Presenting Hermans Own Royal Lipizzaner Stallions

[cpopp25]

This is a very poor imitation of the classical art. The horses are against the aids, often even bent the wrong direction for the movement and the airs above ground are a joke. Look up Spanish Riding School to see correct work. And no, horses don't swish their tails and pin their ears when they are "concentrating". They do it because of harsh, uneducated riders. SRS horses are quiet, supple and happy. Carol P

[Ponypal95]

I saw them in Ohio last month. I'm uploading a slideshow of them now.

[XkazagirlX]

i have 9 horses and if they dont want to do tricks for me, they react very differently. if these horses didnt want to do these tricks they would normally put up a good fight against it

[LRHSandNMS]

i see these lipizzans perform in the off season when they put on the shows for free at their ranch it is so amazing i love taking pictures of them

[scoobydoo6v92]

also you can fix a horse that is over the bit much easier than under. I would like to see more videos from this company. Need to see white stallions out of Florida. There is one video that they do some intricate choreography that you don't see in this video. With a full bridle it is so easy to drag a horse's head into his chest. I didn't see that with this video. some hollowing out but what I saw is easily fixable. and some good riding too.

[scoobydoo6v92]

Ok I watched this video. It was good and the horses were forward and on the bit most of the time. I feel you should watch the white stallions out of Florida. Much more fluid and much more refined. That is my trained eye. I never met either of these companies. Trust me I have seen much much worse. What really PISSES ME OFF is when I see a horse under the bit. I don't give a rat's ass what the excuse is there IS NO EXCUSE!!! it is a sign of evasion of heavy untrained hands.good hands herman

[Fiestyfieryfilly]

I agree with nighrider. These horses are not even giving to the bit, something a two year old could do with proper training. I know most horse do have ears pinned and tails swished when concentrating but these horses are fighting the bit and not wanting to preform. This is a sad video. I think that a clueless person about horses could see the discomfort of these poor horses. Need better riders and trainers before wasting peoples time. Get the video off.

[rainmina]

Ok,nightrider,I know who u r and you really need to let it go.I was there when u were,you know very well these horses are never abused in any way.They are spoiled rotten.They are sweet natured and don't hurt the handlers.I raised half of them,I know.Although no longer with the show,I see the girls doing the best they can.Lay off with the bad talk.U weren't there long enough to learn the secrets of the Airs.Btw,Danya and Tara were there for 6 years.They must have loved it.

[capriole2002]

I agree. I rode there for 5 years and those boys are pampered.Back off nightrider.I'd like to see how long u'd last on a young stud in an arena with 7 more agressive stallions in front of 1200 people. Do you think you're good enough to even keep all four on the ground let alone remember your routine?Or maybe that's why ur so angry...anyone who thinks they could do better wouldn't last more than a summer.If you have a scar, you didn't listen or weren't paying attention.

[nightrider1357]

so pretty much you think most people watching the shows are too dumb to know that the way the horses are handled is incorrect. they are loud, they hit them too hard with the whips, they don't have proper leg ques.... and thats a good show???

[JulieRothwall721]

come on now.. is putting other people down making you feel better? are you really that low of a person?

[nightrider1357]

i think i offended someone with my comments, darn... i'm so sorry julie. If you believe that this is a good show and the training is done the way it should be done.... shame on you. i quit working for them because the traiing methods sucked!!! i wanted to learn the dressage and the airs training, i learned only harsh methods that i myself would never in my life use on my precious horses... my qaurter horse does the line work prettyer than the lips! sad, sad, sad... keep enjoying the pity thou

[JulieRothwall721]

well I guess you are that low of a person. sad. You are not to bright either, did I ever say anything about the training? no. And define good. Is this good dressage? No and I never said it was. Is it a good show? I believe it is. Its entertaining for the general public to see these " Lipizzaner Stallions" who cares if its not perfect. Does the "general public" really know the difference between good and bad dressage? No. You could put a horse in the arena and let it eat and they would be happy.

