Definition of the outward appearance:
Among the different breeds, the Lipizzan has an exclusive position. This cultural breed is considered to be he most ancient in Europe.                     
As a parade horse, the Lipizzan shows nobleness, expression and talent for dressage and carriage. He must have a moderate nature (well balanced) and a good character. The body is rectangular and the ideal height is between 1.55 and 1.58 at withers. The traditional grey colour is dominant.
 
A) Type
Both the riding and driving horse type are accepted in Lipizzan breed. Both should be judged within its special character, extremities should be disliked. the subconvex profile throughout the body with rounded outlines is typical for the breed.
 
B) Height
Average height, to be measured at the withers is for males 1.55 - 1.58 m, at the age of 6. It must be perfected and pointed out by scientific approach.
Bigger or smaller horses must be harmonious in extra good breed character.
 
C) Colour
The grey colour is dominant. Brown and black occur and should remain, all other colours are disliked.
 
D) Attitude
A natural ability for concentration wit a great disposition for collected work in High School and/or large endurance for riding and driving work.
 
E) Movements
Proud, elastic and high action. Long, elegant and in complete balance in walk, trot and canter.
 
F) Head
Well proportioned, of medium length, narrow and dry, with not too pronounced lower jaw and the cheek inclined to be round. A slightly convex profile belongs to the breed character, the too fine (arabic) and the too convex (ram head) should occur only in low frequency. The eyes intend to be large and dark, expressive and confident, the ears are of medium length, fine and expressive.
 
G) Neck
Medium length, arched with a narrow mainline, the junction between head and neck is not to narrow, the neck is deep in the base and well inserted between the shoulders, rising up from the the withers without interruption.                                                                                                      Surce: http://www.lipizzaninternationalfederation.eu.com/

Lipica is a small green oasis in white Karst in western Slovenia. It is situated between Trieste and Postojna, in the heart of Istrian Karst on 400m above sea level. It is famous for its special climate, which is a mixture of mild Mediterranean and fresh continental. Warm sea streams cause 30 degrees centigrade in summer, but sharp Karst north-east wind, called “burja”, blows during winter. So this climate is very healthy.

The name Lipica is well known over the world, although we find several spellings if this name. When the stables were built in the 16th century it was spelt »Lipitza«, later the Habsburg Court used the name »Lipizza«. It was also accepted by the Italians after the Great War in 1918. Today the Slovenian spelling of the name is used, Lipica.

The Archduke Carl, the ruler of Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Gorizia, Istria and Trieste, bought the Lipica estate on 19th May 1580. There was a Court and the fields. Perhaps the only reason of this bargain was a great poverty after the invasion of the Turks in 1559.

This day is celebrated as the “Day of the Lipizzaner”, the beginning of this noble horse breed. 

Some authors who know old achieve documentation claim that Lipica horses were appreciated also by the Romans. Lipizzaner horses were distinguished by their speed, hard-working and solid hooves. They were bought by the Romans for the fights, races in the arenas and for tournaments.

The first Lipica superviser was Slovenian, Franc Turk. The estate Lipica was first spreading on 311 hectare. As the number of horses increased another estate Prestranek was bought from the Monastery of Stična. The ruler Karl VI ordered that for each three-year stallion, sold to Vienna Court, three trees should be planted in Lipica which grew in a very important promenade. 

The Regulations, written by the Vienna emperor himself, were also signed by the Count of Sirtzendorfa, dated on the 7th September 1658. The Regulations gave special recommendations for breeding and the selection of the Lipizzaner horses. Six classical lines of the stallions were taken into breed. 

from: mr.sc.Mato Čačić, Domagoj Tadić, dipl.ing: Matična knjiga lipicanaca zemaljskog uzgoja Republike Hrvatske 2005

Soon after the stables in Lipica were opened they add some oriental stalions to the breed. Quite for a long time they used the stalion Vezir whose owner was Napoleon Bonaparte. Some Arabian stalions were drawn to Lipica in 1843, but only Siglavy (1810) became the forefather of one of the lines. It is important to mention two more lines of stalions, the Croatian line Tulipan and the Hungarian line Incitato (1802). 

As Vienna Court was satisfied with the breeding in Lipica, they could bring 20 mares from the stables Kopčany in 1768. These mares were after three years taken from Lipica to the stables in Kladrub. 

Arabian mares were used for the refreshment of blood for some time in Lipica. Their offspring could not compete with strong Lipizzaner horses, so they gave up this line.

A financial commission was sent to Ljubljana by the emperor Franz Josef II in 1785. They proposed moving the stables to Galizia, where stables of Kopčany were situated. The emperor Franz Josef II refused this proposal.

Eight years later in 1793 Lipica stables were in danger if moving again. The owner of the estate Steinberg near Vienna offered his land to Vienna Court for breeding Lipizzaner horses. This offer was also refused, because they were satisfied with the stables in Lipica.

The stables were moved four times till 1915, to Hungary, to Austria (Laxenburg), to Croatia (Đakovo) and again to Hungary.

The soil was not convenient for the Lipizzaner horses, so their resistance failed and they were often ill. The fertility of the mares decreased from normal 80% to 10%. In 1918 after the Great War Lipica came to Italy. The Governor of The Julian Region, General Carlo Petitti, formed a commission which was dealing with the Vienna Court for the Lipica horses. After  hard talks Austria and Italy came to an agreement of sharing the Lipica herd. With this sharing Italy got 109 horses (six stalion lines and seventeen lines of mares) on 16th July 1919. 

Austria got 98 horses which were settled in the stables of Piber where the individual breed has been continued. Czechoslovakia settled their horses in the stables of Kladrub. To make this sharing easier for Lipica they bought two stalions in the stables Stanišič in 1939, 750 Neapolitano Slavonia I and 1121 Favory Slava II, who became main stalions for further breeding. 

During the Second World War, after the Italian capitulation on 9th September 1943, Lipica was occupied by the German army. On 16th October 1943 the horses were taken to Sežana, from where they were transported to Sudetten in Germany. 179 horses were taken from Lipica, six racial stallions, 56 racial mares and all foals born between 1940 and 1943. 

The Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia demanded the return of the herd. Italy got 109 horses with the archives. The rest was given to Austria so the horses were taken to Piber. Only 11 horses were returned to Lipica of the number 179, taken in 1943.