We Visit the Lipizzaners in Austria
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
Rockingham, Australia
January 3, 2016 7:15am CST
We belong to couch-surfers, an international organisation which puts people in touch with each other around the world to facilitate finding accommodation and a friendly face when travelling. It mostly consists of young people. We've had many people from various countries stay with us although we haven't used it a lot ourselves. As a general rule you don't stay in touch after a visit but sometimes you really connect with people and continue to communicate in one way or another.
We had such a couch-surfer friend in Vienna and were able to spend quite a bit of time with her and her gorgeous two-year-old daughter. In July Claudia took us to the summer quarters of the Spanish Riding School. We'd seen a performance in the magnificent hall in Vienna on a previous visit several years ago. We went to the same hall to see some of the Lipizzaner mares and foals being paraded. We also watched some of the young horses being ridden and driven. Check out the stable cat in the stable-yard in the heart of Vienna.
The stallions have magnificent quarters at both their summer and winter quarters, and want for nothing. The stallions all descend from six male lines. Each stallion takes the name of the original sire of the blood line plus the mother's name. They are long-lived, strong and muscular as they need to be to perform the airs above the ground for which they are so famous. In the rafters of the high-roofed barn a swallow was feeding its young and I was able to get a photo of the three chicks begging for food. I thought 'The Three Tenors' was an apt name for the photo.
I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)
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13 responses
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
3 Jan 16
I have seen film footage of the Lippzaners - they look magnificent
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
4 Jan 16
@JudyEv I would love to get there one day to see it
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
@arthurchappell Well, you are a lot closer to Vienna than we are. 
Perhaps you'll get there one day.
Perhaps you'll get there one day.1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Do you mean you let strangers stay in your home, or am I misreading this?
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@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
3 Jan 16
@MALUSE I don't have that much trust in people I guess.
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan 16
There are certain safeguards in place. You receive and give references so you can vet the people who come. Most are lovely young people - like our own sons and daughters - but there are many older ones travelling too. I can understand that many would be hesitant but we've only had good experiences.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Jan 16
brilliant slideshow... loved the birds too.... a lot of the foals were dark, I thought the lippizaner horses were white /grey...
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@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
4 Jan 16
@JudyEv aahh right thanks for that... I didn't realise their coats changed
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan 16
All grey horses are born dark and go lighter with age. You can see one of the foals is losing his baby coat and is a bit lighter underneath. There is occasionally a brown Lipizzaner and there is always one kept in the team for good luck.
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@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
4 Jan 16
Lovely photos, especially the swallows 
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
I thought they just looked like they were singing their little hearts out.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
That was fun to see, the horses are beautiful and what a wonderful way to meet new people and have a place to stay. Sound like fun. I loved the three tenors.
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@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
4 Jan 16
@JudyEv You did a good job, I think they are adorable.
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
We've had positive experiences with couch-surfers and it was very handy to have a few contacts while we were away.
@mawhite (242)
• United States
3 Jan 16
I was just watching a documentary on the Lipizzaners via Netflix about two months ago. They are breathtaking. I saw them when I was a teenager, but I haven't since. But, to be able to see the hall in Vienna like you did a few years ago would be a dream. Thank you for sharing your slideshow!
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@Marilynda1225 (91086)
• United States
3 Jan 16
I've never heard of couch surfing as an organization. Guess it could be beneficial if you travel
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@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
It was useful to us for sure. One lady we'd never met was very kind to us and showed us things we'd never have seen otherwise.
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
3 Jan 16
that sounds fabulous. what a neat opportunity to give people to travel as well. i've heard of that here in my area of the world, but we have ea small home, usually messy with all my kids and pets. so i don't think my home would be a good one to open up to people. i suppose it is something i could consider when the kids are grown. gosh, i don't want to think about that.... it will be here before i know it
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan 16
I think a great part of it is young people sleeping on couches, on the floor, sharing a room, etc. The aim is also to interact with others, share views and opinions, etc but it doesn't suit everyone. We have the room and a certain amount of time so it isn't so hard for us.
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
It was on my bucket list from a young child. If we get there again we may go to the stud at Piber and do a tour.
