By Emma Reynolds. They may look like mythical unicorns, but these brilliant white steeds are in fact beautiful stallions from Austria's world famous riding school.
Lipizzaner horses were bred for their outstanding qualities as carriage horses, but their incredible light-footed gait and acrobatic talent make them perfect for shows.
Vienna's finest steeds showed off their talents at a fundraising gala in the Spanish Riding School's splendid baroque hall, where glamorous guests watch the breathtaking visual spectacle, which has been nurtured over years.
Sheer beauty: The Spanish Riding School's stallions are famous across the world for their astonishing talent. Classic elegance: Lipizzaner stallions are considered uniquely noble, spirited, willing and suited for the largely forgotten art of classical horsemanship.
The School is not only the oldest riding academy in the world, it is also the only one where the High School of Classical Horsemanship still flourishes. The Lipizzaner stallions are descendants of 16th-century horses from the Iberian Peninsula, who were considered especially noble, spirited, willing and suited for the art of classical horsemanship. They are a cross between Spanish, Arabian and Berber horses and delight horse lovers from all over the world with their performances. A portrait of the monarch graces the walls where the riders train their Lipizzaner stallions and show off their skills to an international audience during the public performances.
