Die Fahnen ab

Der Staat Osterreich siegte gegen zwei amerikanische Zirkustruppen, die von der Popularität der Wiener Spanischen Hofreitschule profitiert hatten.

"Meine Hengste atmen auf", so projizierte Oberst Hans Handler, Chef der Spanischen Hofreitschule zu Wien, seine eigene Erleichterung auf seine Tiere. Ab sofort darf sich kein amerikanischer Schimmel ungestraft "Weißer Gott von Wien" nennen.

An die 400 Jahre ritten und tanzten die Stars aus Habsburgs Stallungen exklusiv, Wiens Lipizzaner-Ensemble -- offizielles Gründungsjahr: 1572 -- hielt die equestrische Tradition des 16. Jahrhunderts international konkurrenzlos hoch. Seine Kapriolen, Levaden, Courbetten setzten höchste Maßstäbe. "Alle, die wissen, was ein Pferd ist, verspürten Schauer", urteilte der berühmte spanische Reiter Alvaro Domecq nach einer Vorführung der Hofreitschule.

Während des letzten Jahrzehnts aber fanden sich die Ballettänzer auf Hufen unversehens fürs US-Showbusiness mißbraucht. Viele New Yorker und Bostoner sahen den Disney-Film "Flucht der weißen Hengste". Triumphal verlief 1964 die Amerika-Tournee der Wiener Truppe.

Eine derartige Vorwerbung wollten sich clevere amerikanische Zirkusbesitzer nicht entgehen lassen. Sie kauften ihrerseits Lipizzaner, als erster ein Ottomar Herrmann aus Florida, Er erwarb seine Schimmel teils aus Osteuropa, teils aus dem Lipizzanergestüt

der ehemals Wiener Opernsängerin Maria Jeritza und gab ihnen den stolzen Titel "The Royal Lipizzan Stallions".

Auch sonst sparte er nicht mit Österreich-Symbolen. Von seinen Masten hingen bodenlange rotweißrote Fahnen, seine Reiter steckten in genau kopierten Wiener Empire-Uniformen, seine musikalische Begleitung waren Walzertöne. Als Souvenirs gab es Biskuitroßäpfel mit Doppeladler in Schokoladentunke.

Impresario William C. McGawn streute rührende Lügengeschichten ins Publikum: Die Familie Herrmann sei den wunderbaren Pferden der Wiener Hofreitschule seit zwei Jahrhunderten engstens verbunden. Oder, noch kühner: "Herrmann vertritt in den USA sozusagen Österreichs Regierung. die selbst keine Privatgeschäfte machen darf."

Protestschreiben der österreichischen USA-Botschaft brachten Herrmann nicht aus der Ruhe. Um so böser reagierte er, als ihm plötzlich eine zweite Dressurgruppe Konkurrenz machte: die "Royal Lipizzan Stallion Show" des früheren Herrmann-Partners Harry Lashinsky.

Nach einer Lashinsky-Show in Pittsburgh ließ Herrmann sämtliche Pferde plus Abendkasse beschlagnahmen und klagte zusätzlich auf 460 000 Dollar Schadenersatz. Doch letztlich zog er vor Gericht den kürzeren. Die "Royal Lipizzan Stallion Show" stahl seither den "Royal Lipizzan Stallions" die Show.

Seit etwa zwei Jahren beschränkt sich der geschlagene Herrmann mit dem Rest seiner Lipizzaner auf kleine Manegen in Florida. Dafür kurvt nun Lashinsky quer durch die Vereinigten Staaten. Sein Werbeprospekt, groß wie ein Leintuch, protzt mit Geschichte und Geschichtchen der Wiener Hofreitschule.

