The future stars of the Spanish Riding School are raised here in Western Styria at the Lipizzaner Stud Piber.
In 1798, Piber was first mentioned in the records as a remount depot, where the army horses were trained.
Surrounded by farms and alpine pastures, the location resembles where the horses were first raised in Slovenia.
Their childhood, youth, leisure, and retirement are combined into one place. The Stud Piber carries the responsibility of maintaining centuries-old bloodlines and heritage.
Opening hours
Lipizzaner Stallion Stud Farm in Piber remains open from April 1 to October 31, daily from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.
The horses rest between 1 and 2 pm, so even though the Museum Exhibits remain open, you would not see the stallions and their foals.
When hungry, you can also enjoy food at the café and restaurant on the property.
Since Piber can get a little cold, you might be interested in hearty meals that will warm you on the inside. Hot meals are available between 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Types of Tickets for Lipizzaner Stud Farm Piber
There are three types of tickets that will get you access to the Lipizzaner Stud Piber Farm. You can choose the day entry, the guided tour, and the Christmas visit.
There are special timings on December 8, 15, 16, 24, 26 and 31.
Entry Ticket
With the day entry, you visit the stud courtyard and stables to see the Lipizzaner horses up close. You can visit on Saturdays and Sundays between 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
For the Advent Market from December 15 to 17, you have exclusive timings between 1 pm and 4 pm.
For Christmas, you can visit between 10 am and 2.30 pm on December 24, 26, and 31. The festivities continue on January 1, 6, and 7, and the timings are 10.30 am to 3.30 am.
The Lipizzaner Stub Piber Entry Ticket Timings:
| Days | Timings |
|---|---|
| Saturdays, Sundays, 8 December | 10.30 am to 3.30 pm |
| 15 to 17 December | 1 pm and 4 pm |
| 24, 26, and 31 December | 10 am and 2.30 pm |
| 1, 6, and 7 January | 10.30 am to 3.30 am |
The entry ticket to the Stud Farm is €14, with discounted prices for seniors, university students, and those 18 years and lower.
The Lipizzaner Stub Piber Entry Ticket Prices:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (19-59 years) | €14 |
| Senior (60 years+) | €13 |
| University Student | €10 |
| Students (6-18 years) | €9 |
| Child (3-6 years) | €5 |
| Infant (Up to 3 years) | Free Entry |
Guided Tour
There is more to the Lipizzaner Stud Farm than the horses. Get to know the history of the farm with an expert. You will get a chance to learn about the show forge and historic carriages.
This one-hour tour is available at 11 am and 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The only day when the timing is different is on December 15, when tours start at 2 pm.
The tours are available during the Advent Market during December 16 and 17. There are no tours available on December 24 for Christmas.
There are special Christmas tours available on December 26 and 31, this option continues in the first week of the new year on January 1, 6, and 7.
The Lipizzaner Stub Piber Guided Tour Ticket Prices:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (19-59 years) | €17 |
| Senior (60 years+) | €15 |
| University Student | €13 |
| Students (6-18 years) | €11 |
| Child (3-6 years) | €7 |
| Infant (Up to 3 years) | Free Entry |
Christmas Visit
There is a special tour specifically for Christmas Eve, where you can spend time with these majestic creatures while you wait for Christmas.
This tour gives you all the information you need to take care of Lipizzaner horses, especially if you plan to buy one.
You can familiarize yourself with the lives of these white stallions and the lives they led before becoming stars at the Spanish Riding School. Tours are available at 10.30 am, 11 am, and 1.30 pm.
The Lipizzaner Stub Piber Christmas Visit Prices:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (19-59 years) | €14 |
| Senior (60 years+) | €13 |
| University Student | €10 |
| Students (6-18 years) | €9 |
| Child (3-6 years) | €5 |
| Infant (Up to 3 years) | Free Entry |
Breeding
The Lipizzaner stallions for the Spanish Riding School were selectively bred, as before the 18th Century, white horses were not found.
Europe’s oldest horse breed comes from six stallion lines and 17 classic mare families from the 18th Century.
Previously, a variety of colors, including bay, chestnut, dun, isabelle, plate, tiger pinto, and black, existed.
The dominant hereditary influence of white hair comes from the Arabian bloodlines, which is the closest match, coming to 21-29% similarity.
At least one bay stallion is kept in the stables for good fortune and successful continuation of the Lipizzaner bloodlines.
The legacy of the Lipizzaner extends to eight stallion lines worldwide, Piber breeding the following six:
| Name | Colour, Year of Birth | Heritage, Place of Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Pluto | White, 1765 | Spanish, Frederiksborg, Denmark |
| Conversano | Black, 1767 | Neapolitano |
| Neapolitano | Brown, 1790 | Neapolitano, Polesina |
| Favory | Dun, 1779 | Kladrub, Court Stud Farm |
| Maestoso | White, 1773 | Kladrub, Court Stud Farm |
| Siglavy | White, 1810 | Arabian, Syria |
All 17 classical mare families of the classic Lipizzaner mares are found here and can be traced back to their ancestral mares clearly:
- Sardinia (Lipizza, 1776)
- Spadiglia (Lipizza, 1778)
- Argentina (Lipizza, 1767)
- Africa (Kladrub, 1747)
- Almerina (Kladrub, 1769)
- Presciana-Bradamente (Kladrub, 1782/177)
- Englanderia (Kladrub, 1773)
- Europa (Kladrub, 177)
- Stornella-Fistula (Koptschan, 1771)
- Ivanka-Famosa (Koptschan, 1754)
- Deflorata (Fredriksborg, 1767)
- Capriola (Kladrub, 1785)
- Rava (Kladrub, 1755)
- Gidrane (1841)
- Djebrin (Babolna, 1824)
- Mercurio (Radautz, 1806)
- Theodorosta (Bukovina, 1870)
Physical Traits
What distinguishes the Lipizzaner stallions is their graceful movements, keen learning, vivacity, good-naturedness, courage, and endurance.
Their well-proportioned heads may sometimes feature a distinctive ram nose. The neck is elegantly arched, set slightly higher, and carried with regal poise.
They have a robust, rectangular frame, with a muscular back and a powerful croup.
Their well-set tails are shiny and long, with fine hair. They have dry, well-defined limbs with clean hocks and contoured hooves.
Driving School
The riders are another important part of preserving the dressage tradition. Lipizzaner Stallion Stud Farm in Piber offers Driving Courses to maintain the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It does not matter if you have experience. The State-certified driving instructors take you through the process of how to drive a one- or two-horse team.
You have taster courses and training courses. Before they reward you with a bronze driving badge, you will be tested by a judge and assessor.
You will be expected to have mastered the following skills in the appropriate form:
- Harnessing and tacking up
- Measuring and taking up the lines as per regulations
- Mounting and dismounting
- Two-in-hand presentation for walk and trot
- Line and whip control straight and in turns
- Handling a carriage
- Following traffic regulations
You will also have a theoretical exam for handling the horse, horsemanship guidelines, horse husbandry and feeding, diseases, harness and carriage knowledge, and driving theory.
Featured Image: Srs.at
