Piber, Austria

What happens on the first day of vacation when you have 3 horsewomen and 2 non-horse guys traveling together. Weeee go see horses!:) We were staying in Austria's southern Wine district. Steeply rolling hills, vineyards, corn and pumpkin fields. Just north of us about an hour away was Piber. Birthplace of the Lipizzaner's. There are 73 mares. We were able to view 2 mares being ridden in the indoor. We saw some yearlings and 5 month old foals with there dams. The foals come in at 10:30 and go back out at 3:30pm. When the stallions in Vienna are ready to retire they return home to Piber. This can be between 25-30 years of age. The oldest stallion at Piber was 35 years old. On average each stallion breeds 5 mares a year. There is a museum and church present on the grounds. A large outdoor arena and carriage driving water obstacle. When they are 4 yo the best who make the criteria for height and quality leave for Vienna. The remainder are offered for sale. Most have both riding and driving training. The average price as 7,000 euro. A very nice 4 yo was for sale, well liked by all the riders as being very calm and agreeable but was just a little short so did not make the criteria to stay.