Famed Lipizzaner Stallions coming to Yuma

Audiences will be able to watch the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions perform their unique equine ballet numbers Thursday at the Yuma Civic Center.

The "Dancing White Stallions" will give only one performance, starting at 7:30 p.m.

For the past 38 seasons, the stallions have been touring the world.

The huge animals were bred 2,000 years ago in Carthage, 700 ago when Spain was dominated by the Moors, and they were known in Austria in the 1560s.

The rare breed was saved from near extinction during World War II when Gen. George Patton learned they were starving in enemy-held camps. The horses were rescued by the U.S. Army until they could be returned to their home at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

There was an embargo on exporting the Andalusian breed by the Spanish government until 1960.

From 1968 to 2004, Gary Lashinsky, producer of the Lipizzaner Stallions show, purchased the horses from the Spanish Riding School and sought technical advice from Col. Alois Podhajsky and Dr. Jaromir Oulehla, both former directors of the riding school.

Narrator for the show is Troy Tinker.

The show with the legendary horses is only possible by the "dressage" - the harmony between the horse and rider. The head rider is Redha Gharsa, who has been with the productions since 1997.

Tickets are available at the Yuma Civic Center box office, 1440 Desert Hills Drive, and the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St. The cost is $23.50 per adult, $21.50 for seniors 60 and older and for children 12 and younger.

For more information, call 373-5040.