Lipizzans at Work

Jennifer Roth

Lipizzans excel at dressage, of course, as exemplified by "S" judge Jennifer Roth, pictured to the left riding her Lipizzan stallion, Siglavy Angelica II-I. But Lipizzans are active in other vocations, too. Here are a few examples: Enjoy!

Jean and Denis Thornton
Driving carriages

Brave, swift and agile, Lipizzans excel as carriage horses. Pictured to the left are Jean and Denis Thornton of Equivale in DeLeon Springs, FL. The Thorntons train many of their young Lipizzans behind the carriage even before they are old enough to start under saddle. They have fun, they accustom the horses to activity and challenges, they work to "bombproof" their horses, and they win!

Jean Thornton
Jean Thornton driving their Grand Prix dressage stallion, Conversano II Aloha II, in a more sedate manner. :-)
Driving is one of the disciplines in the "Sport Horse" category, and most Lipizzans excel at it if offered the chance.

Jean Pongrantz and her daughter Tina Hurley Trail riding

What horse-and-rider team doesn't enjoy a trail ride occasionally? Jean Pongrantz and her daughter Tina Hurley ride full-brother Lipizzan/Arab crosses on the beach

Healing and therapy

is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring “smiles on horseback” to families dealing with cancer. The organization sponsors an annual Chemo Kids Day event that is centered around horses, as well as other free horse-related programs for patients and their families.
Horses For Hope’s founders, Greg and Linda Weirauch, use horses kept at Xanadu Farms in Flushing, Michigan. Xanadu Farms is owned by Dr. Dennis & Rev. Mary Lloyd, longtime Lipizzan owners. The Lloyds have volunteered the use of their Lipizzans, Brandella (pictured here), Pluto Lela, and Ramona for riding lessons.
    Horses For Hope is a year-round program that includes group and family riding lessons, family trail rides, and a horse finder service. Free horseback riding is offered to the siblings of children with cancer. “All too often", said the Lloyds, “the healthy siblings feel neglected when a family struggles with another child’s treatment".
Horses For Hope plans to reach out to breast cancer patients and battered women as well.
   The organization’s mission is “to provide safe instruction and events that encourage feelings of pride and accomplishment to those individuals who are affected by a diagnosis of cancer". The goal is “to provide a day where each person forgets that he, she, or a loved one is sick. On that special day, they can just have fun". For further information and/or to help, call 810-659-2151 or visit .