…and now we head to the Lipizzaner Stud Farm in Piber, Austria – and being a horsey-girl, this was such an incredible treat! Most know of the famous Spanish Riding Horses, but waht few realise is the breed, Lipizzaner, is Europe’s oldest cultural horse breed, with their origin going back to the year 1580.
Welcome to the Lipizzaner Stud in Piber!
This (below) is Piber Castle, and was formerly the Abbey of St. Lambrecht. The administration of this amazing stud is housed in the castle, and has been since the stud was created 1798 for the purpose of breeding military horses.
The Piber Stud is the only location containing foundation bloodstock from all 15 classically recognized mare families; and only stallions from the Spanish Riding School are used as breeding stallions, with all six classic stallion bloodline families being used.
This girl and I became fast friends with lots of cuddles and her regularly burying her head into my chest…
Alas, they wouldn’t let me take her home…
This little guy was sound asleep and snoring! I had never heard a horse snore…
(below) Yours truly getting friendly with the little ones…
This fellow was born in 1979 – imagine it! He is almost 40 years old!
…and on our way again…
Do you recall the building with no straight lines? This was designed by the same fellow…
No matter how one looks at it, this (below) looks strange…
…and of course, every shopping centre needs a fully functional fighter plane in their parking lot…
…and next stop, back in Graz, the Stairs of Reconcilliation…
~ Bella
