A Lipizzan is to horses what a ballerina is to dancers. It is a beautiful, graceful animal. While standing, it is able to perform some amazing feats. Some of them are: the levade, where the horse balances perfectly still on its hind legs for as long as fifteen seconds; the courbette, where it makes several leaps into the air and kicks out with its hind legs, with the front legs never touching the ground; the capriole where the Lipizzan stands on its hind legs, then springs into the air and kicks out with its hind legs. What is more amazing is that a Lipizzan, left alone in a field, with no training or encouragement, will perform tricks similar to these on its own. The Lipizzan is born with amazing athletic abilities and the playful personality to show them off. All performing Lipizzans are stallions or male horses.
3 x- i; ~' e! j The height of a horse is measured from the ground to the top point of their shoulders when their heads are down to graze. The measurement used for horses is called a hand. A hand is equal to four inches (10 centimeters). The adult Lipizzan can reach a height of 15 to 16 hands. This is equal to 60 to 64 inches or about five feet (1 1/2 meters). The Lipazzan can weigh as much as 1,200 pounds (540 kilograms). It has four strong, powerful legs with hoofed feet. The legs are shorter than those on other breeds. Its shoulders and neck are heavy and muscular. The hair on its mane (the hair that runs from behind its ears down the back of its neck) and tail is fine and thick.9 t1 ^: t6 G/ c' I0 M
Like all horses, the Lipizzan is an herbivore or plant-eater. It lives on a diet of oats, grain, straw, and hay. The amount a horse needs to eat depends on how active it is.8 v5 k. Z0 [( h) d8 V
Most domestic horses do not have to worry about being attacked by predators. They rarely roam beyond their paddock (a large, fenced-in area). But, of course, horses can become sick and die from disease. In the case of the Lipizzan, the animal may injure itself during one of its tricks.
1 X8 ^# Y3 w2 @4 i5 f The female Lipizzan is able to become pregnant at the age of two to three years. After mating with a stallion (male horse) she gives birth to a single filly (female baby) or foal (male baby). The gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is 330 to 380 days. The average weight of the newborn horse is fifty pounds. It drinks milk given to it by its mother until it is 3 or 4 months old. At the age of four years, many male Lipizzans are sent off for a two year "breaking period." During this time, it is determined whether or not the horse is of the quality needed to be a serious performer.
! o. [. ] R2 p- n7 i5 Z7 ] The Lipizzan is often seen in the circus and in special events in horse shows. It has also proven to be an excellent horse to ride when hunting and a good all purpose riding horse. The top school in the world for training Lipizzans is located in Vienna. The favorite color for the Lipizzan is grayish white. It also comes in bay (reddish-brown) and chestnut. The average life span of a horse is 20 to 30 years with some living as long as 40 years. | 
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置顶卡
沉默卡
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