The Coachman

In 2009 I was privilaged enough amongst our travels to be able to have some invaluable lessons at the World Famous 400 year old Lipica Lipizzaner Stud in Slovenia.  Lipica, a cultural monument of European and worldwide reputation, is located in Slovenia's karst region, an unusual stony land covered with low bushes, small pine forests, and vineyards. Today, Lipica is known as an international venue for traditional equestrian events including World Cup dressage competitions and the Lipica Stud Days. Lipica is increasingly becoming Slovenia's equestrian center where lovers of equestrian sports from Slovenia and abroad meet.

The Lessons there follow classical dressage principles in which this breed of horse is built for.  The instructors are absolutely first class.  I had two 50 minute lessons a day for 6 days.  I was able to really focus and improve as the week went by but of course I had only just began to feel some things by day 6 and wished I had spent longer.  I am pretty hard on myself and driven in my riding so I had moments of frustration and at other times jubilation.  It depends upon what you want you can go there and just do all the high school moves if you wish and have a ball, feeling it all on a push button horse, or you can focus and intensly hone your dressage skills.

The horses are for all levels they have beginner to advanced so you are sure to find the right level horse for capability.  Their temperaments are just wonderful for all the people that come to ride them!  They are very sweet natured indeed.  I would recommend this riding experience to anyone it changed many things for me in riding and also touched me at a deeper spiritual level.  To learn to become one and to think more with the horse.  The focussed lessons during that week really let me move forward in my riding and I can't wait o go back!  I have heard of others that have experienced riding at Lipica that have returned home changed people ...a benefit for themselves and their horses.  Another great thing is that you receive a certificate upon completion of the course.  This validates what you have achieved and is a lovely memory of your experiences there.

Of course you not only have Lipica but the amazing country of the Karst region of slovenia.  Its just so beautiful the sky is soft and the afternoons go on forever with the warm light fallling golden on the vineyards.  The people are also friendly and there is plenty to do apart from the riding.

Slovenia is amost beautiful and interesting country a must see are the amazing caves in the Karst area - Postojna Cave is a network of 20 kilometres of passages, galleries and chambers into which experienced guides have accompanied more than 31 million visitors in the last 188 years. It is the largest cave in the “classic karst” and the most vis¬ited show cave in Europe. In 1872 railway lines were laid in the cave; electricity arrived in 1884. Today you begin your visit aboard the cave train; the electric lighting allows you to admire the size and splendour of the underground world, where the geological past is recorded in a unique manner. Visitors to the cave are dazzled by a wealth of speleothems: calcite formations, stalactites and stalagmites abounding in a variety of shapes, colours and age. The constant temperatureinthe caves ranges from 8 to 10° C. A guided visit lasts an hour and a half. Places you must see in SLOVENIA

 

"You know the only thing I regret is not coming home with a Lipizzaner!"

The Stud caters for: beginner riding lessons, advanced riding lessons, riding school, arena riding, pony rides, tourist riding, trail riding, carriage rides, equestrian events, viewing of training sessions, tour of stud facilities, breeding and sale of horses. GUIDED HORSE TOURS TO EUROPE.

You may be interested in experiencing the magic of Lipica and the beauty of Slovenia For further information on packages to Lipica you are welcome to contact us for further information. email wyndyarraestate@bigpond.com