Lipizzan Stallions return to Bristol

Unique breed will be featured in four performances at Colt State Park

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 7/26/17

It's been many years since their last visit, but Lipizzan Stallions will be pulling into Bristol on August 2 in preparation for a series of four performances next weekend, August 5 and 6.They belong …

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Lipizzan Stallions return to Bristol

Unique breed will be featured in four performances at Colt State Park

Posted

It's been many years since their last visit, but Lipizzan Stallions will be pulling into Bristol on August 2 in preparation for a series of four performances next weekend, August 5 and 6.

They belong to what is probably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horse in the world, first established by Archduke Charles at Lipizza (now part of Slovenia) and raised to lead the armies of the Austro-Hungarian empire into battle.

The "Airs Above Ground" display, for which the Lipizzans are world-reknowned, were originally battle maneuvers, dating to about 400 B.C.E., that terrified enemy foot soldiers. When advancing on the enemy, the soldier would give the command, and the stallion would rear up and leap forward like a kangaroo, fighting with its hooves and teeth as the rider fought with his sword. These maneuvers, called caprioles, courbettes, and levades, devastated the enemy. It has been theorized that the knight in the game of chess was inspired by the capriole, the knight being the only piece in chess that jumps over the other pieces.

These Lipizzan Stallions belong to the Herrmann family of Florida, where they maintain a 200 acre ranch to ensure the propagation of this extraordinary breed. Lipizzans have been in the Herrmann family since the 1600s when their ancestor, The Knight Ritter von Schoebel, was given Lipizzans by the Hapsburg emperor Ferdinand II. Von Schoebel and his Lipizzans fought in the Thirty Year War, between 1618 and 1648.

Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time. Indeed, During the Second World War, the Lipizzans were almost lost forever. In the last days of the war, the Russian Army tried to seize the stallions. Colonel Herrmann and his son were able to escape the Russians with the help of US General George Patton. They smuggled the horses out from far behind enemy lines, riding at night and hiding by day. "We moved out into the night with nothing," recalled Herrmann, "only a handful of horses". The Lipizzans' they saved under the protection granted by Patton, were "more precious than jewels", he declared. The Lipizzans' celebrated escape was recounted in the Walt Disney movie, "Miracle of the White Stallions".
The first public performance of the Lipizzans was given to General Patton and his soldiers. The General gave Colonel Herrmann the idea to travel the western world showing the lost art of the "Airs Above The Ground." For several years the Herrmann family traveled Europe, the Caribbean and South America before settling in the United States. 

In a lively and informative narrative throughout the presentation, the history, evolution and contemporary application of this remarkable breed is recounted.
Shows are August 5 and August 6, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Colt State Park in Bristol. If Sunday's 6 p.m. show is a rainout, the show will be made up at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 7. The show is sponsored by the First Congregational Church in Bristol, in partnership with the Bristol 4th of July Committee.

Tickets prices are: Adults: $18 (in advance), $20 (at gate); Seniors $15 (in advance), $18 (at gate); Children 6-12$12 (in advance), $15 (at gate); children under 6 free. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at Horses.BrownPaperTickets.com or at The First Congregational Church, Gils TV & Appliances, or Paper, Packaging and Panache, all in Bristol.
Please bring your own lawn chairs or blanket. The site is handicapped accessible, has restrooms, and a cash concession will be available for drinks and snacks.

Lipizzan Stallions, Colt State Park

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