A horse is a horse, of course. Then there are Lipizzans.
They are a rare breed known for strength, intelligence and an extraordinary ability to go airborne.
The snowy white horses were bred in the 16th Century to entertain Austrian royalty and fight medieval battles, and 20 of them were shipped in 1958 to Tempel Farms in Wadsworth.
Hundreds of people have been attending the farm’s Wednesday and Sunday Lipizzan performances, which run through August.
The herd has grown to about 100, said to be the world’s largest privately owned group of Lipizzans, and 5 percent of the breed’s population.
The show, set to strains of Tchaikovsky and Handel, starts with younger horses that trot and prance. Then, highly trained horses and expert riders hoof their way into what some call the “ballet of the white stallions”-minus the tutus.
For most, the climax comes in what are called “airs above the ground.” Horses rise up on two feet. They leap forward on their hind legs. They do the “capriole,” springing high and kicking the hind legs back.
“Not all Lipizzans do airs above the ground,” farm program development director Roberta Williams said. “Just like not all men can dance.”
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Tempel Farms, 17000 W. Wadsworth Rd., Wadsworth; phone 708-623-7272. Performances run through Aug. 31, with shows at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for children aged 4-14.