"Lashinky lebt einzig und allein von der Irreführung", polterte Oberst Handler in Wien und weist auf einen Berg von Beschwerdebriefen enttäuschter amerikanischer Zirkusbesucher. "Die Leute reisen oft Hunderte von Meilen an, um die "weißen Götter aus Wien" zu sehen. Und was sehen sie? Ein paar Pferdln inmitten von Eseln, radfahrenden Bären und reifenspringenden Löwen." Kavallerist Handler hat es stets abgelehnt, die Darbietungen der "königlichen Lippizanerhengste" des Lashinsky ("Der Mann war nicht mal Pferdepfleger") selbst in Augenschein zu nehmen.

1973 endlich entschloß sich der österreichische Staat zu klagen. Die Wiener erhielten wegen des Lashinsky-Rummels keine neuen Gastspielangebote aus Amerika, Lashinsky kündigte sogar eine baldige Europa-Tournee seiner Pferde-Show an.

Vor dem District Court in Washington stritten beide Parteien dieser Tage um ihr Recht. Die Verhandlung endete mit dem Sieg der Österreicher.

Lashinskys Lipizzaner dürfen zwar weiterhin "königlich" auftreten (Handler: "In den republikanischen Vereinigten Staaten kann jede Waschmaschine "royal' sein"), nicht aber mit österreichischen Fahnen, Wappen und Uniformen. Als künftigen Namen empfahl der Richter "American Royal Lipizzan Horse Show".

DER SPIEGEL 11/1974
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Florian #1 (From Eric Beheim)

In 1940, MGM released FLORIAN, a film based on Felix Saltan’s 1934 novel about a Lipizzan stallion from Vienna’s famous Spanish Riding School. (Saltan was also the author of BAMBI.)

FLORIAN was produced by Winfield Sheehan, whose wife, opera star Maria Jeritza, just happened to own the only two Lipizzans in the U.S. at that time. (They had been presented to her in appreciation for some benefit concerts she had performed in Vienna in the 1930s.)

No expense was spared in bringing FLORIAN to the screen. A second unit was sent over to Austria to obtain location shots at the Spanish Riding School’s breeding farm near Graz, Austria. (This must have occurred during the summer of 1939 and just prior to the start of World War II in Europe.) The School’s riding hall was faithfully reproduced on a M-G-M sound stage. Cinematography was by the famous cameraman Karl Freund, an exceptionally good music score was prepared by Franz Waxman, and the large cast included many old-time character actors from Hollywood’s “golden age.”

2011 Coaching Lipizzaner from Sambata de Jos Stud Farm.

From a recent visit to a Romanian exhibition. Romania has the largest herd of colored Lipizzaners.
Some of these photos came from Dr. Daniela Stanica, who is a Director the the Romanian Government Horse Breeding Stud Farms.

Lipizzans in Competitions

Genome of the Lipizzan

• 52%      horses from Spain and Italy
• 21%      original Arabs
• 10%      Lipizzans (Lipizzans from private breeders or Lipizzans with missing ancestors in their pedigree)
•   8%      Fredricksborger
•   4%      Kladruber
•   3%      English Thoroughbred
•   2%      Arabs (Barb, etc.)

Lipizzan Population Worldwide (1999/2000, source "Der Lipizzaner im Spiegel der Wissenschaft")

State Studs:

 

                                     registered Lipizzans                        breeding stock

 

Simbata de Jos                          238                                               83

Beclean                                     208                                               67

Szilvásvárad                              232                                               77

Piber +                                      231                                               76

Spanish Riding School                 70          

Lipica                                        209                                               59

Monterotondo                           179                                               59

Đakovo                                     166                                               56

Topoľčianky                              127                                               42

Vucijak                                      105                                               35

Karadjordevo                               75                                               25

 

 

 

private Organisations:

 

 

USA                                           600      

Netherlands                               300

Belgium                                     210

Great Britain                               200

Germany                                    170

Croatia                                       150

Austria                                       150

France                                        100

Hungary                                       80

Sweden                                        75

Australia                                      60

Slovenia                                       50

South Africa                                 50

Denmark                                      40

Yugoslavia                                    40

Switzerland                                   40

Norway                                         35

Romania                                       35

Czech Republic                             25

 

 

Population worldwide 1999:   4250

Pedigree Reading Questions

Andreas asked me to post my questions on here as well as the Facebook page :)

I'm currently working on my mare's pedigree. I'm back to 1855, but as I delve into the mysteries of pedigree-ness, lots of "short hand" rears its ugly head. I'd like to know what some of this stuff means. These particular questions are all place of birth. Please note that the pedigrees are taken from a North American registry and I have no clue if the shorthand is the same as used in the Euro studs.

