Lipizzans, Chicago, and Hollywood

The all-white horse breed made its Hollywood debut in 1940

I met new friends at The Tempel Lipizzans stables about an hour outside Chicago.

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The all-white Lipizzan breed apparently made its Hollywood debut in MGM's movie Florian (1940).

Based on newspapers of the time, the care and maintenance alone of Florian's five Lippizan stars—including hay, oats, bran, straw, horseshoeing, vet medicine, a private bungalow, and tail/mane braiding—cost MGM studios $6,745.

That translates to roughly $127,000 today.