[nightrider1357]

and mrs julie... say what you want about what i said... ive been there done that with them... they are falling apart and everyone is seeing it, and im enjoying watching it :)

[JulieRothwall721]

well I was not going to say a thing. I don't think what you wrote really needs to be dignifed with an answer but never the less you're kinda asking for it aren't you? All I feel I really needed to say I've already said in the first thing I posted. I myself have ridden with them and them went on to ride with the "World Famous" Lipizz. Show, guess what? both shows are not "real" dressage BUT it is there for general public to be entertained. .. Hunny what in the hell crawled up your ass and died?

[nightrider1357]

yes, they did kick out at some of the handlers, because they would rein them in and crack ther heels with the whip to get the crappy caproiles... i'd kick them too!! the lack of proper training was terrible. i joined up with them to learn something, yeah i learned alot. they are fakes with pretty white horses. im sorry bella my pretty boy. i miss the horses but not the people at all. the only hope these people have is to bring outside help in, because no one in the family knows what to do at all

[nightrider1357]

you people are funny. this show is a joke! i trained with them and traveled with them for 7 months. no one in the family knows what the hell they are doing with them. the brand is drawn on with eye liner dayly. The Colonel must have not past on his training abilitys cuz gabbie, you dont have them. and kim, you look like your humping the horse and yes, yola is afraid of the horses, danya and tara were all they had and they quit when i did. yes i have one scar but its my fault.

[LzyRunningW]

I watched these horses perform and was not impressed, these girls were afraid of these horses. These stallions lacked respect for their riders, when they didn't want to do what was asked of them they would start kicking or striking at their handlers. These girls arms are covered in scars where they hav been bit by these stallions. If your afraid don't handle stallions, I have had as many as 6 studs, none as disrespectfull as these and I am a woman handler. Not as profesional as it should have.

[JulieRothwall721]

"These girls arms are covered in scars where they hav been bit by these stallions"

Really now? sure. I know these people very well and they are far from scared of thouse boys... 6 Stallions.. big deal, not impressive, and I dont really think the stallions care your'e a "woman handler". Sorry for being rude but I'm not about to let you get away with putting down this group like that.

[jmdibbs]

i think i know the herman royal lippazan stallions better that any1 beacause i am very good friends with them. and the have 42 stallions! hello i got to handle one and it was perfectly sweet to me

[JulieRothwall721]

Wow I don't know if I can keep this under 500 words but I'll try. The Herrmanns use to be the best there was, other than the SRS. Now they are out to have fun and show the public the Lipizzans in good clean fun. No it may not be the best dressage but Gabby is a good person and takes good care of those boys, they have a pretty easy life! not abused in anyway. They are the Lipizzan decendants from the Hapsburg family so yes they are "Royal" but you cant find the brand anymore, only the Piber brand

[Urineculture]

The Herrmanns always put on a fine program. I have seen them many times. They bring the horse and its legacy close to the people. All visitors are welcomed to mingle with the riders and horses. Truly an inspiring family event.

[jmdibbs]

they are very careful with who touches the horses, they dont let any1 just go up to them and pet them

[Ponypal95]

Yeah they do...

I saw 'em in Ohiop and they let anyone come around and pet them. Its hard to believe they're stallion's sometimes they're so sweet and gentle.

[Jumpinjavatb]

I had the pleasure of working with this group the summer of 2001, I worked for their hay provider during their 7week show in VT.

These horses are not you push button every day school horses, they, like all horses have their bad days! to say this is abuse is just silly and ignorant. I see many changes from when I worked for them and now, since the Colonel died that is. When he was alive the rider were not aloud to ride with stirrups! I miss the Colonel and all this hard work.

[showpony2]

This is something to laugh at.There is some very tallented horses being asked to perform for some extreamly challenged riders!

[ridesawhitehorse]

Say what you want about this "troupe's" very poor horsemanship. The worst part regarding this group is the terrible dishonor they bring to this noble and proud horse, as individuals, and especially as a breed. I wish they would go pick on some other breed.