1)  14 Blanca, DOB 1914, E.    What and where is "E."?
2)  Conversano Primula, DOB 1931, Schl. Eltz. What and where is "Schl. Eltz."?
3)  Primula, DOB 1924, Eltz. Same as above, although I am sure that they are related places

One more question, non place-related: my mare is of the Delforata line. Her dam, Canissa-10, is one of only two Delforata mares imported to the USA. Currently there are three from Canissa-10 in the USA (unless she has other fillies that are not registered) and that's it for the Delforata. This mare is 21 now and will probably not be bred again. Is this mare family common in Euro?

Eileen

Charlotte Dobretsberger has won the European CIC** Team Championships

Last weekend the young Austrian eventing rider Charlotte Dobretsberger has won the European CIC** Team Championships in Aston-le-Walls/GB with her warmblood gelding Excalibur MT (bred by Mrs. Elisabeth Max-Theurer).

With this, Charlotte proved again what a talented rider she is!

For the event, see BHS

For the results (in German), see Pferderevue and Reitsportnews

Charlotte Dobretsberger is the oldest daughter of a pure horse family. Her father, Dr.Max Dobretsberger is the stud director of the National Austrian Lipizzaner Stud in Piber. Her mother Dr. Andrea Dobretsberger is a successful international one-in-hand driver (national champion 2011). Charlotte's younger sister and brother are also performing in the national eventing sport.

Lipizzaner people may know Charlotte from the time she was a rider in Stud Piber.


Congratulations Charli !!

Siglavy Roxana, Levade

Bay Lipizzan ridden by Karl Mikolka

A colorful breed: the Lipizzaner

Who stated that the Lipizzaner is only grey...??

(And this is only a small part of my collection!!)

Stage Haras des Launes

Start:	Aug 3, '11
End:	Aug 5, '11
Location:	La Roque d'Anthéron, Provence

Annual cleaning of the chandeliers at the SRS!

Vito’s Story

LETTER FROM SERGEANT VITO SPADAFINO, TROOP A, 42ND SQUADRON, 2ND CAVALRY REGIMENT

I’m a WW2 veteran formerly with the 2nd Cavalry Recon and Mechanized unit of the 3rd Army in the European Theater. My unit was responsible for re-capturing the [Lipizzan] Stallions and numerous other horses prior to the end of hostilities somewhere [Hostau] in Czechoslovakia. The Stallions were turned over to The Spanish Riding Academy and the mares in foal and other breeds were shipped to a huge estate somewhere in the American zone.

My platoon and I were responsible for the protection and care of these precious animals. I have some photos of the great, great, grandmothers of some of today’s offspring. Two German veterinarians and the grooms and family that we brought back with the animals tended to them.

We were also keeping watch on all the horses in different parts of the estate. Our main concern was the Russians who were on the other side of the hedges that separated our sector from theirs. We had constant patrols around our perimeter because of them. I was fortunate enough to be able to assist the Polish cook in the kitchen who provided us with delicious meals. We had two German Vets who cared for the horses and also bred some of them. The Lipizzaner mares were in separate corrals of their own.

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.

