At the request of Arch Duke Karl II, in 1580, the Lipizzaner breed was established at Lipica stud farm in Slovenia to satisfy a shortage of suitable riding horses for the Imperial Stables. 

Originally Spanish horses were used and these formed the basis of the breed.

In the 1700's mixed Spanish, Kladruber and Arab horses were added and in the 1800's a small amount of Thoroughbred to produce the Lipizzaner of today.
The first stallion included on the pedigrees is Pluto (1765), from the Royal Danish stables.

Many counties in Europe are involved in the breeding of the Lipizzaner horse. Some of the Federal stud farms with the breed include Piber (Austria), Lipica (Slovenia), Szil’vas’varad (Hungary), Monterotonado Italy and many others.

Originally named Karst horses, the term Lipizzaner only came into being during the 19^th century under Emperor Franz Joseph, who first gave them this name. So “old fashioned” was this Emperor that he insisted on keeping the Lipizzaners and Kladrubers for his carriages instead of purchasing the very latest automobiles which the rest of European Royalty preferred to be seen in. It is much thanks to this attitude that we can enjoy this breed to admire for generations to come.