The first phase of the construction of the new stud farm in Lipik, which will become one of the most modern in Europe, has been completed

State stud farm in Lipik contributes to the preservation of traditions and customs, but also tourist offer of Požega-Slavonia County. Visitors are offered the overall pleasure of hanging out with horses, riding a horse-drawn carriage through the town of Lipik, and recreational riding in the beautiful and preserved nature of this area.

The long and successful history of the Lipička stud began in 1843, when it was founded by Count Izidor pl. Janković, and it received the status of a state stud in 1938, when the Royal Stančić Stud moved to Lipik. At the beginning of the Homeland War and the aggression against Croatia, the stables were systematically destroyed, the stables were burned, and some of the horses were killed. The rest of the horses were alienated in November 1991 and transported to the Republic of Serbia. After numerous negotiations on October 13, 2007, the horses that survived this suffering finally returned to Lipik. But that was not the end of the story, because the returned horses had been in rented stables owned by Poljopridera Lipik doo for the past 17 years.

But just a few days ago, on October 21, 2024, the new stud was officially opened. The construction of Phase I of the new stable in Lipik and the placement of horses in their own stables after 17 years since their return will significantly facilitate the work on carrying out and improving breeding and preserving the Lipizzan horse breed. The first phase of construction at the location of Jezera Raminac included the construction of three horse stables and a manure pit and accompanying infrastructure, i.e. an access road, water supply, sewerage and electrical network. The total value of the investment was 2 million and 300 thousand euros.

It is planned to continue the construction of the Lipik stud farm next year. Phase II. it will include three additional stables for horses and rooms for workers, warehouses for equipment and food, and the main and auxiliary riding arena. In the third phase of the Lipik stud farm, an entrance building with tourist facilities is planned - an info center, ticket collection, a cafe, a museum area, a lecture hall, an administration office, then a quarantine facility with a slurry tank, and the arrangement of roads, parking lots and landscaping. Total value II. and III. stages of the Lipik stud farm is 11 million euros. After the end of II. and III. stages The Đakovo and Lipik State Stables will have one of the most beautiful stables in Europe with all the necessary facilities for horse training, sports activities and tourist activities.

The importance of state studs

As of August 4, 2010, the Government of the Republic of Croatia decree determined the merger of the Croatian Horse Breeding Center - Lipik State Stud with the Lipizzan State Stud from Đakovo. The merger resulted in the creation of a new institution, the Croatian Horse Breeding Center - State Stables Đakovo and Lipik. DEĐL represents the national genetic nucleus and genetic reserve of Lipizzan horses with a significant influence on the world level as well. Any threat to the population gives the stud farm additional meaning and priority in national and international conservation action plans. The association of DEĐL with Lipizzan breeding by private breeders is manifested in terms of the spread of breeding material and provides additional value in preserving the genetic potential of the Lipizzan breed in the Republic of Croatia and contributes to the preservation of traditions and customs. Thus, DEĐL is basically the bearer of the improvement and preservation of Lipizzan breeding as a protected horse breed of the Republic of Croatia.

Throughout its history, the Đakovo and Lipik State Stud has been the bearer of significant cultural and folklore events in Slavonia and Baranja, in which the Lipizzan horse is an indispensable factor, and thus the stud's contribution to the preservation of traditions and customs, as well as the development of tourism in the same area, is unquestionable. The stable has a direct influence on the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia, but also an indirect one, because the activities of the stable are linked to the work of numerous cultural-folkloric-traditional organizations and horse breeding associations of the Lipizzan breed.

At the session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage held in December 2022, "Lipizzan horse breeding traditions" were entered into the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Lipizzan breeding in Croatia and the State Studs Đakovo and Lipik are included in the International Lipizzan Association (LIF), which is the umbrella organization for all state Lipizzan studs and almost all renowned private breeding associations in the world.

Photo source: State Stud Farm Đakovo Lipik and Tourist Board of Požega-Slavonia County