New home for senior stallions at the Spanish Riding School
Lipizzaners now live at Gut Aiderbichl
They are part of a 450-year-old tradition and completed one of the most demanding equestrian training programmes in the world at the legendary Vienna Riding School. The Lipizzaners. They are athletes, their skills are unrivalled. But at some point, the first signs of age appear. What do we owe a horse that has given us so much pleasure and worked so hard for it? Certainly respect, love and ageing with dignity. Retired Lipizzaners usually spend their twilight years at the stud farm in Piber. But space there is limited. So the search began for a suitable place for the seniors of the Vienna Riding School. They found what they were looking for at Gut Aiderbichl.
Housing the animals perfectly is no easy task, as the hard training has left its mark. But at Gut Aiderbichl in Szépalma, Hungary, we specialise in keeping old horses in a species-appropriate way. We make sure that they can enjoy a wonderful old age here, just as they deserve!
Gut Aiderbichl Szépalma is located in the Bakony Mountains in Hungary, surrounded by lush meadows and green mixed forests. Gut Aiderbichl Szépalma has developed into a centre of excellence for old and chronically ill horses. Around 100 horses of different breeds live here, as well as grey cattle, Mangalica pigs, goats, cats and sheep.
The first stallions to move into Gut Aiderbichl Hungary in 2021 were Favory Bartonia, Maestoso Fabiola and Siglavy Theodora. There are now six Lipizzaner stallions living at Gut Aiderbichl Hungary. They are all over 20 years old and can now enjoy their twilight years on their own terms.
“The move is a big change for the animals,” explains Zsófia Kelemen, veterinarian at Gut Aiderbichl Hungary. “Their lives used to consist of training and demonstrations. And they miss that too when they arrive here.” For the first time in their lives, the animals have the opportunity to decide whether they want to be in the stable or outside, when they eat and how they spend the day. However, a number of conditions must also be met here, because while young stallions can still run together, this is no longer possible for many old stallions. This can lead to rivalry fights. The solution? A stable system that allows visual and olfactory contact, friendly sniffing and grooming over stable fences.
Another Gut Aiderbichl farm where senior Lipizzaner horses find a new home is Gut Aiderbichl France. Gut Aiderbichl France is located very close to the historic town of Moulins – an extremely impressive castle on a 60-hectare estate. The residents are mainly horses, but also cats and dogs. The approximately 130 hectares of pastureland, which is flat
and surrounded by spreading hedges. The horses use the wild hedges as a wellness oasis: they can rub their fur on the branches. The hedges also provide them with natural protection from the wind, sun and rain.
Whether in Hungary or France, the Lipizzaners enjoy the happiness of freedom at Gut Aiderbichl.
