By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — For centuries, horses have been characterized as one of the most majestic creatures on Earth. Playing into the pivotal role of the equine in history, the diamond-white, majestic Lipizzaners have certainly separated themselves from the herd with their own show, “The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions.”

For nearly 40 years, the stallions have traveled across the country with numerous visits to Midwestern cities, including Indianapolis. This year, the Lipizzaners will ride into the Circle City on April 13 for their 38th annual show, providing an entertaining dancing display of the noted breed for the whole family.

“As the narrator, basically I introduce the audience to the horses and riders, take them through a remarkable tale of Lipizzaner ancestry and history, and the biggest part of the show centers around the training session or the choreographic display, where the horses dance set to music,” said Master of Ceremonies Troy Tinker.

“But, everything they do is natural to them, it’s a refined and developed classical style that only Lipizzaners have mastered.”
During the Indianapolis show, the stallions will introduce new music, choreography and routines with a major emphasis on the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed – from its original breeding and use as a horse of war to a horse of nobility and aristocracy, to a living form of equestrian art.

“The Lipizzaners intersect with so many corners of history, including European military history, European royalty, classical music and American history,” Tinker said.

He further explained that throughout the Renaissance Era, Lipizzaners were used as horses of war, but “no one knows exactly how much action they actually saw on the battlefield.”

In a famous painting of French military leader Napoleon crossing the Swiss Alps, Napoleon is portrayed riding a Lipizzaner rearing up placing the rider out of reach of the enemy and at a high enough place to strike down the opponent, according to Tinker.

“Really, Lipizzaners were the tanks of their day,” he joked.

In the late 1700s, the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used Lipizzaners to debut new pieces of music, with the horses dancing in sync. Also, Tinker said European royals gifted stallions of the rare breed to other artistocrats as a sign of acquired wealth and status.

Role in American history

Playing a particularly important role in American history, during World War II, “General George S. Patton saved the breed from certain extinction and created an even greater worldwide interest in the Lipizzaner breed,” Tinker added, further noting the depiction of this event in history with Walt Disney’s 1963 movie, “The Miracle of the White Stallions.”

“Had it not been for Patton, there would be no Lippizzaners today,” he said.

Today, he said there are 4,000 registered Lipizzaners, with 14 parading extraordinary dressage moves in the World’s Famous Lippizaner show.

“These horses were developed to be the quinissential dressage horses; when the European royals felt dressage was falling out, they became reenergized upon seeing the talents of the Lipizzaners, and today the breed is synomous for its excellence in dressage,” he explained.

Tinker said dressage is the primary style featured in the horses’ choreographic display, with such moves as half passes, where the horses line up nose to rear and walk in a straight line sideways.

“Part of our goal with this show is to make dressage acceptable to the common man, break it down so everyone can understand it,” Tinker mentioned.

“It’s a classical riding style that’s all about working in cooperation with the horse’s personality and ability. By working in partnership, the horse and rider really come together.”

Tinker said the Lipizzaner show started in 1970 with equine enthusiast and former rock-n-roll promoter Gary Lashinsky teaming up with his brother to purchase horses from the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. He said Lashinsky rode dressage and became enamored with the famous Austrian riding school.

“Once he discovered that audiences could only see these incredible horses at major venues, he wanted to design a show to emulate the style of Spanish Riding School of Vienna performances – only, take the show to smaller venues, so people who otherwise might not get to see the Lipizzaner stallions, now are able to see the show,” he said. “It’s a formula that works very well.”

The Indianapolis show will be offered at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Conseco Fieldhouse. For ticket information or other venues across the United States, visit www.lipizzaner.com/home.asp