A quiet yet meaningful beginning: On 27 January at 8:45 p.m., the Lipizzaner mare Cremona gave birth to a healthy filly. The birth proceeded calmly and harmoniously - very much in keeping with the care and tradition for which the Lipizzaner Stud Piber has stood for centuries.
“The Lipizzaners are a red-white-red symbol and an international calling card for Austria. When a foal is born in Piber, it is a very special moment, as these foals represent the future of this valuable cultural heritage,” explains Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig, adding: “With every newborn foal, a piece of Austrian identity and tradition is passed on. The foals safeguard the centuries-old tradition of classical equestrian art and fill the Stud Piber with new life.”
Both the mare Cremona and her foal are in excellent health. The calculated due date was exceeded by just one day—a detail that is monitored with as much care in breeding as the fact that the birth itself was entirely uncomplicated. “When a birth proceeds as harmoniously as this one, it is a great gift for everyone involved,” says Stud Director Erwin Movia. “Mare and foal are healthy, attentive, and calm—exactly as one would hope. You can tell immediately: this foal has arrived well.”
Cremona, born in 2014 at the Lipizzaner Stud Piber, comes from the Europa mare line. With this year’s foal, she is now a mother for the third time—and notably, she has so far given birth exclusively to fillies. The name of the newborn foal has not yet been determined; traditionally, it will be assigned at a later stage, once the foal is weaned from its mother.
The filly’s sire is the school stallion Maestoso Malina, born in 2005, also at Piber. Last year, he was used for breeding for the first time. Maestoso Malina is known for his strong willingness to perform, diligence, cooperative temperament, and very good gaits. Trained for the school quadrille, he is currently employed as a reliable school horse at Heldenberg, where he supports the training of aspiring riders.
The birth of the first foal marks the beginning of an exciting year at the Lipizzaner Stud Piber, with more foals expected—ensuring that the centuries-old tradition of Lipizzaner breeding remains vibrant. “Every foal born in Piber is more than just offspring—it is a visible sign that tradition is not preserved by holding on to it, but by carrying it forward,” says Maria Patek, Managing Director of the Spanish Riding School and the Lipizzaner Stud Piber. “With this filly, a new chapter begins—one that continues to shape the future of Lipizzaner breeding in Piber.”
While it remains to be seen which path the young filly will one day follow, one thing is already clear to Erwin Movia: “The calm nature of the mare Cremona and the attentive care provided by our team give the foal the best possible start. She is developing very well and has already become a little favourite at the stud.”
FOAL EXPERIENCE DAYS AND STUD TOURS
The first filly of 2026, along with many other foals, can be visited during the Foal Experience Days at the Lipizzaner Stud Piber. During these events, visitors not only receive answers to all their questions about the stud’s youngest Lipizzaners, but also have the opportunity to get very close to this year’s foals.
Foal Experience Day dates:
- Saturday, 21 March 2026
- Thursday, 2 April 2026
- Monday, 6 April 2026
- Saturday, 25 April 2026
- Monday, 25 May 2026
More information: www.piber.com/fohlenerlebnis
Tickets: shop.piber.com
SPONSORSHIPS FOR OUR PROTÉGÉS
By becoming a foal sponsor, individuals and companies can support the Lipizzaners—one of Austria’s most significant cultural assets—in a particularly personal way, while accompanying the growth of a young horse up close. Sponsors receive regular insights into the development of their sponsored foal, along with numerous opportunities to build a genuine connection with a Lipizzaner.
Foal sponsorships are also a popular gift idea, combining appreciation with purpose and helping to preserve the long-standing tradition of the Lipizzaner Stud Piber and the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. An extraordinary present that creates lasting memories and carries forward the fascination of a living cultural heritage.
More information: https://www.srs.at/de/unternehmen/sponsoring
Further information:
- www.piber.com
- Phone: +43 3144 33 23
- Email: office@piber.com
All image material is available for download via this LINK. Photos may be used free of charge for editorial purposes with credit: © Ines Hubinger or BMLUK Christian Lendl.