A Lippizan from Across the Diagonal Farm -- It looks like it was carved from marble!
After looking at all the photos of the Blue Mustang, it struck me that for many people, the most common image of a rearing horse (other than a wild stallion) is that of the Levade, a movement where a horse rears up at a 45% angle and then holds the pose for several seconds. It is a very difficult movement that requires both balance and strength.
The Levade was originally a military maneuver; it provided the rider with a higher vantage point that allowed him to aim and shoot his weapon at the enemy with greater success.
Today, it is a standard in the Lippizan shows where these beautiful baroque horses show their ability in the airs above the ground.
The video below shows a horse in training. It was taken during a photo shoot for the February 2009 issue of Dressage Today and features Dr. Thomas Ritter with the Lipizzan stallion, Maestoso II Catrina, in the Piaffe and Levade in Hand.
For more extraoridinary photographs of Lippizans, visit Across the Diagonal Farm.
Public art is often a mixed bag. Some people love it and some love to hate it. The Blue Mustang, a 32-foot tall cast fiberglass sculpture by New Mexico artist Luis Jiménez, exemplifies this dichotomy. Situated at the Denver airport, it makes quite the first impression. While some call the Mustang a masterpiece, others have names not so complementary, including “Bluecifer,” “Satan’s Steed” and “Blue Devil Horse.”









In “light” of the idea of lolhorses, I was surfing the ‘net for horse humor.
