The history of this breed dates back centuries. This line of horse was imported into Austria from Spain during the 16th century by the Royal Court of Austria in order to improve its domestic stock.
Some of these horses found their way to the United States In 1958. That is when the late Tempel and Ester Smith,who had seen these impressive animals while in Austria, decided to import 20 Lippizans to bring the Spanish Riding School tradition to the U.S. They dreamed of establishing an American center of horsemanship and teach the art of dressage . Since then, their horses have performed at the White House, the U.S. Capitol and Madison Square Gardens in New York, in addition to their home base in Wadsworth, Illinois.
In 1997, the President of Austria presented the Smith Family with the high distinction of the Officer's Cross in honor of their "careful management of a cultural institution with such close ties to Austria.
A calendar of performances can be seen on the Tempel Farms website.
Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, Illinois
Saturday July 18, 2015
Last Wednesday, I took a ride from Chicago to Wadsworth, Illinois, where I visited Tempel Farms. Here, they breed and train Lipizzan horses. When I entered the property, I felt that I had traveled far away from the Windy City. Saturated green pastures divided by freshly-painted white wooden fences was the vista that encircled me. The landscape was dotted with graceful, white horses, punctuated by a handsome-looking stable and training center.
I had originally been introduced to the Lipizzan horse during my travels to Vienna, Austria, home of the Spanish Riding School. It was there that I first admired the beauty and grace of these white stallions that performed in a majestic building. Crisply dressed riders rode erect atop these impressive steeds and performed a kind of equine ballet for the audience to enjoy.
