Gallery Update
GEORGE NEWS - The weather played along beautifully on Saturday 17 June as nearly 800 people gathered at Déjà Vu Equestrian and Cottages to experience a rare treat - the sensational dancing Lipizzaner stallions from the South African Lipizzaner Centre in Paarl.
The centre is dedicated to preserving the magnificent Lipizzaner horse in South Africa and follows the principles of classical dressage and the haute école. As a non-profit organisation, their continuous efforts have kept the 70-year legacy of the Lipizzaner horse alive in South Africa.
According to the centre's Jhan-Mari van den Berg, the show exceeded their expectations and although no date has been confirmed yet, they plan to visit George again soon.
The SA Lipizzaners is a non-profit organisation that works to preserve the Lipizzaner breed in our country and support during shows like Saturday's helps to keep the centre open and the Lipizzaner breed and their legacy alive.
History of the SA Lipizzaner
The Lipizzaner horse's survival has often been threatened by war, and their journey to South Africa is a testament to bravery and daring escape. It all began in Hungary on Count Jankovic-Besan's Lipizzaner breeding farm.
During World War II, with the invasion of Hungary by the Red Army looming, Count Jankovic-Besan made a life-changing decision to protect his beloved horses.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lovely SA Lipizzaners impress in George
He attached them to carts and carriages, and with his family embarked on a perilous journey through harsh winter conditions, covering hundreds of kilometres. To prevent them from being eaten, he painted the gleaming white coats of his Lipizzaners with oil and paraffin so that they appeared dreadful and inedible.
Eventually, they reached Bavaria, where they found temporary refuge before setting sail for South Africa. In late 1948, they arrived in Durban and settled in Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Lipizzaners have since relocated to their new home outside Paarl in the Western Cape.
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