Experience the thrill of Lipizzaner live shows near Cape Town. Witness these equine performances selected Sundays at the indoor halls of Mistico Equestrian Centre, where visitors can engage with riders and interact with the horses after the show. With a variety of services including a livery yard, equestrian events venue, function venue, and tack shop, Mistico offers a dynamic environment for both enthusiasts and families alike. The noble Lipizzaner horses became renowned for their grace, agility, and intelligence, which made them excellent performers in classical dressage. They are known for their elegant appearance, high-stepping movements, and their ability to perform intricate maneuvers such as the airs above the ground. The Lipizzaner breed has a long and storied history, but perhaps their most famous association is with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The school was established in 1572 and has been dedicated to the training and preservation of the Lipizzaner breed ever since.
About the Noble Lipizzaner Horses
The Lipizzaner horse breed originates from Lipica, a village in modern-day Slovenia. The Lipizzaner breed dates back to the 16th century when Emperor Maximilian II established the court stud farm in Lipica in 1580. The original breeding stock consisted of Spanish, Arabian, and Barb horses, which were crossed to create the distinctive white or gray horses that we now associate with the breed. Non-white Lipizzaners are rare, and only now and then is a black or bay found. The breed is closely associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, where they have been bred and trained for centuries. The Spanish Riding School is an organisation committed to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of Lipizzaner horses, whose exhibitions at the Hofburg are also popular tourist destinations.
History of Lipizzaner Horses in South Africa
Count Jankovich-Besan from Hungary saved a small group of Lipizzaner horses from the devastated European war and brought them to South Africa in 1944, arriving in Durban Harbour, Kwazulu-Natal in 1948, and then settled in Mooi River. Those horses and their forebears are the direct ancestors of the stallions at Kyalami. Since then, the Lipizzaner breed has grown in popularity in South Africa, and many breeders and enthusiasts now work to preserve and promote the breed in the country. The SA Lipizzaner Centre is a distinct non-profit organisation (NPO) dedicated to safeguarding the legacy and tradition of high school riding while conserving the heritage of this endangered breed. The centre is totally dependent on public donations and sponsorships to achieve this goal. Six South African wines are included in the Legacy Wine Collection, which is intended to support the South African Lipizzaner.
Lipizzaner Live Shows & Events:
South African Lipizzaner
Mistico Equestrian Centre, Paarl
Lipizzaner performances occur on selected Sundays within an indoor hall at Mistico Equestrian Centre. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with the riders in the stable courtyard post-show and feed carrots to the horses. The center offers a range of services including a livery yard, equestrian events venue, function venue, and tack shop. It hosts regular, family-friendly indoor performances and events throughout the year.