[cambria17]

These people are aren't bad riders, they've just missed basic but very important things. Collection is a HUGE one and their contact is very off. The airs above the ground look a little weak from what i've seen. Kudos for doing a capriole and levade, even if they weren't amazing.

[cwrider2809]

They aren't being hurt, it's their life, they were born to do this and if you want to see hurt check out your local meat man.

[Eventer13]

Despite not being a display of classical dressage, I dont think anyone can go so far as to say the horses are being ABUSED. These horses dont look to be in pain or in fear. Honestly, lots of riders ride like this (at least in the States, it may be a different matter in Europe), and their horses are perfectly happy.

[EquineGal990]

No, it really looks like a childrens' group lesson. Most of the horses have their head in the air resisting the bit, they're not collected at ALL. They look too fast to me as well... it just looks poorly done to me. Sure, if you don't know horses, you don't know any better. ...But it's kind of crap.

[cowgirlup991]

i know alot about horse and they do collect rather gd and the reason they hold there head up is because they are double bitted ive seen the lipizzaners in reall life and they all do that they naturaly high strung stallions and double bitting is the best way to controll em

[EquineGal990]

You know very little about collection, it seems. Just because their head is arched doesn't mean they are collected-their backs are hollow. A collected horse has a round back-watch the real lipizzaners. Besides, dressage isn't about 'controlling' a horse with a double bit--double bits are used to enhance communication, not ruin it's mouth and cause it pain (as you suggest).

But, I suppose you are one of the people that this demonstration of lackluster 'classical dressage' was created for.

[Eventer13]

Equinegal's right. They're totally resisting the bit. When correctly done, the horse has a HUGE base of training before the double is ever used. And the double is not used to force the horse to do anything (at least, not when its used correctly), just refine the aids.

One of the ways to tell if there is collection is to see if the hindquarters are lower to the ground (due to the hip tucking under the body). Collection has nothing to do with head set.

[pirouette987]

...the story goes that two riders at the SRS are chatting and see a groom/student go flying across the aisle and smash into the wall, a pair of hoofprints torn into the backside of his pants....the one rider says, 'Go get that horse - he's gonna be a great caprioler!'

[pirouette987]

whips are used to tap the horses and signal them. the horses and not struck with the whips or abused. Even at the SPanish Riding School, the real deal classical dressage, whips are used to tap the horse and signal him to jump....

[pirouette987]

yes if you want to see classical dressage, see the Spanish Riding School, but to cut these guys down is really awful. I have even gone to see this troupe, taking my friend's children. They enjoyed it; they are too young to know the difference between that and classical dressage.

[pirouette987]

I can't believe how rude people are about this troupe. No it is NOT classical dressage and i have spent my entire life learning classical dressage, but to say they're CRUEL to these horses or SUCH BAD riders, this is absurd. I have seen the horses handled and know people who work for different troupes, they are decent riders, for what this is...an exhibit for people who want to see an exhibit.

[varemaerke]

oh come on kids. this is a circus/family performance thing. who gives if they aren't as good as the SRS. most people don't know or care about the difference. sure there's some bad riding in there, but i doubt most of you crows are olympians.

[smiller1986]

i agree with the other comments, the riders are terrible and it dose look like a childrens riding lesson. the horses look like there being forced into performimg "party" tricks and thats not what theyre about, they should do it because they want to and enjoy it, not cus sumones shouting at them and forcing them.

[horsecrazy004]

if they are being harsh and using the whips, i strongly disagree with what they do. how could they use whips? it makes me sad. horses never use whips on US when they dont get fed. what a disgrace. they dont know any other technique and are afraid to experiment with other training techniques.

[varemaerke]

hahaha you're kidding me right??? oh this gave me a laugh. if a horse doesn't know punishment, it turns into an ass, and no one wants anything to do with it, so it gets slaughtered. so what's "meaner"??? god, wake up people.

