ROYAL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS IN TRAINING
Eighteen members of the HG Singles Club journeyed to the Florida home of Colonel Hermann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions, located south of Myakka City. These magnificent white and freckled equines are a mix of the Arabians and Andalusians and were bred to be powerful war horses.
They are no longer the fearsome beasts ridden by knights into battle. Nevertheless, they are still admired today because of their beauty, their size and strength, their intelligence, and their extraordinary ability to master unique moves.
The Lipizzan stallions were a proud part of the Austrian culture for generations. However, during WWII, they were in danger of becoming food for hungry German soldiers. General Patton and the military action “Operation Cowboy” are credited with saving the breed. (Moviegoers might remember the scene in Patton where the general, mounted on a Lipizzan stallion, rides around the arena as he talks to reporters.)
Colonel Hermann brought these horses from Austria to the United States after WWII. He showed them across the country and increased the herd to 30 horses. Eventually, the Hermann ranch in Myakka became their home and training facility, where these clever stallions learn the moves they are so famous for. Today, the herd numbers 15, and it is Colonel Hermann’s granddaughter and great-granddaughter who train and perform with the horses. Visitors to the ranch can observe training exercises and demonstrations of the moves these horses are learning. One of these moves, characteristic of their Andalusian heritage, is the ability to walk sideways. Equally impressive is the sight of a large horse on its hind legs pawing the air, a formidable sight in battle, but beautiful to see in the arena.
HG Singles member Joyce Russell, who organized the trip, has visited the ranch many times. She explained that in its early days the family bred and trained 30 horses. Today there are 15 being prepared for their traditional performances and even for dressage. This training home for The Royal Lipizzan Stallions offers another special Southwest Florida experience.