I came face to face with General George Patton for a brief moment as our unit was going to the front. My encounter with General Patton was in late August of 1944 when we were going to the front line to go and reconnoiter for the division in our area. We were known as “The Ghosts of Patton’sArmy” and there was a write up in The Stars and Stripes about our exploits behind enemy lines for 39 days. We had been traveling down this road inFrance when we came to an abrupt halt. In the early stages of war, anytime you came to a stop you have to keep a lookout for enemy aircraft above. I climbed out of my front seat and up to the turret of the armored car to relieve Geski our gunner to keep an eye in the skies. After some time had passed, a jeep was spotted barreling down the road and it was coming towards us. As it neared us we could see it had the four-star insignia on the bumper and sitting next to the driver was General Patton in all his splendor. He ordered his driver to stop alongside my armored car. He had a shiny helmet with four stars and his famous pearl handled guns on his gun belt. He stood and I immediately saluted and he saluted me back. He asked, “Sergeant, what seems to be the problem here?” I answered, “I don’t know Sir.” Then he asked how long had we been sitting there and I said about half an hour. He said carry on and sat down and told his driver to move on. Sometime later we got orders to mount up and make ready to move on, so I got back down in my front seat as always. As the column gained speed there was General Patton waving us on like a traffic cop. He was in my opinion the best General in the Army.

Vito was a VIP at a special 2006 showing of the Lipizzaner stallions honoring the men of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment near his home in Arizona.

The Rescue of the Lipizzans, a Personal Account

Painting by Don Stivers

THE RESCUE OF THE LIPIZZANER HORSES
A personal account written by Colonel Charles Hancock Reed

The rescue of the breeding herd of the Piber Austrian Lipizzaner horses, which supplied the stallions for use in the Spanische Reitschule, took place on the 28th of April 1945 at Hostau, Czechoslovakia. It was accomplished by a small force formed for the mission from Task Force Reed – which was composed of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Group, 2nd and 42nd Squadrons; an artillery battalion; engineer battalion and an anti-aircraft unit.

It must be admitted that a great element of chance gave the opportunity for this happy event. On the 25th of April, Captain Ferdinand P. Sperl, I.P.W. Team No. 10 attached to the Group received information of a large German intelligence unit bivouacked in and around a hunting lodge on the Czechoslovakian border – it lacked transportation to proceed further on its flight from Berlin to the proposed Bavarian bastion.

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.

We found that we had mutual horse interests and he showed me quite beautiful pictures of the Lipizzaners and Arabs, which he had recently taken at Hostau. He also stated that several hundred Allied prisoners of war were held there. We mutually agreed that these fine animals should not fall into the communists hands, and the prisoners should be rescued.

A German bicyclist was sent to Hostau to arrange for a German officer to come through our lines that night to arrange terms. A radio message was sent through XII Corps to 3rd Army Headquarters requesting permission for the operation. Shortly, a laconic message was relayed from General Patton – “Get them. Make it fast! You will have a new mission.”

About 8:00 P.M. – Captain Lessing, Staff Veterinarian at Hostau, arrived at one of our border outposts riding one Lipizzaner stallion and leading a second. He was brought to 2nd Cavalry Headquarters – dinner had been delayed pending his arrival – after cocktails and dinner, agreement was reached that, provided we furnished an officer to show good faith to ride back with him, he, Captain Lessing, would be able to arrange for the surrender of Hostau (officers and men there were mostly ex-horsemen). He stated however, that between us and Hostau were stationed elements of an SS Division who would fight. That bothered us very little as we planned a quiet day or so – then a great attack to over-run them.

Captain Thomas M. Stewart of Tennessee, a fine horseman and son of the then Senator from Tennessee, volunteered and rode back with Captain Lessing. On the night of the 27th of April, he was returned to our lines by Lessing in a motorcycle side car – after some rather harrowing experiences behind the German line – for which he was decorated. He reported that all was arranged in Hostau – except for one Czech Lt. Colonel in the German army who opposed this – but had no support from the German officers.

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.