[nightrider1357]

I used to work for these people... what a joke! They are hard handed and cruel to there horses... do you see the way they get what they call there capriole? they strike them so hard Duke mearly is kicking out at them!!! And nikki? gabby should not be on him at all, sabrina did so much better and i'm sure they are sad now that they lost her.

[kirstinkey]

I've seen the Austrian Lips, as well as Hermanns twice. I own a Lip-the performance is horrific. MAYBE 2nd lvl dressage. The lead stallions kicked at handlers, all levade which should be a 5 sec hold at 30 degrees is a quick little rear-- incredibly poor representation. Lost lines, bad equitation (slumped or 2 pt w/feet shoved in front) is awful. Half the horses are not on the bit. I won't see the show again. I can't STAND the loudness of motion and the screaming commands at the horses!

[fallding123]

wheres the softness with reins, very heavy handed forced movements, resistants. hindquarters not working under hence why no cadence, soft contact but instead heads up resisting. looks very tacky shameful when these beautiful stallions should be with someone who noes what they are doing.

[nikolaidragomir]

like i said before, all these horses are in training, so they're not going to be top notch, they still have many years to go.

[fallding123]

if these horses are still in training, why are they in a double bridle instead of a snaffle i think it would be much fairer to the stallions. They are resisting the bridle. Also the riders need to know how to ride properly before riding those stallions, they are ruining a true breed which are for professional riders only or somebody who knows what they are doing not those idiots who can't ride!

[sarahlecomte]

mediocre at best. Let us not make a mockery of the Haute Ecole, or Vienna, which trains only the FINEST equestrian ARTISTS.

[osterhase100]

Have you ever seen in Lipizza or Vienna the real show? So you can forget this...sorry...

[ilah2001]

This was supposed to be a performance! An apparent lack of basic ground training and appalling riding skills made this look more like a childrens riding lessson learning party tricks.

[deathbells]

these guys are very fun to ride too - but they can get pretty "jumpy" when you ride them with mares =]

[Kayce16]

I agree very heavy-handed, this is no where near the quality

[ikkypix]

This is a circus act done for commercial reasons - the horses ARE real Lipizzans, but the riders and the training and the group are based in Florida, not in Vienna, Austria. They copy the costumes of the REAL Spanish Riding School in Vienna, whose horses are bred in Piper.

[wstuder54]

I saw the Herrmann Lippizzaner stallions perform in Alberta in1970 or 1971 and they were way better. The riding is horrendous now and they are charging around semi out of control and not on the bit at all. There is no polish here. They used to be the best.

[Johanna2u]

It would appear that the riders are all very young. They can sit on a horse and follow a musical ride,but there expertise in high school equitation leaves much to be desired and inexperienced. It is misleading to call them the Royal Lipizzaners, but obviously their making money out of it at the expense of the horses.

[Marty718]

I thought the same thing Didnt seem top notch Beatiful Horses Thanks

[paint42]

These are THE Royal Hapsburg family of Austria's Line of Lipizzaner Stalions designated by their Royal brand on the left rear quarter the Crown and H brand. The Horses of the Austrian Government or no longer Royal since the Austian Government does not recognize Royalty (no king or monarch)The Austrian Government Stallions have the Piber brand insted.Look on the net for Colonel Ottomar Herrmann for more info.

[nikolaidragomir]

oh, I wasn't aware, they were presented at the show like that. At least I think they were, it's what the trailor said at least. Also, a lot of the horses in the video were in training and not top notch. But thanks for the comments :)

[Kayce16]

this is sloppy, the horses don't look like there enjoying themselves at all, definitly not to the standard of the spanish riding school!

[ImagineBGP]

Nobody would mistake them. This is a bit heavy-handed. I'm sure it's well intended, though.

[expunge]

It needs to be made clear that these are NOT "THE" Royal Lipizzaner Stallion from Vienna, Austria. Just a cheap immitation. The Spanish Riding School would never permit such horrendous riding. That company should be sued for calling them "Royal" stallions. They are not royal unless they come from Federal Stud Piber.

Thanks for uploading the vid, though.