of April, led an attack on the unit, which after the arranged formal exchange of harmless gun fire, surrendered most promptly. The commander of the intelligence unit, a fine appearing German General, proved most hospitable, and finding that on this early advance I had missed my breakfast, invited me to join him and his staff for theirs.
A small task force for the operation had already been formed from the 42nd Squadron – A Troop – elements of Troop C – a platoon of tanks from F Troop and a platoon of Troop E assault guns. All under the command of Major Robert P. Andrews, with Captain Stewart as his assistant. At daylight all elements in the front line opened a fire fight – the Task Force broke through, and after some fighting at Bela Nad Radbuzou and a delay caused by an unmapped town showing up in their line of march, the town of Hostau was reached – no problem there – appeared as a fiesta rather than a battle. Townspeople and Allied prisoners of war lined the streets – the German soldiers presented arms – German flag went down – ours went up – and after placing outposts, the officers, intelligence personnel, and as many soldiers as could be spared, went to look at the wonderful array of captured horses.
Horses captured consisted of about 300 Lipizzaners, the Piber breeding herd plus the Royal Lipizzaner stud fromYugoslavia – well mixed together. Over one-hundred of the best Arabs inEurope, about two-hundred thoroughbred and trotting bred race horses collected from all of Europe – finally about 600 Cossack breeding horses – Don and Urals.
This was done as we feared a counter-attack by the SS troops defeated at the border – it was an excellent plan as, late on the 30th of April, they attempted an attack on Hostau – our multi-national force defeated them with heavy losses – as the attacking Germans had no tanks and ours proved most effective weapons.
When General Patton answered Podhajsky’s request, either through language difficulties or a misunderstanding on the part of the officer who transmitted the message to Podhajsky, he understood that General Patton was sending the 2nd Cavalry Group to rescue these breeding horses. Actually General Patton knew by the 29th or 30th of April that the herd was in our possession atHostau. He probably sent this information with the word thatPodhajsky would be sent up to check them. This error in sequence was perpetuated by the Walt Disney movie, whose script writer interviewed me in Virginia and seemed attached to the idea of the rescue taking place after Patton saw the school horses perform atSt. Martin. It made better “show business”.
The movement was started at dawn on the 12th of May, and the entire plan was completed by late that night. Since few trucks were available most of the animals were driven in small herds – each preceded and followed by an American vehicle – outriders and guides for each herd were provided from German personnel and the Russian Cossacks assisted by a few volunteer cavalrymen from the Americans – very young colts were with their dams and mares heavy in foal were moved in trucks – personnel – German and Polish – and Russian – women and children with scanty possessions and as much food for men and horses as possible were moved on some trucks and in horse drawn wagons and carriages, pulled by animals broken to harness.
The 2nd Armored Cavalry Group performed admirably many more difficult and dangerous operations in the European campaigns. However, all of our members – recall with special pride their contribution to Austrian culture and happiness – “The Rescue of the Lipizzaners at Hostau”.