for Kym

[Dave Smith]

Hey Kym I guess some horses are just fraidy cats. I didn't know they could jump like that, neat photo.

For Kym.jpg

TTFN

[Maureen K Clifford]

The Lippizaner horses that most of us associate with the spanish riding school are taught these moves as part of their training of highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements known as the "airs above the ground. The movement shown in the photo is knon as the capriole: a jump in place where the stallion leaps into the air, tucking his forelegs under himself, and kicking out with his hind legs at the height of elevation.

In Napoleonic times or thereabouts (1760's) these horses were an integral part of war and these moves were actually designed to eliminate or incapacite the enemy who may have surrounded the horse and its rider

The Lipizzans endured several wartime relocations that prevented extinction of the breed the first such move being in 1797. These horses all go back to 8 genetic lines. The Lipizzan breed suffered a setback to its population when a viral epidemic hit the Piber Stud in 1983. Forty horses and eight percent of the expected foal crop were lost. They are slowly recovering numbers. They are born black or dark brown changing to the grey colour as they age.

Just saying

[Bob Pacey]

How is that for both ends of the spectrum Dave



And you just thought it was a funny Photo.

Bob