Allied prisoners of war released totaled about 400 Americans, British, French and Polish. Regulations required the immediate return of all of these to their own nations – the Poles could not go at that time – but we immediately started the evacuation of the others. Here we ran into an unexpected problem. Many of the prisoners has been at Hostau several years – had achieved a kind of “trustee” status and were well fed and cared for. Many had married or taken up living with Czech or German girls – some even had children – these men refused to be evacuated except with their families – a problem not easily solved to everyone’s satisfaction.

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.

Enemy captured consisted of about one battalion of Germans, about the same of Czech volunteers in the German army and a Sotnia of White Russian Cossacks who, opposing communism, had joined the German army in its invasion of Russia, bringing with them the Cossack horses mentioned above. The Cossacks were commanded by an ex-Cossack prince and colonel who was a most pleasant and helpful person during the time we had the animals under our care.

The following morning – 29th of April – part of the force under Major Andrews rejoined the 2nd Cavalry Group preparatory to assuming a new mission of advancing towards Pilsen via the Eisenstein Pass. Troop A – under Captain Carter Catlett, with one platoon of tanks, were left to control Hostau – under the command of Captain Stewart. He immediately organized a defense force with the American troops as a base – but included the German troops – who seemed anxious to maintain the horse farm, plus the Cossacks and some of the released Polish prisoners whom he armed with captured weapons.

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.

The 2nd Armored Cavalry Group, with additional attachments, proceeded on its new mission – leaving Captain Stewart and his command to control Hostau. By May 7th, date of the complete surrender of Germany, the Task Force was on the general line about 10 miles southeast of Pilsen – Horsice – Zinkovy – Nepomuk in Czechoslovakia, facing the Russians and preventing their penetration into American held territory. Headquarters were established at the Skoda Schloss at Zinkovy. It was here about May 9th that I received a message from 3rd Army thatGeneral Patton had been in contact with Colonel Alois Podhajsky, head of the Spanische Reitschule. That the colonel with the trained Lipizzaner stallions was at St. Martin in Austria. That he would be flown up to my headquarters as soon as practical – to check the breeding herd and arrange for its repatriation to Austria in the vicinity of St. Martin.

Here it is best to clarify a certain misunderstanding of the sequence of events surrounding the rescue of the Piber breeding herd. The actual rescue took place on the 28th of April – nine days before Colonel Podhajsky’s meeting with General Patton and pleading for their rescue.

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”.

On or about the 14th of May, Podhajsky arrived at Zinkovy by American plane, where he spent the night and was entertained at dinner by our staff. Most cordial relations were established that evening and basic plans were laid for the return of the breeding herd to him in the vicinity of St. Martin as soon as practical.

A day or so after the German surrender it became evident to me that the Czech and Russian communists were showing a great interest in the captured horses – in fact, they made several stealthy visits to Hostau, apparently to connive with the Czech born lieutenant colonel, who was second in command when we arrived. This information was transmitted to General Patton’s headquarters, with recommendations that the entire herd of horses be transferred to a safer base in Bavaria at a large installation at Schwarzenburg, where the communists would not be tempted to claim the animals. None of the herds or individual animals came from Czechoslovakia, but had been transported there from other German controlled countries because of the fine grazing and other facilities. The Army promptly authorized the operation and issued orders giving the horse movement priority on all needed roads during the time necessary.

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 day after Podhajsky’s arrival at Zinkovy he and I drove together toSchwarzenburg where he closely checked and identified the animals belonging to the Piber herd. His intimate knowledge and quick recognition of them was most helpful and he seemed quite pleased with their condition. He evidenced no interest in the Yugoslavian Lipizzaners, as he did not wish their blood crossed with the Austrian strain.

Since the distance to St. Martin was so great the move had to be made by available trucks – refitted to carry horses. These were not ideal and unfortunately, a few horses were injured in transport and two mares suffered broken legs requiring their destruction. The movement was made in two convoys the 18th and the 25th of May and was fairly well carried out considering the lack of transportation and personnel difficulties – a total of 215 animals were returned to Austrian control. The remaining horses were later transferred to the large and most suitable German horse breeding establishment of a remount depot in Hessia – this included the Arabians, racing horses, the Yugoslav Lipizzaners and a portion of the Cossack horses. Since all were war booty of the American Army, the best of these and other captured animals were later shipped to the United States for use by the United States remount service.

