The Lippizan horses are very closely associated with what is called the Spanish Riding School, which is the oldest riding academy in the world. It dates back to at least as early as 1565, during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The horses take their name from the fact that the stud farm where they are bred is located in Lipizza, near Trieste. The typical horse of this breed measures between fourteen and fifteen hands. They are stockier than, for instance, Arabians. The breed originated with Andalusian mares bred to Arabians or Berber stallions. Only stallions of the Lippizan breed are used at the Spanish Riding School. One interesting characteristic of this breed is that they start out life black in color, and just before full maturity only their manes remain black. Finally, they become entirely white.

See: Alois Podhajsky, My Horses, My Teachers, Doubleday, 1968. P. 132f.