From: mlr21@cas.org (Mary Lee Raines)
Subject: Lipizzans in Yugoslavia
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 17:44:29 GMT

There have been a couple of posts about this already.  The following is
from the Horsemen's Corral, August 1992, published in New London, Ohio.

Lipizzans Victoms of Yugoslavian War  by Mary Krystowski of the Corral staff.

War is hell.  The innocent die.  And among the innocent victims of the
Serbo-Croatian war in Yugoslavia are some of the world's best-loved horses,
the Lipizzans.  The horses are reportedly targets of destruction because
they are the pride of the Croatian people.

There were fewer than 4,000 Lipizzans in the world before the destruction
began.  Communications within the war-torn country are difficult, and
reports from Yugoslavia are sketchy, but sources estimate 
"upward from several hundred" Lipizzans have been killed
or abducted.  The fate of breeding stock from the studfarms of Lipik and
Djakovo is of special concern to the Lipizzan Internationale Federation
(LIF).  Both studs were evacuated and destroyed during the fighting.

Hildegard Gekiere, general secretary to the LIF, reported that from
Djakovo, 12 Lipizzans (including the international driving horses) were
moved to safety in Hungary, while 16 mares were stabled at the University
of Zagreb.  Approximatey 120 others were left in the stud, and an unknown
number were stabled with Croatian farmers in what is now Serbia.  There
is no news of their fate.

The village of Lipik was completely destroyed.  One report says that 
horses were machine-gunned or run through minefields, and that stables
were napalmed.  The bodies of 35 horses were found; another 85 are missing--
along with the official documents belonging to the stud.  The Lipizzan
community expects some of these horses to turn up for sale in Europe. 
The Republic of Croatia has asked for an embargo on the sale of possible
stolen horses, which can be identified by brands.

A number of rescue and/or relief efforts are underway.

Many individuals and organizations, including the U.S. Lipizzan Registry,
the Lipizzan Pedigree Trust and the Lipizzan Association of North America,
hae supplied financial assistance.  As of July 9, approximately 15,000
German marks were in a special account with on-going contributions still
being made.  According to LIF's Gekiere, current plans are to now wait
until fighting ceases before spending the funds.  The money will probably
go towards reconstruction of stables or purchase of breeding stock to help
reestablish the Lipica breeding program.

Hoping for more immediate results, Dr. Mitch Benson of Santa Rosa, California
and a cargo of donated supplies left for Croatia in March.  The mission 
was coordinated by the Horse Welfare Committee of Penngrove, California.
Cargo included veterinary supplies, bandages, blankets, folk milk replacer
and halters.  The relief items were shipped free of charge via British
Airways and Cargolux of Luxemburg.  The crates were labeled "Mi vas volimo I 
vas Konje" (We love you and your horses).  To date, there have been no
reports on the success of the mission.

Gekiere said that a comprehensive report on conditions at Lipik has been
prepared and will be sent to LANA, America's representative to the LIF.
LANA and the Corral will continue to provide updates on the fate of the
Lipizzans and the efforts to save them.
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian