Škocjan Unesco Caves and Lipica Stud Farm

Información

Škocjanske Jame is a cave system in Slovenia. Due to its exceptional significance, Škocjan Caves was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. International scientific circles have thus acknowledged the importance of the caves as one of the natural treasures of planet Earth. Ranking among the most important caves in the world, Škocjan Caves represents the most significant underground phenomena in both the Karst region and Slovenia.

Following independence from SFR Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia committed itself to actively protecting the Škocjan Caves area and established the Škocjan Caves Regional Park, Slovenia and its Managing Authority, the Škocjan Caves Park Public Service Agency. The Stud Farm Lipica is committed to ensuring care, treatment, accommodation and breeding of all categories of Lipizzaners in accordance with the highest ethical, ethological and technological standards not only due to the role and importance of the stud farm in modern breeding of Lipizzaner worldwide, but above all due to the Lipizzaners themselves.

The Stud Farm Lipica breeds the Lipizzaner in a traditional tested way. Stallions placed in stables in individual enclosed stalls are trained regularly. Broodmares are placed in a joint stable, breeding is free.

Immediately after foaling mares with foals are placed in enclosed stalls for 10 to 14 days thus ensuring them the necessary peace and satisfactory control over the health state of the mother and the foal in the post-natal period. After this period mares with foals return to the joint stable. Breeding is combined, on pastures and in the stable. In the pasture season the entire herd of broodmares is on pastures during the day, whereas in winter, they are moved to arranged places for running when the conditions do not enable pasturing.

The weaning of all foals is carried out at the end of October. Colts and fillies are bred in joint stables; the breeding is combined – on pastures and in the stable until they reach the age of three years and a half. In the period of being introduced into work and testing new capabilities which lasts one year the animals are placed in individual enclosed stalls.

For animals entered in the Studbook of the Slovenian Lipizzaner Breeding Association (ZRLS) no breeding conditions are defined in the Breeding Program directly, however, the following is recommended: that animals are bred in stables ensuring breeding of animals in accordance with ethological standards; that in the pasturing season animals can pasture the whole day on pastures of appropriate size.

Meeting/pick-up point: Pick-up from the hotel.
Duration: 6 hours.
Start/opening time: At 9am.
End/closing time: At 3pm.
Languages: English.