London International Horse Show is delighted to announce that a brand-new international equestrian display will bring beautiful Lipizzaner horses to the Show for 2025, in Spirit of the Horses – Heritage from the Hungarian Equestrian Culture powered by Ineos Grenadier.
This extraordinary showcase celebrates the talents of the Hungarian Lipizzaner horses; the result of centuries of Hungarian traditions of breeding and horsemanship. Audiences will be treated to a spellbinding blend of classical Dressage, live stunts and costumed action in the display, which will take place during every performance at London International Horse Show from 18 – 22 December.
The display is the work of the internationally renowned State Stud Farm of Szilvásvárad. Home to Hungary’s largest Lipizzaner stud with over 300 horses. Since 1952, the town has been the centre of Hungarian Lipizzaner breeding. Considered a cultural touchstone in Europe’s equestrian heritage, the history of the Lipizzanner breed dates back more than 440 years, and is recognised by UNESCO, who have inscribed the breeding of these horses on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The global success of Szilvásvárad’s Lipizzaner horses spans multiple disciplines, from four-in-hand Carriage Driving at prestigious events such as the Aachen World Equestrian Games and the Royal Windsor Horse Show, to an impressive 109 FEI medals – including 52 golds – at World and European Championships, a testament to their versatility and brilliance
During the Spirit of the Horses display, these versatile horses will present their Dressage Carousel, a showcase of precision and elegance. Within this, four Lipizzaner and four Nonius stallions and riders perform a synchronised routine that blends the refined movements of traditional Dressage, including piaffe and passage. Two horses will perform the iconic “airs above the ground” including the capriole, courbette, and levade. This extraordinary display is a powerful tribute to Hungary’s equestrian and military legacy from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, performed in perfect harmony between horse and rider.
Cpt. Dávid Cseri, Szilvásvárad Stud Director comments ‘The equestrian connections of the United Kingdom and Hungary go back for centuries. During the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Hungary was the world’s largest exporter of horses, and the British Royal Army made a large contribution to these horse purchases. Now, Hungarian horses are serving in the British Army, and from 2024, as a historical moment, in the Royal Mews as well. Our participation in the 2025 London International Horse Show is an honourable and unforgettable opportunity in the equestrian history of our nations. In our presentation, we would like to pay tribute to this friendship, recalling the era of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which was marked the golden age of horse breeding history in Hungary’.
Jonathan Goold, Event Director adds ‘It is a privilege to welcome the esteemed team from Szilvásvárad to London International for the first time. This wonderful new display will offer our audience an unforgettable celebration of Hungarian heritage, horsemanship, and equine artistry and promises to be a daily highlight of the Show’.
To book tickets for the 2025 Show, please click here.