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”.

Written by Colonel Charles Hancock Reed (Ret.)
November 4, 1970

(Excerpt from obituary supplied by Jane Reed.)

Colonel Reed, a career soldier, was born in Richmond, VA and was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia before going to West Point, where he graduated in 1922.

In civilian life he served as president of Williams & Reed of Richmond, a wholesale dry goods distributor. He was president of the Virginia State Fair for 20 years and a director of the Bank of Virginia.

Colonel Charles H. Reed died following a stroke. He was 79 years old.

Lipizzaner Gala in Heldenberg

http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/1360-Seitenblicke/episodes/2589351-Seitenblicke/2595025-Lipizzaner-Gala-in-Heldenberg

Herbert Seiberl in Saumur

Entrance parade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugQei1XgxIs

Performance on long rein:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjlS7feSJU

SRS-Bereiter Herbert Seiberl and the Lipizzaner stallion Siglavy Theodora I represented the Spanish Ridingschool during this year's edition of
"Le Printemps des Ecuyers" in Saumur, France.

During the same weekend the international driving competition (CAI) was held in Saumur.

During the showprogram, an original Austrian imperial Gala Berliner was presented, drawn by 4 Lipizzaners of the Federal Stud of Piber,
driven by Stud Director Dr. Max Dobretsberger and Chief Driver Erwin Movia

The Fédération Française du Lipizzan invited in Saumur by the Cadre Noir and the SRS

The Cadre Noir and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna had invited the President of the Federation Française du Lipizzan, Marie-Françoise Chevallier Le Page and her husband, Michel Le Page, at Saumur this weekend, to celebrate the traditional Printemps des Ecuyers.

Also invited by Colonel Faure, Marc Jalabert accompanied by his lovely friend Anasthasia, had set their appointments, leaving exceptionally the Feria de Nîmes (where his nephew Juan Bautista was to distinguish himself this weekend by being awarded both ears of the bull that he had fought valiantly) to meet with them Mrs. Gürtler, Director of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, and finalize, around a very pleasant breakfast, the contract that will lead this great institution and its legendary Austrian Lipizzaner horses, (but also the Cadre Noir de Saumur, the Royal Andalusian School and the Portuguese School) into the arenas of Arles decorated for the occasion by Christian Lacroix, in late August 2013.
Warmly greeted by Colonel Faure and M. Robert d'Artois, Mr and Mrs Le Page have enjoyed long discussions with breeders, drivers and riders who had come from around the world to applaud the teams of Lipizzaners participating to the Grand International Competition Hitch, once again beautifully organized.

At the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation they also came across few members of the AFL who ran a booth, saw Jean-Marie Le Metayer working his elegant Siglavy Steaka, and congratulated Mr. Jean-Claude Olivier, Vice-President of the Federation Française du Lipizzan, for the beauty of his stallions, as well as the mare and foal he had brought from the «Elfes Blancs» for the occasion.

The representation of Gala du Cadre Noir was, as usual, superbly executed under the direction of Chief Rider Jean-Michel Faure. The Spanish Riding School of Vienna presented with his customary elegance, a great work with long reins from Rider Seiberl with the sparkling Siglavy Theodora I. It was a pleasure to finally see evolving into the great arena of the French Riding School the remarkable team pulled by four magnificent Lipizzaner stallions conducted smoothly and brilliantly by Max Dobrestberger, Director of the National Stud of Piber (Austria) and driver internationally renowned, with his charming wife Andrea, as a groom.

A very nice weekend, very successful.
LINK WITH PHOTOS:
La FFL invitée au Printemps des Ecuyers