Generous sponsors help keep the legacy of the South African Lipizzaners alive

The South African Lipizzaners, which is based in Kyalami, wish to highlight the important role of the Lipizzaner mares this week.

Rider Jhan-Marie van den Berg discussed two of the centre’s mares, Cimbal (15) from the Favory bloodline, and Aida (18) from the Conversano bloodline.

“While the stallions are remaining at the Lipizzaner centre thanks to the generosity of kind sponsors, the future of the herd of Lipizzaner mares was uncertain. Desperate plans had to be made to save the breeding stock and retain the gene pool of the six different bloodlines,” said Van den Berg.

“Sadly, the cost of saving our beloved heard meant that they had to be separated. The mares went to various foster homes where they are all being well cared for and enjoying the joys of being free running horses for the time being,”Cimbal and Aida are currently looked after by Maureen Dalglish, who is not only a member of the Lipizzaner board, but also one of the first South African Lipizzaner stallion riders.

Dalglish said, “Behind every successful man there is a woman! And every successful Lipizzaner stallion owes his life to his mother.”

“Not only does she nurture and care for him when he is young, but it is she who passes on her kind, gentle nature.”We hope to reunite our mares soon, but until then, we know they are receiving the best possible care.”

Volunteer at the South African Lipizzaners Gina Boxley said that the fight to continually find funding to keep the Lipizzaners cared for has been a frightening experience.”We cannot imagine life without them,” said Boxley. “We have had to rely on special people who have offered to foster some of our mares, just to keep them in the family.

“It has been a heartbreaking time and we only hope we are able to keep the legacy of out South African Lipizzaners alive,” concluded Boxley.

Details: Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gina-boxley?utm_id=1&utm_term=bA9xg2jxk to find out more about how you can assist.